What's your work/life balance like and what do you prioritise? Please come and tell me about it!

[LeavingTeachingForGood]

Just that really.

For context, I've made the decision to leave teaching for good this year. Handed my notice in and with no intention of going back.

I realised, in my 50s, that my work/life balance has actually just been a bit shit on the whole over the years and it's definitely become worse.

For various reasons, our workload has ramped up significantly over the past few years. Many friends have fallen by the wayside because I don't have time, am too exhausted or just don't have the social energy to see people during term time and, by the time school holidays roll around, other people have plans or have moved on with their lives and with each other and other friends, which I completely get! But it does mean my only friends are now other teachers!

Five years ago (well, pre and post lockdown anyway) I did yoga, had friends, had a hobby, went out and socialised at the weekend and slowly those things have drifted - each one dropped in the hope I'd get more sleep, get on top of things, catch up with myself, find myself again... each one dropped with the intention of picking it up again when things improved.

Except they didn't improve and more things were dropped along the way. Including my health, which I've been forced to prioritise over the last 6 months. I'm in a much better place now but work was a big contributing factor to my ill health and it's definitely a major factor in my decision to leave.

I'm winding down now in my last few weeks. None of the stuff for next year is an issue for me. Nothing to prepare etc so I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and, honestly, I feel like I'm waking up and beginning to see how much I've sacrificed over the years.

I just wondered what other people's postition on this is? Whatever field you work in and whatever your role, how well have you managed to maintain a work life balance and what does that look like for you (guess I'm looking for shared experiences and inspiration really!)

Especially if you've changed your lifestyle/job drastically to achieve a better work/life balance!

It doesn't matter how big or how small. One thing I've started doing and really appreciate is starting and ending the day with a cup of coffee in the garden. Just being immersed in nature - the birdsong, the colours and scents of the flowers has done wonders for my internal peace.

That and going away straight after work over the BH weekend and camping in a forest!

I know going forwards that I want to create a far better work /lfe balance!

I hope going freelance works out well for you.

I think those things are good goals to have.

You're the second person who has said diarised exercise that everything else works around. I'm definitely going to aim for that.

I'm so pleased for you!

Your set up sounds absolutely perfect.

And yes, that's pretty much the decision I've come to. I don't want to be forced out by ill health caused by the job or carry on like this until I drop.

I have/had no interest in becoming SLT. I didn't want to do that alongside being a class teacher and I don't want to give up being a class reached and forgoet what it was like in the classroom (seen it happen far to often!)

It's been really interesting hearing all the experiences of people who've changed careers or found ways of making their careers work for them time and life wise.

It gives me great hope!

I had a few years of serious health issues and it made me reassess my life.

Now I prioritise living a peaceful, healthier lifestyle.

I am only wiling to work part time and avoid long commutes. I have mainly had hybrid roles as well in the past ten years which really helps.

I changed jobs.

I was a police officer and became utterly sick of shifts, working weekends, fighting tooth and nail if I needed any flexibility yet expected to stay 4/5 hours late at the drop of the hat.

I managed to get a different job, still in the criminal justice system but it is fully remote and extremely flexible. As long as I do my hours, no one cares when and it’s not particularly meeting focused. So now I do compressed hours, have time in the day to ride the horse/sort my life out. It’s bliss to be honest.

I am a work to live person though and whilst I like my job, I would leave tomorrow if I won the lottery.

Yes it was the lack of switching off that finally drove me to leave…that and the fact I was utterly exhausted with never having time for myself.

People still ask me if I miss it and the answer is always the same, ‘I miss the daily fun and joy of working with small children but I don’t miss the workload.’ When I say I miss the children, I mean that I look back with fondness at lots of lovely times (I taught reception and find 4 and 5 year olds hilarious to work with 🤣) but I never, ever feel a sense of loss at having left. I just feel relief and happiness with the new life we have now.

I gave myself some time before starting something new and am very intentional about scheduling. DH and I go to the gym at more or less the same times each week which helps it to be a habit. I also make sure there’s time each week for pottering at home, doing bits in the garden or some housework. I feel on top of that stuff now, which I never did when teaching and when home doesn’t feel like an organised space it’s hard to relax. My head feels free to think about things that matter and that’s such a blessing.

I agree with everything you wrote and recognise such of it.

But this

My head feels free to think about things that matter and that’s such a blessing.

This is why I'm doing it.

I have a good work life balance, but that's a result of:
A lower paid job.
Work from home.
An older teenager.
Free time to meet with friends and family.
Free time to go to the gym or wherever.

Next year I'll become an empty-nester, and I'm yet to decide if I continue in this job or climb a little, as I'll be freer. I'll see when the time comes.

I think allowing yourself to remember the activities you did as a kid and how they made you feel is a good start. Sounds like you already enjoy regulating in nature so a strong start has been made!

Well done for recognising it OP. I have DDs 17 & 16. I had a big job and returned to work after DD1 was born and it was really difficult to have any work/life balance. Home or work was always suffering. After DD2 was born I decided to take a five year career break. I retrained in an entirely different field to make things work for me and my family. Looking back I have no regrets at all.

Pretty good. Just delivered a big project so busy but manageable and no late nights, I am here for kids and now have an abundance of Flexi to take.

For me gaining work life balance was about two things - my child and the fact I’ve had major health issues. So what’s most important to me now if I have time to look after my health and recover plus I don’t waste all the time I have left working. I’ve always worked part time around my child but now I’m doing term time only too with shorter days.
Financially it’s a huge hit but my health and spending time with my child is more important. I try to exercise in my lunch breaks as I can eat at my desk

This is very true.

My hobbies were all things I'd enjoyed as a child. I just didn't have the time or mental capacity to keep them up.

Its definitely what I'm going to focus on again!.

I'm also an empty nester and, just like that, nearly 30 years spent as a single parent and carrying the weight of solo parenting and being the provider with no family support has come to an end!

Now I don't have to fund their needs and lifestyles as well as my own has provided a space for me to focus on myself a bit more.