I've got out...

[FithColumnist]

So, I've finally got out. Packed up my stuff in a box today: a laminator and a load of books. I'm no longer a teacher. I don't know precisely what I expected to feel after all this, but I just feel rather flat.

I imagine for a while you’ll feel very odd. Having nothing that you have to do. But if you’re anything like the teacher that left us last term you’ll look ten years younger by Feb half term.

I got out end of 2015. I spent a long time feeling I was a teacher, but the stress has vanished. So much happier!!

Life’s too short to be unhappy. What are you doing next?

Good for you. I escaped last year. I also felt a bit flat but it soon passed, I'll tell you that! Its hard to redefine yourself. It's taken me quite a while to get over the guilt at not having something to do urgently at all times. My health and anxiety are much better. I thought I was quite a sweaty person. Turns out, I am not. I hardly even wear deodorant any more as I'm not in a heightened state of alert like I was in teaching. That's a bit weird.

Don't worry - it's that time of year. Everyone is too knackered to feel any kind of emotion.

Imagine how ecstatic you will feel come Jan 3rd (or whenever your school is back...)

Congratulations!

Woohoo! Good for you. Enjoy Christmas.

Well done! Keep us updated with what you do next. I'm planning to finish at the end of the summer term for good, no idea what's coming next though!

Yay!!! Well done you :-)

You've taken a big step, and it will be worth it.

Now enjoy Christmas. Sleep in late tomorrow. Ignore your emails.

I got out this summer. I've been helping out in my DCs School a bit in the run up to Christmas and I did feel
a few twinges of regret, however a couple of nights out last week with some old colleagues reminded me why I got out. Good luck op, there is life beyond the School gates!

Congratulations! I wish I could follow you out! What’s the plan?

I left in July - the greatest decision in my life! I might be broke, but you can't put a price on your mental health.

The best feeling is going to bed the night before the first day of every term without "the fear".

Oh, and weekends. And evenings.

I felt flat too during the holidays immediately after leaving but the relief hit me when term started - it was a beautiful thing :)

You WON'T regret it.

I left teaching in 2015 and have no regrets. Sure, I wish I earnt what I earnt then, and wish I had the holidays I had then (although admittedly I used to work most of them anyway!) but I have no regrets as it has massively improved my general health and wellbeing as well as my mental health. Well done for taking the leap and good luck!!

When I got out of (state) teaching, it took a while for me to let go of all the emotional heaviness and I too felt flat. It took me months and months to trust and enjoy the relief of not having that constant heavy dread feeling and to not expect it to come flooding back. Congratulations!

Following xxx

Get on the TES forum and have a look. Teachers always think they can't do anything else but anyone who has ever taught is, in general, superbly organised, an excellent planner, creative, good with people, computer literate and a proper grafter.

I'm an engineer. I had another career before teaching and returned to a related one. I promise, your earnings will go back up fairly quickly. I was on M6 and went into a job at the equivalent salary. I also know it'll go up and I don't have to do absurd things to get that now.

Lucyben I'm a full-time STEM Ambassador, working for a big STEM-related company. I take fun science activities into primary schools and do the careers events at secondaries. All the best bits of teaching with none of the crap: I am extremely fortunate.

Museums, businesses, heritage sites, etc, all have education outreach programmes of various sizes.

I have been signed off.
anxiety/ depression and PTSD...for over 2 months now. ..I have been teaching 20+ years and it's just this week I've decided to call it a day. Will resign in the new year and stay signed off till end of term.
I feel sad I have had a successful career...but as a single mum of two teens, one with SEN's I can't put the amount of time in to the A levels I teach..a long commute and attend all the appointments we have. ..so watch this space..I have a mixture of anxiety an excitment.

OP for a new life in the new year.