Why You Still Feel Burnt Out Even After Leaving Teaching
Even after leaving teaching, I still felt it’s impact in my nervous system
Walking out of the school building at 4pm on the first day in your new pastoral role, having left teaching, is a pretty odd feeling.
That nagging sense that you’ve forgotten something. Your brain starting to plan the work you’re doing this evening. Mentally preparing for the next day.
…and then remembering: Nope, there are no books to take home. Nope, there’s no planning to do tonight. And tomorrow? Well, why worry about that now?
You’d think the feeling would be liberating.
But actually, it’s closer to guilt.
Like you’ve somehow cheated the system.
The Subtle Signs of Burnout and Overwhelm That Don’t Just Disappear
It started with the 4pm nag.
That feeling on the drive home — trying to convince my brain that it really was okay to switch off. That there was nothing I should be doing. That I actually had the evening ahead of me.
Then came Saturday mornings.
It’s no exaggeration to say it took me about six months to stop waking up with that familiar dread: “When am I going to do my work this weekend?”
The internal battle between procrastination and pressure. The sense that it would be more responsible to just get everything done now.
Eventually, I began to convince my nervous system that we really could just rest. That there was nothing to catch up on and nothing waiting for me.
Why Your Nervous System Stays in “Work Mode”
I noticed something else too.
I’d get ready for work and drive to school with this intense sense of urgency.
During my teaching days, if I arrived later than 7:05am, I’d panic:
- the photocopiers would be taken
- I wouldn’t have time to set up
- I’d miss something important
Even after leaving teaching, my body didn’t catch up.
Even though my new role started at 8am, if I arrived later than 7:30am, I’d convince myself the whole day would go badly.
This is what burnout and overwhelm can look like. Not just exhaustion, but a body that has learnt to stay constantly “on”.
What It Took to Actually Feel Calm Again
There was no quick fix.
My nervous system had learned:
- to anticipate pressure
- to stay alert
- to believe I should always be doing something
So it took time.
It took self-talk — actually saying out loud: “It’s okay. We don’t have any work to do this weekend. You can relax.”
It took intentional slowing down. Small resets. Letting my body experience something different.
Why the Feeling of Overwhelm Can Linger
Even now, sometimes, it still shows up.
A full weekend of plans can bring a flash of panic.
I’m transported back to a time when a busy weekend meant weeks of preparation.
The hangover from teaching lingers.
If You’re Still Feeling Burnt Out or Overwhelmed…
This isn’t just about teaching.
I speak to so many women who feel:
- constantly “on”
- unable to switch off
- like they should be doing something all the time
- disconnected from themselves
Even when their circumstances have changed. Burnout and overwhelm don’t just disappear when your situation changes. Your nervous system needs time — and support — to catch up.
Support for Burnout and Overwhelm in Leeds
If this feels familiar, this is exactly the kind of work I do.
I offer in-person wellbeing coaching in Leeds for women who feel overwhelmed, burnt out, and stretched too thin, even if they’re no longer in the situation that caused it.
These sessions are a chance to:
- slow down properly
- understand what’s going on beneath the surface
- start feeling like yourself again
You can book a Reset Session or a virtual coffee to see if it feels like the right fit.