The Lifestyle That Sits Around Your Work
Dear Teachers,
It’s easy to focus on the job itself — the teaching, the responsibilities, the purpose behind it all — and miss the lifestyle that quietly builds around it. The way your days look. The things you’ve come to tolerate. The parts of life you assume you just have to “suck up.”
But what if those things aren’t just part of the job?
What if they’re clues?
There were things I used to brush off as just being part of the profession:
Expectations, evaluations, and responsibilities. I told myself to toughen up, but it genuinely bothered me. It left me tense, distracted, and more drained than it should have.
Being onsite five days a week. I didn’t question it to begin with. Overtime, I noticed how much I craved a different pace — a little more freedom in my week.
Using my whole weekend just to recover. Not to recharge. Not to enjoy. Just to crawl back to a baseline.
Not wearing clothes that really felt like me. I kept things neutral and safe. And with that, something about my self-expression slowly faded.
Not realising how introverted I actually am. I didn’t understand why I was so depleted. Constant noise and interaction left little space for me to regroup.
Saying no to holiday opportunities. An idea would come up mid-term — a chance to go somewhere — and I’d instantly think, “I can’t.” That automatic no started to wear on me.
At the time, I thought all of this was just the way it was. That it was normal. That it was part of the deal.
But looking back, these weren’t just annoyances.
They were signals — about what mattered to me. What I value. What supports me to live well, and work well.
A Shift in Perspective
No, not all of these things can be changed.
But not all of them are fixed either.
Here’s what might be worth holding onto:
Some parts of the job aren’t just frustrating — they’re revealing.
What gets under your skin might be showing you what you actually care about.
You don’t have to overhaul everything.
Sometimes, it’s enough to make one part of your week feel more aligned.
You’re allowed to want a lifestyle that supports who you are — not just the role you play.
Paying attention can be one of the first step.
When something bothers you, get curious. Is this something I need to just get through? Or is it something I can respond to differently? What is it revealing about that I really want for my life?
This isn’t about escape. It’s about awareness.
The life around your work matters, whether within or beyond education.
Because it is your life.
Sincerely,
Hannah
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