No work & lack of motivation /feeling crap

Kh1993

Going unreg here
Feeling unmotivated and down to the point where theres times I don't wanna go out the door or get out of the bed in the morning.
Im a teacher (well a sub teacher) and work is really really slow, to the point where i haven't had a day of work in 3 and a half weeks. Before that id 5 weeks and been up and down al year. I didnt expect things to be perfect but couldn't see it being this bad..

But anyway, if i dont get a call by 9 in the morning, thats basically my day over. Spend so much time staring at my phone, begging it to ring for work. Paranoia is definitely setting in. I feel myself getting fat, I know I'm eating way too much, I'm not sleeping well, i'm getting snappy with people, jealous of employed friends, every time someone asks me to do something (usually out of sympathy, especially at home), i just think what's the point. Even today, i cant think of anything useful I've done. I dont see a way out anytime soon, abroad isn't an option til september, another job -well 1 I'm only qualified and only have experience in teaching, and any other job would prob affect my availability for any hypothetical teaching work. Moneys okish for now but having to dip into savings

Sorry for the long winded post, i'm not expecting anyone to fix everything jobwise, but generally advice on how to cope with the boredom, the paranoia, fear etc and to help with the motivation and feeling sh*t.

Melisandre121

Hi OP, sorry to hear you've been feeling so low, it must be so tough for you at the moment.
Have you thought of taking a night course maybe? Check out this website, it has lots on it. http://www.eveningclasses.ie/

You could try anything, from Web design to salsa dancing! Good luck, and I hope you start to feel better soon.

highly1111

Ok, you need to set yourself some goals. Here's a few things. Download the couch to 5k app (trust me, if I did it - anyone can) - start tomorrow morning. After that, do the 5 to 10k. Then build up. You need to get some exercise for your mental health.

Next, make a plan that after your run and your shower, you go to the library. Read the paper/new books/go online - but outside the house. After a few weeks maybe get some confidence to ask about doing a reading morning - even with toddlers. It gives you a purpose. However small.

Then back for lunch and a bit of job hunting followed by meeting some friends for a cuppa / visiting family. No money required.

If you're secondary, do what I did. Get some business cards printed, get a facebook page and start offering grinds - its peak season. Get some flyers printed - drop them into local schools and ask them to distribute.

Its coming into summer - get down to the local GAA club and start volunteering - you don't need any knowledge for the little ones.

You're in control of your destiny and your mental health. Don't let it spiral. You need to mind yourself and get outdoors and some hobbies etc. Please mind yourself. I've been lucky this year but in 8 weeks time I start all over again on the job hunt. There's been mornings when if it wasn't for my kids, I would have had no other reason to get out of bed.

Good luck.

freshpopcorn

Have you done your Hdip, probation yet?
Is it primary or secondary?

Lux23

I don't know OP, I think you're looking at this all wrong. You are getting some work and money isn't a huge issue yet, so why not just simply enjoy the free time you have. Once the 9.00am deadline passes, say to yourself, ok no work so have the day to myself. What shall I do with it? Get yourself up and outside, do some exercise, run errands, go to cinema!

It's your time to enjoy, not endure.

Kh1993

Thanks for the advice everyone, appreciate it all..

To answer the q above, its primary, not probated yet, cant without any 50/100 day post. I've done some volunteering in a local school coaching, hoping that it might lead to some work, but the principal still ignored me for any subbing. I'm not against it, but there's a lot of employers who are happy to exploit your desperation to get you to do things for free

i play football and gaa, my weekends are grand, its just finding things to do during the weekdays is hard. In my group of friends, they all have mon to friday jobs, some walked straight into their grad jobs. Happy for them, but jealous if im being honest, especially now as they're just consumed with work all week, so dont see them from sunday to friday.family work too, so i find myself just wasting away the mornings with my dogs. And i know its not healthy, I'm sitting here right now feeling guilty about having done nothing of note today.

as i said, i play sports, i'm learning guitar, I read a bit, but these things i feel come work better doing an hour here or there to relax after work (when i had some), I don't feel i can spend a whole day doing any one of them things or a mix. I guess I'd love some structure, like a reason to get up early and put the effort into something.

freshpopcorn

I'm from Cork and I know a good few people who did primary teaching over the last few years. The ones who got probates quickly generally were willing to travel anywhere in the country to do it. Have a look at your CV and make sure it's up to scratch. Also have a look at schools websites before you send it to them and alter it to suit them. (IIf you get me)
Don't get too down about it. They'll be no one out of Mary I this year so this might make it a bit easier to get maternity leave posts.
Just to fill your day up. If you live at home you can find out does your parents need any D.i.Y done or just daily jobs done around the house.

whiskeyman

Have you sent your CV around all schools in your area... and further afield?
With GAA and learning the guitar, these are great points to have on your CV for potential employers.
Hang in there. I have friends who were in the same situation as yourself, but they tried to make the most of their day, whether it be visiting the gym, going to schools with CVs or just getting resources together should a call come.

Best of luck!

Rubberchikken

sometimes just saying or writing that you're not in form due to whatever is a great release.
sorry you're feeling crap at the moment. i know what it's like when there's no work on a particular day. it's hard to 'make' things to do - some days are better then others.

some good advice in other posts. try to keep busy on slow days and tell yourself things will improve. take care

Redser87

I feel for you OP. It's very demoralising to get up and ready for work, and then be on high alert for the phone to ring. And that high alert is with you as long as you have your phone by your side.
Do you drive? If not, learning to drive could be a really good project for you.. Firstly, because being able to drive would open up schools that aren't on your bus route or within walking distance. Also, it would be a very flexible project, if you got work during the day you could still have loads of time after work to go out for a spin.
I would advise turning off your phone and giving yourself a break from that high alert business after 9 tomorrow, just turn off your phone and do something kind for yourself.. Preferably out of the house..
another thing that might be useful is to make contacts among other sub teachers. If you go to a school and there is a second sub there, take their number and start a Viber group so you can pass on work you are not available for.
Remember as well that there may be more maternity leaves advertised after Easter. Plus, if a principal retires before the end of the year and it is filled internally, the teaching post of the new principal will have to be filled on a temporary basis until the permanency can go to somebody on the panel during the summer.
You are not in an easy position but all you can do is keep plugging away, and enjoy the easter break as much as you can, at least you have the certainty that nobody is working so you won't miss that all important call.