Too jaded to do anything after work

castaway_lady

I can't be the only one who has this issue, so Im hoping for some "cures". I'm an exhausted/ burned out teacher and so fed up of having nothing left in the tank to do anything after work. I get up at 6.45, leave the house at 7.45 and commute for nearly an hour. The typical day is manic busy, but then again so are most people at work! Another hour commute home and I'm beat
It takes the hours drive home to thaw out after the day. Then I crash and burn. The odd day I make it out for a walk, but living in the country that's getting impossible in the dark evenings now.
I need to get to the gym but I do this once a week now at most, not even every week, on a Friday afternoon and a walk of too at the weekend because I can't face driving to the gym. By Sunday afternoon my energy starts to return at about the same time my mood crashes at the thought of the next week of exhaustion. I'm pure sick of doing nothing except drive, work, sit and sleep.
I'm not sick (yet) but health wise this is depressing, I know I've lost tonnes of fitness and strength not to mention life!

LegacyUser

Omg I'm your twin here.
Not in the same profession, but just burnt out after work every day.
Have had blood tests with GP& not deficient in iron or anything.
Just simply wrecked at the end of each day. Often go to bed at 7pm, so it's not a lack of sleep either!
Wonder if many others here have the same issue...

KnocKnocKnock

Castaway Lady, I can completely relate! I'm also a teacher who feels like my life revolves around work and I've no energy for anything else. I can't offer much useful advice, I can only say that hopefully, it's just the time of year and I can empathise!

implausible

The only way I ever get any exercise done is if I do it before I get home or if I have to. Once I'm in the door, that's it. Is there a gym/pool near your school? That way you'd have your exercise done and shower got before you get home, could be worth a try. Buddying up with someone is also good motivation as you don't want to let the other person down.

The job can be exhausting and you need to keep yourself able for it.

If the tiredness is really excessive, are you sure there's no medical cause? Have you got your thyroid checked?

sullivlo

Any chance you could have an active commute? Cycle or walk part of the way?

I try to be as practical as possible on the weekends too so that I have less to do in the evenings so that I can actually sit and do nothing if I need.

I also try get things done before going home as if I go home I won't go out again.

I get quality sleep (rather than quantity - too much sleep is almost as bad for you).

Get the auld bloods and whatnot checked too. You could be breeding a virus - kids are notoriously generous with them.

MintyMagnum

Or B12 levels too.
Try a multivitamin like pharmaton.

allthedoyles

Give up using all sweet things and use pure honey throughout the day in your porridge , in tea coffee etc.
Honey will give you energy

Fakediamond

Get a dog! I also want to crash every evening after work but my dog has other ideas. So, first thing when I get in, I have to walk the dog. That means every day, dark nights, pouring rain, freezing. I also live in a rural area so have to load the dog into the car to get to somewhere safe to walk, or find another dog loving fool to brave the dark with me. The dog gives so much back to me in other ways though, keeps me sane really, after a horrible day at work.

I totally get what you mean about burnout, employers want more for less and it's taking its toll on the workers. It's getting harder to just keep going, never mind happy and motivated in our jobs!

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

Op...that's a mental day. If I did it id be wrecked too... Can you shorten your commute? Is the job permanent? Long ass day...

amtc

I don't think this is atypical! I'm usually up at 6... in by 8...leave at 6.30...suits as going over m50. Work from home 2 days.

I think a lot is to do with sudden change in darkness etc. this week.

sentient_6

I was talking to a work colleague about this recently. Iv a 6 month old and our evenings are all go with her, dinner, walking the dog, washing the dishes etc etc. It can be exhausting.....if you let it get to your head.

Im not joking when I say this, the trick is don't sit down for even 2 minutes when you get home, or you'll get instantly tired and not want to get up again. Most evenings we don't stop and relax until about 9 after everything gets done.

seamus

As others have said, get yourself checked out by your GP to make sure there's nothing medically wrong, you're not low in any hormones or vitamins, etc.

Counter-intuitively, not getting exercise in will sap your energy. If you can even get a 30 minute brisk walk in, it can perk up your energy - can you do this before you even leave work?

Also watch your diet. If you're snacking on sweet stuff during the day and including things like chocolate in your lunch, then you're going to feel a "crash" later in the day when your insulin spikes.

LegacyUser

castaway_lady wrote: »

I get up at 6.45, leave the house at 7.45 and commute for nearly an hour.

As you're a teacher, I'm gonna guess that you typically leave your workplace at 4.30 and you say have the same commute home. Even if you left at 5.30, what you're describing would actually be quite a handy day compared to a lot of people, you still have 4-5 hours a day to spare before you get the head down for a full night's sleep and you have weekends off and plenty of holidays, far more than most.

I leave the house at 6.00 to start a 2 hour journey to work, typically an 8.5 hour day. My girlfriend leaves with me to go to the gym, because she has two businesses to run on top of a full-time job. I find time to head to the gym, study, run, go to the cinema and help out on a farm, all with considerably less time than you. We're not untypical and I know people who manage all that who are parents and really do have a lot to juggle in comparison.

I don't think the length of your working day or your quite easy commute is the issue. Perhaps your diet is poor, or you have bad exercise habits, or bad time management, but your working day and travel aren't the problem, in fact the relative ease and predictable regularity of them is probably your biggest asset in building a healthier life. Alternatively, you may want to think about whether teaching is for you at all if you find quite a short working day to be so taxing.

silverharp

sleep also, most people don't get enough, OP do you get 7 to 8 hours? maybe do something like switch off all gadgets/tv etc at 9pm and wind down with a book

intheclouds

Same meself.

I do manage to get to the gym 3 days a week but I get up at 6am to do it and hence Im in bed even earlier as a result. By the time Friday comes I am falling asleep by 9pm and I need the weekend to recharge.

seamus

Guessed wrote: »

As you're a teacher, I'm gonna guess that you typically leave your workplace at 4.30 and you say have the same commute home. Even if you left at 5.30, what you're describing would actually be quite a handy day compared to a lot of people, you still have 4-5 hours a day to spare before you get the head down for a full night's sleep and you have weekends off and plenty of holidays, far more than most...

Tbh, while I see what you're saying in most of your post, it's a bit unfair to compare working days based on pure hours worked.

A school teacher may have a relatively short day, but overall it's a full-on day. Your average office worker spends their time reading and writing emails, compiling information and looking at reports, broken up with significant periods of surfing the web or going to get coffee.

In an office worker's terms, a teacher's day is like a day of back-to-back presentations from start to finish, where you are the presenter. A primary school teacher has a shorter day again but will actually be a lot more physically active than a secondary school one.

Different roles have different duties, and cannot be directly compared as "easy" or "hard" based on whether you do 5 or 12 hours a day.

You are correct in that the OP has a day that's more predictable than many others' and more hours in the evening, which they should use to their advantage. The additional time in the evenings in particular could be used to beat the gym rush and get in when it's quiet and out when everyone else is just starting.

But you can't say that they have no excuse for being tired - I'm willing to bet you'd trade your hours for hers, but not the job.

intheclouds

Constantly knackered myself from long commute and long workday.

Get nothing done any evening bar preparing dinner and few chores. Spend the weekends pre cooking and getting bigger chores out of the way.

On monday morning the treadmill restarts and I get back on.

Rekop dog

Sounds like you're in the a rut of a routine more than anything, and giving in to the laziness. Exercise more and eat cleaner and you'll probably notice a marked difference in energy levels. I know teachers who have very active post work lives on midweek days, train your mind to not go into switch off mode when you get home. Also I know it's cliche'd but teachers get a crazy amount of holidays compared to most so opportunities to refresh are never too far away. Medical reasons aside there's no excuse to be so lazy so don't listen to the overly sympathetic posts, get busy living or get busy dying.

Tigerandahalf

A few posters here with the usual anti teacher stuff but ignore them. I can imagine being in charge of 30 plus kids every day must be physically but especially mentally draining.

It is always recognised as being one of the more stressful jobs and being able to switch off is probably a key skill to survive in the job.

Since you have a decent commute consider some good relaxing music for the car. Avoid negative radio and the usual current affairs stuff.

Do try to get a walk in every day. It is a great way to clear the mind and switch off.

With winter coming in and darker days consider taking vit D3 supplement.

With your holidays do treat yourself as well and book a few days away to recharge.

If you don't have family yet take advantage of those holidays and travel as much as you can.

Best of luck.

Windorah

Guessed wrote: »

your working day and travel aren't the problem, in fact the relative ease and predictable regularity of them is probably your biggest asset in building a healthier life. Alternatively, you may want to think about whether teaching is for you at all if you find quite a short working day to be so taxing.

As soon as I read your OP I knew to brace myself for these types of replies! I'm a teacher too and looking after (never mind teaching) thirty something little gangsters is exhausting! Just look up the most common professions for burn out.
I think exercise and diet are hugely important. I get up at 5am to exercise and still manage to be at my desk by 8am. I genuinely find I have so much more energy after exercising. Diet too is so important.
I put everything into my job and by the sounds of it, you probably do too. So ignore the above comment about teaching not being for you. Look after your health, physical and mental and hopefully you can find a balance in your life. And if you figure it out let me know how!

The_Honeybadger

Re exercise you can put together a pretty versatile home gym for very reasonable money. A yoga mat, some adjustable dumbells, bands and a foldable bench and you're set. Get your workout done or go for a walk asap when you get in from work. It's a crazy waste paying a gym sub and only going once a fortnight.

After that get plenty of sleep and eat a good balanced diet with plenty of fresh veg. If you are still suffering from excessive tiredness I would be giving the doctor a visit to make sure everything is ok.

Trimm Trabb

Guessed wrote: »

As you're a teacher, I'm gonna guess that you typically leave your workplace at 4.30 and you say have the same commute home. Even if you left at 5.30, what you're describing would actually be quite a handy day compared to a lot of people, you still have 4-5 hours a day to spare before you get the head down for a full night's sleep and you have weekends off and plenty of holidays, far more than most.

I leave the house at 6.00 to start a 2 hour journey to work, typically an 8.5 hour day. My girlfriend leaves with me to go to the gym, because she has two businesses to run on top of a full-time job. I find time to head to the gym, study, run, go to the cinema and help out on a farm, all with considerably less time than you. We're not untypical and I know people who manage all that who are parents and really do have a lot to juggle in comparison.

I don't think the length of your working day or your quite easy commute is the issue. Perhaps your diet is poor, or you have bad exercise habits, or bad time management, but your working day and travel aren't the problem, in fact the relative ease and predictable regularity of them is probably your biggest asset in building a healthier life. Alternatively, you may want to think about whether teaching is for you at all if you find quite a short working day to be so taxing.

Your day sounds really easy compared to my day. I work as a teacher during the day and then as a nurse on the night shift during the evening. I also do the ultra marathon every week as well as studying for my PhD. I have 6 boys and 6 girls, all of which I consider to be extremely easy to manage.

But don't these business owners actually just boss their employees around, send emails and drink lattes most of the day? Sure there would be nothing taxing about that, no wonder there it's so easy to fit in all that other stuff. Maybe you and your girlfriend have a bad diet and that's why you can't live your life as well as I live mine?

Kh1993

Not surprised the anti-teacher poster is an unreg.. ignore, I wouldn't do that job no matter what you paid me. I'd consider my 9-5 office-y job 10x easier than teaching so don't bother takin the snide "if you can't handle the short day" bs to Heart (I wonder if that poster would have commented if the op hadn't mentioned teaching..)

Is there any way you could turn your commute into reliable public transport even? I don't teach, work til 5/6 but I find the hour in and home on the train are a great stress reliever to switch off, read etc. I don't think I could face a long drive after work so you're doing better than some people!

Food is a big one. Everyone has their tired days where they over do it on the sugar and caffeine and just crash. Maybe try split two decent meals between breaks? I know some teaching friends who'd have a big proper dinner at their lunch break. Maybe a change of habit could give a little bit of life?

purplesnack

+1 for the change in diet. I used to be the same as you OP until I changed my eating habits. I cut out caffeine, all refined sugar, processed foods and now eat whole foods and drink plenty of water. My energy levels all day are way up and I'm sleeping so much better too.

It's also easy to get into a routine of crashing on the couch in the evenings. Sometimes you have to force yourself to get up and do things, but you'll feel better if you do.

donkeykong5

Get vitamin b complex tablets in aldi for €1.49. Make sure you take one daily. In a week you will be fine. but keep taking them .

donkeykong5

Get vitamin b complex tablets in aldi for €1.49. Make sure you take one daily. In a week you will be fine. but keep taking them .

donkeykong5

Get vitamin b complex tablets in aldi for €1.49. Make sure you take one daily. In a week you will be fine. but keep taking them .

donkeykong5

Get vitamin b complex tablets in aldi for €1.49. Make sure you take one daily. In a week you will be fine. but keep taking them .

ted1

What do you do between getting up and leaving the house? An hour is quite a bit to be potting about. Get up half an hour later.

Cut out an sugary snacks. Sitting in your ass actually zaps your energy. Get up and go for a run or walk , it takes about 21 days to make a habit , so at first it'll be a struggle but after three weeks it'll be part of your routine

LegacyUser

ted1 wrote: »

What do you do between getting up and leaving the house? An hour is quite a bit to be potting about. Get up half an hour later.

+1 on that, never understood what people waste time being up so soon before they leave (obviously not including those with kids). I'm out the door in 10 to 15 mins after I get up, even less than 10 mins sometimes. Showering the night before is a great time saver and something I always do.

As for the comments on teaching being a short day, its very obvious people making these comments have no idea what its like. I am a lab/office worker usually in work about 9 hours a day (sometimes more). That's made of periods of working quite hard but also taking over an hour for lunch, plenty of chats and internet browsing, getting tea etc.

Occasionally I do some outreach work in primary schools, its fun stuff so the kids are interested (rather than if it was their school work). Its usually for about 3 hours 10am to 1pm or something like that and by 1pm I'd be wrecked, much more tired than after a normal full days work.

Dr Crayfish

I've got something similar. I get up at 8, cycle to work, it's only 8km, usually go to gym at lunchtime, and then I'm home around 6ish. After making myself dinner I just want to veg and watch TV or mess around on the internet. I was only thinking last night how anyone has the energy to do other stuff, I can't imagine having kids. I'm 36 now, am I just getting old?
OP, maybe it's just the way things are, but if you could cycle maybe or go for a run at lunch or something you could squeeze in some exercise, it may even make you feel less tired all round.

openup

I'm a teacher too and I put a lot of effort into developing my life outside of work so that I didn't burn out. My standard work day is up at 6, leave home 6.45. My commute is hour and school doesn't stat til 8.25 so I've sometime to prepare for the day. School finishes at 4.15. I leave anytime from 4.30-7 though it's usually 5.30. It often takes an hour and a half to get home due to traffic. So that in itself is a pretty long day but unlike a lot of teachers I hardly ever take work home and if I do I make a point of doing it with TV/radio on so it doesn't feel like such a chore. So my tips:
- Try and do something 4/5 nights a week. I usually have Mon or Thurs to myself but I try and do something every other night. The more you do, the more you get done and the more energy you have. So next week on Mon I'm going out for dinner, Tue I have a sports class (near school which forces me to stay late and work), Wed is parents evening, Thurs I get to chill. Doing stuff makes you feel good which in turn encourages you to get out and do more stuff.
- Use your commutes. Obviously if you drive you can't read but you could listen to a podcast, tedtalk or radio drama? Or try listening to a new artist every week or do something productive other that listening to banal radio chat or depressing news while being annoyed at traffic.
- I found being confident at improv teaching really helpful. Obviously we want all lessons to be perfectly planned but realising that if I just didn't have the time then I could still knock out something decent on the spot really took th pressure off.
- I make my personal commitments the concrete thing in my diary and pencil work around it (within reason) so that I actually look forward to my days! Like it's never "If I finish my marking I'll come" it's "the more marking I get done now the better because I'm going out later".
- Set personal challenges but tell someone. For the past few weeks I've started drawing for 30 mins everyday. I'm so proud of myself, I'e hadn't drawn in almost ten years. I struggled after a few days because work was too much and i was wrecked but then I told my mum and she made me send them to her everyday and I honestly can't believe how much I've gotten out of it. I told a friend who now write for a set time everyday and says she feels so accomplished as a result.
- And the classic "write down 3 good things about each day". I don't do this consistently, just when I'm feeling a bit sh*t and it's one of the most helpful things.

looksee

There does tend to be a lot of tiredness in autumn and spring, the turn of the year. I have heard so many people complaining of being exhausted recently. There is some good advice in the thread, especially taking a supplement - it isn't necessary all year round but I find its a good idea to have a month of multivitamins in spring and autumn.

silverbolt

Guessed wrote: »

As you're a teacher, I'm gonna guess that you typically leave your workplace at 4.30 and you say have the same commute home. Even if you left at 5.30, what you're describing would actually be quite a handy day compared to a lot of people, you still have 4-5 hours a day to spare before you get the head down for a full night's sleep and you have weekends off and plenty of holidays, far more than most.

I leave the house at 6.00 to start a 2 hour journey to work, typically an 8.5 hour day. My girlfriend leaves with me to go to the gym, because she has two businesses to run on top of a full-time job. I find time to head to the gym, study, run, go to the cinema and help out on a farm, all with considerably less time than you. We're not untypical and I know people who manage all that who are parents and really do have a lot to juggle in comparison.

I don't think the length of your working day or your quite easy commute is the issue. Perhaps your diet is poor, or you have bad exercise habits, or bad time management, but your working day and travel aren't the problem, in fact the relative ease and predictable regularity of them is probably your biggest asset in building a healthier life. Alternatively, you may want to think about whether teaching is for you at all if you find quite a short working day to be so taxing.

How? In this day and age with all the understanding that is out there? How is the pervading myth that teachers are somehow overpaid underworked life of riley layabouts.

Musketeer4

implausible wrote: »

If the tiredness is really excessive, are you sure there's no medical cause? Have you got your thyroid checked?

What age are you? I dunno, maybe its menopause or something. Get checked by the doctor. Maybe you can get treament if it is.

Musketeer4

allthedoyles wrote: »

Give up using all sweet things and use pure honey throughout the day in your porridge , in tea coffee etc.
Honey will give you energy

Rubbish. Honey is basically just sugar the same as well, sugar. It is about 70% fructose and glucose and it's only nutritional advantage over table sugar is that it has some vitamins and minerals.

From a sugars perspective it will do the same thing to your body as sugar as in it will cause rapid blood sugar elevation and insulin spikes. There is little to no advantage in substituting it for regular sugar.

cloudatlas

I work funny shifts. I bring my gym gear to work and go straight to the gym after work and it has done wonders for me physically and mentally. Even if I'm tired, I have a coffee and then work out and I feel pepped up. It also releases pent up tension. Maybe you could go on the boards nutrition forum and post your diet and get advice there?

123 LC

unreg9990 wrote: »

+1 on that, never understood what people waste time being up so soon before they leave (obviously not including those with kids). I'm out the door in 10 to 15 mins after I get up, even less than 10 mins sometimes. Showering the night before is a great time saver and something I always do.

Are you a man? I only ask as as a women, doing hair, makeup and then brushing teeth, getting in breakfast in the mornings etc definitely take more than 15 mins...probably close to an hour.

allthedoyles

Musketeer4 wrote: »

Rubbish. Honey is basically just sugar the same as well, sugar. It is about 70% fructose and glucose and it's only nutritional advantage over table sugar is that it has some vitamins and minerals.

From a sugars perspective it will do the same thing to your body as sugar as in it will cause rapid blood sugar elevation and insulin spikes. There is little to no advantage in substituting it for regular sugar.

Honey has a lower GI value than sugar, meaning that it does not raise blood sugar levels as quickly.

mirrorwall14

I'm a teacher, overweight and with a toddler to keep me busy at home. Last few years I was constantly wrecked after school, to the point of needing a nap. Obviously some of that is lack of sleep with the toddler but not all.

Five months ago I started walking. Forced myself out of the house three evenings a week. I'm not going to lie, it was absolute torture. Every step. I wanted to be curled on the couch. I wanted to be anywhere but walking.

Similarly I joined a regular Wednesday night meet up. I hated leaving the house, the slightest excuse and I'd want to pull out. However every time once I'd get there or come home I'd have enjoyed myself thoroughly and refreshed my head for the rest of the week.

I decided to take on 8 week challenges. That is, make a positive change then keep it up consistently for at least 8 weeks to try and make it a habit. This has me eating breakfast. Cleaning the house more regularly (less to do when it's not needing a deep clean). Taking 10 minutes for myself. Going out to exercise. So far it's working fairly well.

In the last six months I've dropped a size on bottom and top. I'm cooking better because I have more energy. I get antsy when I can't get to the gym or out for a jog. I'm 10 times happier and I'm not as exhausted in the evenings

You could be doing some/all of that but just my two cents!

LegacyUser

(for the record, I'm the child of a teacher so I know exactly what the job involves...)

OP, your day isn't any better or worse than anyone else's to be honest. I won't go into my day, there's no point. I've one piece of advice, that kind of echoes someone else's here. You need to be ruthless about getting your work done and going home. Your time management in the afternoons needs to be military strict. It's the only way. I've observed a lot of teachers over the years after school,and I've noticed that many of them have a tendency to just keep going endlessly in an evening, with stuff that might not always be absolutely necessary. Because you're into overtime (essentially) and it's still the afternoon, it tends to drift on for much longer than it should. Whereas if you were doing overtime in an office, it would probably be post 5:30/6pm, and you'd be much more conscious of needing to get home because night would be approaching. Does that make sense? Start being aware of the time and rationing it carefully, rather than the actual work, if that makes sense.

Also you need to pick a couple of nights where you're going to do classes or something like tag rugby. I wouldn't do something every night myself, leave a night free in between to recharge maybe. But "going to the gym" is an easy thing to cop out of for everyone, once you get home. If you have to turn up at something at a specific time, where people are waiting for you, you're less likely to sit at home instead!

Also this time of year is exhausting. I hate it, personally. The change to winter is so, so tough and the clock change was only last weekend!

Xaracatz

There's loads of us here!

I'm terrified of burnout, but worried that it's already happened. Was working 90 hour weeks on average for over a year in a pretty high pressure job (which I do love though - except I hate it now also because of the stress), and, now it's getting to normal, I can't adjust / relax. Work became my life.

Some really good advice on this thread. What scares me is how common this has become.

Musketeer4

Give up that 90 hour week job. You're a busy fool working that kind of hours.
In time, that will have a direct and serious impact on your health. Up to and including cancer from stress and lack of exercise. Mark my words.

Working like that leaves essentially no time to live your life.
Wouldn't catch me doing it for all the tea in China, that's for sure. Not worth the money.

puppieperson1

in general all paye workers are tired and worn out. i work in corporate company 40 + hours margin margin margin thats all i hear . I hate it and look forward to curling up in the evenings. I am now walking away i have no life pay huge rent and all the other sundries to do with living away from home.
I am walking out on christmas eve and cant wait i am taking a year off to reprogram my life and see what i really want. I am full of fear but the alternative is to die digging the coporate ditch .

jester77

OP, a lot of it is mind over matter. You have to power your way through it especially later in the day.

My alarm is scheduled to go off at 7, but the kids always beat me to it and I am up any time from 6. Get them ready, prepare their breakfast, off to the creche and then to work. Home by 7:30, get them into bed which is always a challenge. Then it's time to start cooking and clean up the house a bit. Usually finished eating by 9:30, and do small tidy up and done by around 10. I then sit for 30 mins to let the food digest. This is the toughest part of the day, I am usually ready to sleep by 10:30, but instead I hit the gym as it's the only time I have available to do it. Once I am warmed up in the gym, the tiredness is quickly gone and I have a surprising amount of energy.

Most days I don't want to go as I just feel wrecked, but I have not once regretted going. It's tough at the start but once you have a routine going it gets much easier.

Yellow pack crisps

It's routine and mentality. If your routine is to do nothing then you are lethargic anyway regardless of work and commuting. Do a rota for a month of things to do after work and stick to it. After a few weeks your in an active routine as opposed to a static one! Unless your ill the body generally is willing and wants activity but the brain can be a lazy pox sometimes.

LegacyUser

had to reply to this. "Handy day"= 30 kids all day long with huge and very important needs, the normal lessons 6/7 per day that are planned, prepped, typed into notes , reflected upon. Example: Maths, Science, English, History, Geography, Music, Art, SPHE, P.E., Gaeilge. Do I have video clips collected, have i printed and laninated resources, do I have my materials ready..what do i need to buy, do I know what im teachinh, how will i teach it.
Then remembering for example in maths these 5 kids need easier work, this child is EAL and needs visual aids, this child is a high achiever so prepare extra work-this happens for your 30 kids.
After school hours all planning takes place and the following: Write a plan for each 7 lessons 5 days a week. Write another plan: what have you taught. Do assessments: Write checklists, fill them in, evaluate them, Fill in observation forms, collate self assessments, correct tests and fill into record sheets, photocopy kids work and add to assessment folders and so on and so on.
In class, after class : johnny has a bruise on his arm, (follow huge and very necessary procedure), kate is crying why? Alex is always hungry note is this neglect, two kids have bumped headz get ice packs ring home write report, 2 kids are fighting on yard, doscuss, resolve, create social stories to address this, sarah has special needs ..link in with resource teacher as she is highly anxious today..try ro calm and ease tension, 4 cuts after yard ..this is for EVERY child EVERY minute of the day and a lot of things that are going on stay with you, you take it home (though you shouldnt).
You are a caregiver, nurse, social worker, educator, and dont forget these little lives are with you all day so you become as inportant as their parents. You build their confidence, self esteem..you help to mold little lives but you also have to teach a full curriculum every day that wont fit into your timetable in reality. You go home feeling miserable that x y and z wasnt taught today on top of all the emotional stuff. You are fighting for kids with any additional needs, how can i get them help/do they need assessment/ what forms do i fill in/keep a huge record to build your case.
On top of this you correct all 6/7 subjects everyday. Impossible to do in a younger class so you guessed it. ..it all comes home or is done before and after school.
I am SO TIRED of this "handy number" spiel. I DO NOT propose to know your job..why do you propose to know mine? This is the bare bones of a primary teacher's day. I havent includec meetings, course days, croke park hours, the fact that you cant pee because theres no time..hold it until your 10 minute break and get no break. Big vreak is 20 minutes unless youre on yard or taking extra sports classes that you have to take.
Parents believing every single word out of their childs mouth..if teachers did that we would believe you went to the moon yesterday in the car..we have to deal with aggressive parents, every week one teacher is crying- this is the norm this is part of the job. Building, developing and maintaining rrlationships with parents lets include that also. Lets not forget Mary is brilliant at everything and the new trend of "change her report card".
The Op is exhausted because of work life balance on her "handy job" because the op finishes earlier than most ( or do they?)
Its a full on emotional job OP and so important to make time for yourself..plan something nice at the weekends, meet a friend one evening a week (head straight from work) this will help yiu to start getting your life back.

Tldr: I dont know what you do everyday in your job so how do you know my "handy" job?