Reflecting on the why
Understanding why you want to leave teaching, how that feels and how to move forward.

Table of Contents
Introduction
If you're reading this, you've taken the first and most important step in this journey: accepting you're unhappy and want to leave the world of teaching behind.
You probably feel a range of emotions. You even might try to blame yourself. Maybe if you just stuck with it a bit longer...
None of this is your fault. What you feel is valid.
How would you feel if someone came to you and shared similar feelings about their career? What would you say to them? Give yourself the same generosity and respect. You deserve a job you love.
It's time to understand why you want to leave teaching and put it into words.
Give yourself space
When I left, I felt ashamed of myself.
I felt I didn't work hard enough, didn't dedicate enough of my free time to mark more books or create lesson plans. I blamed myself for feeling overwhelmed. By doing this, I had gaslit myself into believing that I was the problem.
As human beings, we're very good at blaming ourselves for things, even when it's not our fault. Have you ever said sorry to someone when they were the ones who bumped into you on the street?
Once I sat down and started writing down the things I didn't enjoy about my job I realised that, not only did they line up with what my colleagues said they hated, it showed me that I wasn't weird for feeling this way.
I wanted my free time back. I wanted control of my life. I wanted to be happy and not wake up each morning feeling anxious.
Activity
Download and complete the worksheet. There are two simple questions to answer, designed to help you articulate the feelings you’ve kept hidden for so long.
You’ll dive into what makes you unhappy right now, then you’ll have a go at imagining how your life might look in the future.
There's no set time for this activity. Don't rush it. Come back to it over time if you need more than one go at it.
After you're happy with what you've written, consider sharing your reflections with someone who understands the journey you're on, like a fellow teacher, partner or friend.
Ask them what they think of what you've shared.
Nobody to share it with, or have a question? Get in touch, and let’s talk about your journey together.