You Are Not Failing as a teacher : You’re Overloaded

28 Apr

Written By Sandy

A nervous system reframe for teachers who feel like they’re burning out.

You are not failing. You are not incompetent. And your nervous system knows it — even if your brain hasn’t caught up yet.

If you’re a teacher who feels exhausted, reactive, disconnected, or numb, this post is a love letter and a soft landing for you. You're not alone — and you're not broken.

What’s Actually Going On?

Burnout isn’t a personal flaw.

It’s your body and mind doing their job: trying to protect you when the load becomes too heavy for too long.

You might be:

- Jumping from lesson to lesson with no pause

- Absorbing student emotions without processing your own

- Smiling through staff meetings while silently dissociating

- Saying “I’m fine” when your nervous system is screaming “I need help.”

This isn’t weakness. This is a nervous system under siege. And it’s asking for regulation, not more pressure.

A Simple Nervous System Reframe

What if we stop asking: “Why can’t I handle this?”

And instead ask: “What would help me feel a little more safe, steady, or seen right now?”

This is where emotional resilience begins—not in “toughing it out,” but in tending to yourself gently.

3-Minute Grounding Practice for Overloaded Days

1. Put one hand on your chest. One on your desk or lap.

2. Say quietly to yourself (or just think): “I am here. I am allowed to pause. I can come back to myself.”

3. Take three slow, full breaths — inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth.

4. Notice what softens, even slightly: jaw, shoulders, breath, thoughts.

You don’t need to fix everything. You just need to find your way back—gently, again and again.

A Journal Prompt to Explore

Try writing for 5–10 minutes on this question:

What is my body trying to tell me when I feel most overwhelmed at school?

Let whatever comes flow freely. It might be grief. It might be rage. It might be “I just want one minute of silence.” All of it is welcome.

You Deserve Support, Too

You spend so much of your day holding space for others.

Whether you're at your desk after school, curled up in bed, or reading this on your lunch break—you are already doing enough.

You are just in need of more care than the system was ever built to give.

And that is human. Not failure.

Sandy

Sandy is a qualified counsellor, certified life coach, and meditation teacher with over 20 years of experience in education. Having worked across high schools, universities, and leadership roles, she understands the deep challenges and quiet toll teaching can take.

Through her practice, Dear Teacher, Breathe, she offers counselling, coaching, and retreats designed to support the wellbeing of educators. Her work is grounded in compassion, lived experience, and a deep belief that teachers deserve care, too.