The Bell's About to Ring – But What If You Didn't Have to Go Back?

The holiday lights are still dangling by a thread. Your fridge is somehow full of both leftovers and nothing to eat. And the pile of “I’ll totally plan this lesson over the break” is… well… still a pile.

But let’s cut the crap.

School’s about to start again – and you’re not feeling it.

Oh sure, you’ll fake the enthusiasm when admin starts with their “We’re a team!” pep talk. You’ll smile. You’ll nod. But inside?

You’re counting down to the next break already.

“Just One More Week…”

I remember that feeling. I’d convince myself that if I had just one more week off, I’d magically feel recharged.

It never happened.

It wasn’t exhaustion I was feeling – not really. It was something heavier. A low-grade dread.

The thought of standing in front of a classroom, grading papers late at night, and battling admin emails… It wasn’t burnout – not yet. But I could feel it creeping in.

The Quiet Ache No One Talks About

I loved my students. I loved teaching.

But some mornings, I caught myself daydreaming about anything but going into work.

• I pictured sitting at home with coffee, writing something for a client instead of cramming in lesson plans.
• I imagined not dragging home a bag full of papers to grade at 10 PM.
• I thought about how nice it would be to actually enjoy weekends without a looming sense of guilt.

And the scariest part? I couldn’t picture a way out.

Teaching felt like the only thing I knew how to do. Leaving felt impossible – like giving up on a part of my identity.

So I stayed.

Until I didn’t.

What If This Year Could Be Different?

Look – I’m not here to tell you to quit your job. I didn’t hand in my resignation after one bad Monday either.

I started small.

I wrote during lunch breaks. I tinkered with freelancing on weekends. I pitched small projects after dinner.

One email. One pitch. One little project at a time.

Slowly, those small steps built momentum. And one day, I realized… I didn’t need teaching to pay the bills anymore.

By the time I left, I wasn’t running away from teaching. I was running toward something better.

You Don’t Have to Quit (Yet)

Look, I’m not saying you need to toss your lanyard in the trash today.

You don’t have to storm out with a dramatic “I QUIT!” speech (though… would be iconic).

But if you’re reading this and thinking “Damn, I feel this,”…

That’s your sign.

Start small. Build while you teach. One hour here. One email there.

And eventually…

You’ll realize you don’t have to go back if you don’t want to.

Start Small – One Action Today

If any part of this is hitting home – I get it. I know that ache. I know how suffocating it feels.

But here’s the deal… You don’t need to pack up your classroom tomorrow.

You just need to start with one small action.

And if you’re wondering what that first action is, I’ve got you covered.

That’s why I created The Classroom Escape Plan Newsletter. It’s a daily nudge – one short email to help you:

• Start freelancing while teaching.
• Use the skills you already have to land clients.
• Build momentum without burning out.

?? And it’s free.

One email a day. One small action. That’s how you start to escape.

This Time Next Year…

Picture this:

It’s the end of the break. The school bell’s about to ring.

But instead of feeling that familiar dread… You’re excited about what you’ve built.

Maybe you’re freelancing part-time. Maybe you’re sipping coffee at home, writing for clients instead of admin.

Or maybe you’re still teaching – but you’ve got options.

Because now, you’re not stuck.

?? Join The Classroom Escape Plan Newsletter below. Start today. One step at a time.

Your future self will thank you.