I still remember the day I was standing in my kitchen while my husband made dinner.

We were talking about our days.

And then I completely zoned out.

Not because I didn’t care.
Not because I wasn’t listening.

But because I was emotionally drained.

Teaching had taken everything out of me.

My husband got frustrated. I could see it on his face. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t engaged. I was just… empty.

That was the moment I realized:

Something had to change.

Because there had to be a better way than working myself into the ground.

The Lie: “It’s Impossible to Have Balance as a Teacher”

I used to believe that teacher work-life balance was a myth.

I remember hearing another teacher make a comment about the teacher down the hall who left at contract time every day.

The implication?

“She must not care enough.”

And somewhere along the way, I absorbed the belief:

Good teachers work themselves to the ground.
Good teachers sacrifice.
Good teachers are exhausted.

Anything less? You’ll be judged.

Add in being a high achiever who grew up receiving praise for how hard she worked… and you have the perfect recipe for burnout.

I felt guilty for resting.
I felt guilty for making things easier.
I felt guilty for not struggling.

But here’s what I discovered:

When I let teaching become easier…
I loved my job more.
I showed up with passion.
I had energy.
I made a deeper impact.

Teacher work-life balance isn’t impossible.

It’s a mindset shift.

3 Mindset Shifts That Changed Everything

1. I Had to Define My Own Version of a “Good Teacher”
   
   

If I was the one defining what a good teacher meant…

What would that actually look like?

Is it measured by the number of hours worked?
Or the impact I make inside my classroom?

You cannot build balance on someone else’s definition.

1. I Had to Define My Own Version of Balance
   
   

Balance looks different for everyone.

For me, it meant:
Getting everything done during contract hours.
Staying 1–2 weeks planned ahead.
Not scrambling the night before.

For another teacher, balance might look like planning the day before.

There is no universal timeline.

But ask yourself:
If no one could judge you…
If no one could be mad at you…
What would your version of balance look like?

1. I Had to Give Myself Permission to Let It Be Easy
   
   

This was the hardest one.

I felt shame.

Who was I to let teaching be easy when so many others were struggling?

But here’s the truth:

Teaching is supposed to feel sustainable.

When it becomes easier, your impact becomes deeper.

Aligned action feels lighter.
Misaligned action feels heavy and guilt-filled.

When you stop “should-ing” all over yourself…
You create space for joy again.

Work-Life Balance Is Proof — Not Luck

If other teachers are doing it…

That’s not proof it’s impossible.

It’s proof it’s available.

The question is:
Are you willing to define success for yourself?

Wrap-Up

Let’s recap:

Teacher work-life balance is not a myth.
It’s a mindset.

You have to:
• Define your own version of a good teacher
• Define your own version of balance
• Give yourself permission to let it be easy

Because you are not here to struggle.

You are here to lead.

Next Steps

If this resonated with you, here’s where to start:

📘 Read That New Teacher Next Door
Learn how to opt out of the martyr teacher identity and build sustainable systems.

📝 Download the FREE Teacher Prep Guide
Plan ahead so you stop taking work home and reduce teacher burnout.

💛 Join The Present Teacher Circle
Ongoing support and systems to help you work less and impact more.

You don’t need to work yourself into the ground to be a good teacher.

You just need a new mindset.

And we are stronger together.