Finding a work/life balance is a must

I stayed at my previous job for multiple reasons: I had a great classroom, I taught what I enjoyed, my work was near my home and my child, and I believed that if my former students “needed” me, they would know where to find me. 

About 10 years ago, though, I realized that I would not be missed if I left. None of my former students “needed” me; they had parents, friends, and significant others. They had moved on, as they should. 

I realized I was a footprint in the sand…there for a moment and then gone in an instant. 

Once I realized I wasn’t as valuable or important to others as I thought I was, I decided I needed a better work/life balance. 

So many professions, it seems to me, suck employees’ energy. Whether it’s the demands of the corporate world or the educational world or the medical profession, it’s difficult to find work/life balance. 

As a teacher, I would spend 8-10 hours at work and then come home and work for another hour or two. Saturdays were filled with chores and errands, and parts of Sundays were for more work to stay caught up. Or at least try. Breaks, like Thanksgiving or Spring Break, were spent working for at least 3-4 of our days, hoping I could make a dent in the volume of work I had. 

A lack of work/life balance took a toll on my body. My neck, back, and hips perpetually hurt, even now. It feels like part of my spine–between my shoulder blades–has concrete in it. I can’t remember the last time I moved that area easily. 

I’ve developed arthritis in my “grading” hand from all the repetitive motions of grading papers. Standing for much of my days on concrete floors caused me to develop foot and knee problems. 

My mental health suffered as well: I’ve been combating depression and anxiety for years. Having an imbalance between my personal life and my professional life did not help. 

When I realized that I wasn’t important to the organization as an individual, just a body in a classroom, I stopped bringing work home. I stopped checking work emails from home. I decided to remove my work email from my phone. Suddenly, I had to learn what I could do when I had no work to complete at home. 

I had more time to spend with my family. I had more time to read, to breathe, to exercise. 

Leaving my previous profession, however, was the best decision for me. Work is important, don’t get me wrong, but my physical and mental health are more important. Finding a career that allows for a work/life balance is necessary. And remember, like me, you won’t be missed when you leave a job that makes you miserable.