It’s helpful to remember the school needs you more than you need that job. Few people are willing to do what you do.

And this is more true now than in many decades. You are a commodity, so don't let your admin feel like you have to be giving 1000% into every taks and request. Schools will ask you give until you have absolutely nothing for your family or your students.

Setting limits is key. In many positions, working longer hours strategically in the first few years can allow you to build up lessons and resources that you can reuse indefinitely. Put more time into those tasks that will pay dividends in the future, and less into things that can be done to a lesser level because they only need to be done once.

I saw a teacher give more than 10 years to our school, and she was the type who worked hours after school every night and each weekend. She got ill mid-year (related to excessive stress and burnout) and decided to retire and it was literally a BLIP on the radar of this year. No card, no big goodbye, no kind words. She was gone, and they hired someone else, and now her name never comes up. Do a good job because you care about your work, but never forget that it is JUST a job.

I compartmentalize. I teach a subject that will always have weekend work. I just give myself pockets of time (8-12 on Saturday and 2-5 on Sunday, etc). If the work can’t get done with the extra hours I’m willing to commit, then it doesn’t get done.

It’s helpful to remember the school needs you more than you need that job. Few people are willing to do what you do.

Time helps. I’m in my 13th year and I no longer do work on weekends or think much about my job. I remind myself that if I somehow had to leave my job tomorrow, someone else would figure it out.

How do you turn off and compartmentalize your teacher brain and work? I'm back to teaching, now with kids of my own and I'm still struggling with this. I literally have headaches now dealing with the constant problem solving and overthinking I do. It's so annoying!!