.png)
I’ve been there. My 16-year journey as an educator was incredibly rewarding, but it was also deeply challenging. Burnout didn’t hit me overnight; it was a slow, subtle decline that crept into my life and, before I knew it, had overtaken my sense of joy and purpose. After years of teaching in post-secondary education and experiencing professional burnout myself in 2018, I deeply understand the hardships and pressures that educators face every day. I still remember the moment I realized I had given everything I had to everyone else, leaving myself with nothing. I was a shell of the person I used to be, exhausted and disconnected from the passion and purpose that once drove me.
My Story
I spent years thinking I had to do it all—convinced that if I didn’t say “yes” to every extra task, every committee, and every late-night email, I’d somehow be failing my students and colleagues. This mindset began to take a toll, and while I tried to push through, I started ignoring my body’s cries for help. Fatigue, tension headaches, and sleep problems became my constant companions, but I brushed them off, believing I just needed to “toughen up.”
As I defined my worth by my productivity, my boundaries blurred. Work bled into every corner of my life, leaving me “on” 24/7. Late nights became early mornings, weekends became workdays, and any concept of “me time” fell away. I told myself I was fine and that I’d find time for myself “later”—a promise that kept getting pushed back.
Can You Relate?
Putting Myself
Last
My health and self-care came last, sacrificed to an endless list of responsibilities and expectations, let go hobbies, set aside relationships, all the while telling myself, “I just don’t have time.” I kept pushing forward, believing that giving more of myself was the only way to keep up with the demands around me. But the more I gave, the less I had left, until I was running on empty.
Finally, I reached a point where I couldn’t ignore the signs anymore. Exhaustion, anxiety, and feelings of disconnect forced me to stop and reevaluate. I knew I needed to make a change. I sought support and began a journey back to myself, one where I started setting boundaries, redefining my values, embraced self-care, and began setting boundaries.
Through this process, I not only overcame burnout—I healed. I rediscovered my purpose and passion and emerged with a new understanding of what it means to live and work sustainably. I returned to the classroom with renewed energy and thrived for another five years.
In July 2024, I made the decision to retire from teaching and embrace my passion for coaching full-time. This transition has allowed me to focus on supporting educators in ways that prevent burnout, build resilience, and foster sustainable, fulfilling careers. The Well-being Path is my way of sharing what I learned along my own journey—offering the insights, tools, and strategies that I found transformative. My mission is to equip educators with the support they need to not just survive, but to thrive, both in their careers and in their lives.
A New Chapter