How to Survive a Job You Don't Love, when Career Change isn't an Option.

Let’s be honest, when you’re a teacher who’s over it, no amount of staff morning teas or PD sessions on “self-care” are going to magically make you fall back in love with your job.

You might be showing up every day, doing your best, and still thinking: “I don’t love this anymore. Is it ever going to get better?”

Maybe you're not ready (or able) to change careers just yet. Maybe you're waiting for the right moment, or you're simply exhausted and can’t face the idea of another big change right now.

If that’s you, I want you to know that you don’t have to love your job to enjoy your life.  Even if teaching isn’t what it once was for you, there are ways to feel better without quitting (yet).

Here are some small but powerful shifts that can help.

1. Reconnect with Your 'Why' (or Find a New One)

There was probably something that drew you into teaching in the first place such as a love of learning, helping others, or making a difference.  What was yours?

If that original spark has faded, it’s okay to look for a new reason to show up.

Maybe it’s not about being the best teacher in the building anymore. Maybe it’s about mentoring a new colleague, helping one struggling student each week, or simply showing up as a calm, kind adult in a chaotic environment.

2. Focus on What You Can Control

Are you feeling like so much of teaching is beyond your control?  Curriculum changes,  challenging behaviours, excessive workloads can all lead to stress and burnout .

That’s why it's crucial to reclaim control where you can.

• Set clear boundaries.

• Say no to something that drains you.

• Leave work on time (yes, really).

• Make your classroom a little sanctuary, bring in a plant, play calming music, put up art that makes you smile.

These micro-changes can make a big difference to how you feel each day.

3. Create More Joy Outside the Classroom

If work isn’t giving you joy, what is?

Sometimes the best way to survive a tough season in your career is to thrive outside of it. Pick up that creative project you shelved. Say yes to the weekend picnic. Go back to yoga. Learn how to paint. Dance in your kitchen.

When you feel alive outside of work, it gives you more emotional buffer inside of work.

4. Find Your Allies at Work

You don’t need to be best friends with the whole staffroom. But having one or two people you trust, laugh with, or share a vent-session with can change everything.

Human connection helps us feel seen. And being seen is often what we crave most in hard times.

So if there's someone who gets it, connect with them. And if not, maybe it's time to reach out to an external support group or community of like-minded teachers such as a Facebook group.

5. Set a Personal Goal (That Has Nothing to Do with School)

When teaching feels like an endless treadmill, having something of your own can give you a sense of momentum.

Maybe you set an exercise goal, take an online course, plan a trip, start journaling, or explore a side hustle. It doesn’t have to be big or career-related, it just has to be yours.

Having something to look forward to can make the workweek feel less like a trap and more like a stepping stone.

6. Redefine What 'Success' Looks Like - for Now

You don’t have to love every minute of your job. And you don’t have to be the most enthusiastic teacher in the building to be doing a good job.

Sometimes success looks like:

• Protecting your wellbeing

• Keeping your weekends sacred

• Showing up with compassion even when you’re over it

  
  

Give yourself permission to shift your standards in this season. Your peace matters more than perfection.

7. Plan for the Future Without Pressure

If the idea of leaving teaching is on your mind, know that you don’t have to figure it all out today. You can start exploring what's possible without handing in your notice.

Even small steps—like learning about transferable skills, talking to a coach, or reading real stories of career change, can bring hope and energy back into your life.

You don’t have to stay stuck.

You may not love your job right now and that’s okay. But you can still love your life. You can still find moments of joy, connection, and purpose even in a job that no longer fits.

And when you’re ready to explore something new, you don’t have to do it alone.

If you're a teacher who's wondering what else you can do with your skills and experience, my free guide, "10 Steps to Find Out What Else You Can Do With Your Teaching Skills", is a great place to start.  Details are here