If you’re a teacher right now, sitting in the uncertainty of the strike, waiting to see what happens next, I want you to hear this:
You are allowed to rest.
You’ve been carrying more than anyone should have to.
You’ve been showing up for your students, managing complex needs with minimal support, and now, even as you finally have a moment to breathe, your body might not know how.
That’s what happens when the nervous system has lived in survival mode for too long. When fight, flight, or freeze becomes your default just to get through the day.
You might feel anxious, restless, or even guilty for slowing down.
You might also feel nothing at all.
That’s not apathy, that’s exhaustion. That’s your body protecting you.
As someone who’s been there, who once burned out trying to do it all, I know how disorienting it is to finally stop. But this pause, as hard as it is, matters. It’s a chance for your nervous system to catch up to your reality.
So, as you wait, I invite you to do three small things:
– Take one long breath before checking updates or news.
– Notice what makes your body exhale (warmth, quiet, laughter, nature).
– When you go back (whenever that is) go gently. You don’t have to prove your worth through exhaustion anymore.
This strike isn’t just about pay or policy. It’s about sustainability.
It’s about making it possible for compassionate people to keep doing meaningful work without losing themselves in the process.
Your care matters.
Your rest matters.
And you were never meant to carry it all alone.
If you need support, reach out.
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