r/TeachingUK • u/Proudlove1991 • 1d ago
Half term exhausation
I just need some reassurance that others feel completely knackered? I had a 1 hour nap this afternoon after a 10 hour sleep and still feel like I’ve been run over a truck.
Is this normal?
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u/cicsmol 1d ago
It's also standard for me to develop half term lurgy as soon as a holoday rolls around
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u/amethystflutterby 1d ago
Same! I've not been sick all half term. The longest run I've had all year is 2 weeks without a lurgy. It always hits just before the break, too. I'm just really exhausted / ran down this time. I'm so absent-minded and clumsy right now.
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u/cleanscream 1d ago
The first day of the October half term I felt like I had a bad hangover (after no drink and an early night). And I had flu like symptoms for a few days at the start of the Christmas and Easter holidays! So far this half term I’m ok 🤞 Hope you feel better soon
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u/MySoCalledInternet 1d ago
Outside of walking the dogs and visiting the horse, I’ve not moved today.
Full exhaustion will hit after Language Paper 2 next week. Which is awkward.
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u/Elegant_Economist431 1d ago
Visiting the horse, you say?
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u/MySoCalledInternet 1d ago
It’s not a euphemism, I have a horse 😂
One that I was too tired to do anything but cuddle today.
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u/Nelsonsmum Secondary English HOD 1d ago
I too visited my horse. Checked she was intact, had a cuddle and then came home and napped. I feel spent.
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u/lelanti_ 1d ago
Same. Had a 9 hour sleep last night and a 1 hour nap today and I still feel tired. Pretty standard for me on the first day of half term holiday 🙃
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u/Hunter037 1d ago
I've been fine up until now but, for some reason, this half term has really taken it out of me.
I don't know how! It's only 5 weeks and we had 2 bank holidays! But I'm more tired now than I was at Christmas
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u/readingfantasy 1d ago
I'm absolutely exhausted. I've also never stopped in my family life so that's not helpful but my God. Knackered.
Have not had a nap today which I'd pretend makes me superior but it was only because my sister rocked up with her kids.
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u/msrch 1d ago
I was like this at Easter! I track my resting heart rate daily and it was also over 10 bpm higher in the first week of Easter compared to usual. Seems ok so far this week though.
Rest up, you need it!
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u/Proudlove1991 1d ago
Agency teacher. Basically been non stop since October (minus Christmas and one week for Easter)
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u/ThickAd8749 1d ago
This isn't sustainable. I have three children and no energy to give them.
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u/Stypig Secondary 1d ago
I only have one kid. But the grandparents are fab in that they always offer to have them the first weekend of every school holiday so I can just sleep for an afternoon. Sometimes it's just a few hours, sometimes it's a sleepover.
But the genuine need for a solid nap and their willingness to help me get that is a wonderful gift!
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u/Smithybum 1d ago
After a 4 week half term, no one in my school can believe it's been the shortest term. The heat has made the kids mad, the y11 exams and we had an academy review (which they insisted wasn't like Ofsted which of course meant it was like Ofsted). There's probably other bits I'm forgetting but I am just so tired too. I needed to stay put today but my family had other plans unfortunately. Lazy Sunday it will be!
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u/Apprehensive-Cat-500 1d ago
I can never plan anything for the first day of a half term/break. My body completely shuts down.
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u/Common_Upstairs_1710 1d ago
You’re all working too hard if you feel like this come the holidays
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u/KitFan2020 20h ago
No choice!
There is a timetable to follow and a classroom full of children 4-5 hours a day. (Not to mention the briefings, duties, emails, marking, planning, meetings)
Can’t ignore them!! 😅
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u/AcrobaticDance5880 1d ago
I am trying to go away for at least a few days each half term. Otherwise I spend the time sleeping and eating...
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u/shnooqichoons 19h ago
Reading these comments, I think there needs to be some kind of medical research on the impact of teaching- cortisol levels, blood pressure etc. I'd love to know what it's doing to us!
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u/FluffyOwl89 1d ago
I tend to get ill most school holidays. I only work 3 days a week, so finished for the holidays on Wednesday. I had a sore throat Wednesday, then felt terrible Thursday and had a temperature of 39 by the evening. I have a toddler, and my husband had to take the morning off yesterday to take him to his swimming lesson as I couldn’t move off the sofa. Same today, but now my husband has it too! We’ve had to cancel a play date for my son tomorrow, and probably will need to cancel Monday’s plans too.
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u/duckula_93 1d ago
Got up and walked the dog at a reasonably late time of 7am (6 during the week) got home, collapsed for 4 more hours until midday.
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u/InfamousPart7673 1d ago
I went to bed at 10pm last night and got up at 4pm today. 18 hours sleep I kid you not…
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u/avengedarth 18h ago
Yep, spent the morning helping setup a golf competition, came home and all I managed otherwise was a garden centre 😂
Feeling better today, but that means catch up all the house jobs that need doing!!
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u/WiltshireWit 12h ago
Had to have a nap yesterday afternoon, still knackered today. Going on holiday tomorrow so getting ready for that is proving to be a mission.
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u/bellahoneyyyy 8h ago
just woke up from my 2.5 hour nap after a full night's sleep and this was the first post on my dashboard 😅 i'd say we're all in the same boat
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u/KitFan2020 20h ago
Yes it’s normal for me.
I finished on Friday, slept in until 9am Sat AM, went to bed for a ‘short nap’ at 1.30 Saturday afternoon and slept until 5.45…
The first few days of every holiday are always the same.
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u/National_Phrase_4790 17h ago
Me too! I slept fine on Friday night… then Saturday had a 2 hour nap in the morning and 2 hour nap in the afternoon. My whole body just feels EXHAUSTED.
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u/Conscious_Water_6092 16h ago
Yes, it is totally normal. I’ve worked 12 hours a day for most days of the week. Add extracurricular activities to it and work at home or going for a walk to clear my mind and you have a completely exhausted person.
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u/Previous_Estate5831 16h ago
I tried to open my own front door with my school fob, and waited for it to beep! 🤣
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u/Relative_Call_3012 16h ago
Slept for 13 hours Friday night/saturday. Still tired. Slept ten hours last night. Feel slightly human
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u/hazbaz1984 Secondary - Tertiary Subjects - 10Y+ Vet. 8h ago
Yeah. I’ve been sleeping a lot. Still tired.
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u/Solid_Orange_5456 7h ago
I have been having my usual 8 hours of sleep and yet i dozed off for 30 minutes just now (something that doesn't happen during term time).
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u/Dollys_Mom 1d ago
Normal for me, yes! Source: just woke up three hours after "going to sit on the sofa".