Coffee and Whiteboard Markers Podcast

Episode 75: The hidden toll of overdoing it in teaching

Coffee and Whiteboard Markers

In teaching, “going the extra mile” is often celebrated — but what happens when that extra mile quietly becomes the expectation? In this episode, we unpack the real cost of overdoing it in education: the burnout, the guilt, the resentment, and the slow erosion of our personal lives that no one warns us about.

We dive into:

  • Why teachers feel pressured to always say “yes”
  • The hidden emotional and physical toll of overworking
  • How constant self-sacrifice normalises an unsustainable workload
  • What happens to your relationships, wellbeing, and joy when teaching becomes your whole identity
  • Practical steps to build boundaries and teach sustainably (without guilt)

This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to be a superhero — you just need to be human. And your students need the version of you that has energy, balance, and longevity.

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