Balacing career and personal life. 

Teaching is one of the most emotionally and mentally demanding careers. Educators spend our days caring for and managing other people’s children, often while balancing our own responsibilities—whether that’s parenting, maintaining a household, supporting extended family, or simply trying to have a personal life.

These days, taking a “mental health day” is finally seen as a responsible act of self-care. But back in the day, teachers had to get a bit creative, and call them “sick days” to the boss and “sLick days” behind the scenes.

Were they dodging a virus? 

Nope. 

But rather burnout, a meltdown, or that one coworker who never. Stops. Talking.

📅 Natural Breaks Aren’t Always Enough

While us teachers do benefit from scheduled breaks throughout the school year, like Thanksgiving or winter vacation, those stretches are often filled with just as many obligations—travel, holiday events, family responsibilities—and not always with the rest we truly need.

Over time, one educator – we’ll call her Kori – shared a strategy that changed everything.

💡 A Shift in Priorities

At the beginning of her teaching career, Kori worked under a policy where unused time off couldn’t roll over. Instead, she would receive a small payout at the end of the year—around $200—for any unused sick days. Back then, she often pushed through exhaustion to earn that extra check.

But later, she realized something far more valuable than money: her mental health.

So, she began a new tradition. At the start of each school year, she would take out the district calendar and plan out one mental health day per month. 

Just one. 

But having that day to look forward to each month made a huge difference during those inevitable periods of stress or burnout.

🗓️ Midweek Reset Days

While many of us prefer to take time off near weekends to extend their break, Kori found Wednesdays to be her ideal “reset day.” Taking a break in the middle of the week allowed her to decompress without disrupting either end of the school week—and it made returning to work feel much more manageable.

Whether it’s a Monday, Friday, or a midweek pause, the key is being intentional and viewing mental health days as a form of preventative care, not indulgence.

🛑 Guilt Has No Place Here

The reality is, most institutions view employees as replaceable. That’s not cynical—it’s business. So, as educators we should never feel guilty for using the time off we’ve earned. Our well-being impacts our effectiveness, our relationships with students, and our overall satisfaction in the profession.

Taking mental health days is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Final Thought:

Planning and taking regular mental health days allows us to stay grounded, protect our peace, and avoid burnout. It’s not about being irresponsible or lazy. It’s about longevity, balance, and showing up as the best version of ourself—both in the classroom and beyond.