Why Taking a Semester Off from Teaching Was the Best Money I’ve Ever Spent

At 42, I figured I had earned the right to finally hit the pause button on my high school math teaching career. Spoiler alert: I did. And it was, hands down, the best money I’ve ever spent on myself.

Here’s the thing: after years of waking up at 4:45 AM, barely having time to exercise (honestly, we all need to make more time for that), doing daycare drop offs and pick ups, I realized I needed a break. So, I took a semester off. And no, I don’t feel guilty about it—why would I? My body needed a rest, and my family (and my brain) were sending me major signals of distress.

Family Time: The Simple Joys

First off, I could actually get my kids on and off the bus every day. You’d think this would be a normal thing for a parent to do, but as a full-time teacher, it was like winning the lottery when I could actually be there for that daily ritual. No more high-speed chases to try to beat the bus home at the end of the day or regretting that I missed my kid’s “friendship tea” (yes, that was a thing). I could also stay home if my kiddos were under the weather guilt and stress-free. No class that I was disappointing and no scrambling to make sub plans.

Getting Back to Me (Like, Actually)

Remember the gym? Yeah, me neither. But after a few weeks of not grading quizzes at 9 p.m., I actually started going again. Not just once a month (which is how it felt before), but consistently. I hired a personal trainer to kickstart my new positive exercise habit. It was great to have the accountability even if it was just 30 minutes twice per week. My favorite part about being off was taking walks down my country road during the day. Seeing the light of day was AMAZING!

And speaking of energy, I started sleeping like a normal human being, except when my 4-year old wanted to get up at 5:15 AM, which was at least every other day. Who knew that sleep was the secret to not feeling like a walking zombie? Not me. But now I’m here to tell you: SLEEP. IS. EVERYTHING.

Flexibility = Freedom

Let me tell you about the luxury of making a dentist appointment at 1 p.m. without worrying about covering my class. Or grocery shopping when the store isn’t packed with frantic, over-caffeinated people. It was like living in a parallel universe where time actually existed.

And being able to eat meals whenever I felt hungry and not being ruled by the bell was so liberating.

A Creative Recharge

Oh, and my Teachers Pay Teachers store? It went from “someday” to “right now.” I had the time and headspace to actually create quality resources for other teachers and my own classes when I return in February. Yes I am returning to the classroom in February, but part-time. My TpT store will be able to supplement my income so that I can continue to get my kids on the bus in the morning and wake up at a reasonable hour (6:30 AM sure beats 4:45 AM) It was fun, productive, and a reminder of why I got into teaching in the first place: to help people learn and grow.

The Bottom Line: No Regrets

I don’t regret a single day of my semester off. In fact, it was like hitting the reset button on my life. My brain, my family, and even my gym membership thank me. So, if you’re a teacher in need of a mental vacation—go for it. Your students will still be there when you return. And trust me, you’ll be a better teacher for it.

Below are some of the resources I was working on during my time off.