Teacher Burnout: When a 'Sickie' Isn't Just One Day

It’s Monday morning and your alarm blares.

Your body feels heavy, your mind foggy.

You feel exhausted and mentally cannot face the day.

You reach for your phone, draft a quick message:

“I’m not feeling well today, won’t be in.”

Relief washes over you—for now. But deep down, you know this isn’t just about a cold or a headache. This is something deeper. Stress. Exhaustion. Overwhelm. Burnout.

For many teachers, taking a “sickie” isn’t just about needing a break—it’s the body’s way of waving a white flag.

In the UK, teachers take an estimated 1.5 million sick days annually, with a significant portion attributed to stress, anxiety and depression. In Scotland alone, 400,000 days are taken by teachers as a result of stress and anxiety.

The first Monday of February marks ‘National Sickie Day’, a time when many workers call in sick. But for teachers, the stakes feel higher. Guilt kicks in—

“Who will cover my lessons?”

“My students need me.”

“I can’t fall behind on planning.”

And so, many push through, ignoring the warning signs of chronic stress.

Many teachers are reluctant to call in sick as a result of the work pressures they face.

For teachers, it’s not just a case of calling in sick—many schools do not have a streamlined process, so you have to inform a cover manager, business manager, line manager for every subject you teach… and your team if you are in a position of management. Then there is the cover work to set, planning for progress even though students may not engage with another member of staff. All this compounds stress!

The real issue? When stress, exhaustion and emotional fatigue build up over time, one day off won’t fix it. Without knowing how to break the cycle, weeks can turn into months. What started as an occasional “sickie” becomes a cycle of running on empty until full burnout hits—where even weeks off don’t feel like enough.

My Story

I remember the first time I took a “sickie” that wasn’t really about being physically ill. It wasn’t even a teaching day—it was an INSET day. But that morning, I woke up physically shaking as a result of my mental health, particularly my anxiety.

I had spent weeks drowning in plans, assessments, and meetings, barely coming up for air. Sunday nights filled me with dread and by Monday morning, I simply couldn’t do it.

I called in sick, convincing myself that one day would be enough to reset. But that day off wasn’t restful—it was filled with guilt and anxiety. I wasn’t sick in the traditional sense, but I was mentally and emotionally drained. And I knew I wasn’t alone in feeling this way.

Reflecting on that moment, I realised I didn’t just need a day off; this was the beginning of a long journey towards recovery.

Fast-forwarding to today, I have now made it my mission to help other teachers recognise the difference between needing a short break, implementing achievable strategies towards recovery, and experiencing full-scale burnout.

If you’ve ever taken a sick day when it was burnout talking, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you don’t have to wait until you’re completely drained to take action.

Next Steps

You deserve more than just survival—you deserve to thrive.

If this resonates with you, and if you’re ready to break the burnout cycle, book in a free consultation and we can talk through strategies for support.