I'm Already Exhausted - How Can I Find Energy to Train?
You're reading this at the end of another draining day. The marking pile hasn't shrunk. The planning still needs doing. You've got parents' evening next week and reports due the week after. Your to-do list is laughing at you.
And now someone's suggesting you add training to become a VA on top of everything else?
It sounds ridiculous. Impossible. Like asking someone who's drowning to learn to swim while they're still underwater.
But here's what nobody tells you about burnout: sometimes the thing that feels like it will drain your last drop of energy is actually the thing that gives it back.
The Real Problem: Exhaustion Without Exit
Teaching has a particular kind of tiredness. It's not just physical (though collapsing on the sofa and falling fast asleep is definitely part of it). It's the soul-deep weariness that comes from pouring everything into a system that demands more, more, more – with no end in sight.
You can see next term stretching ahead exactly like this term. And the term after that. No matter how hard you work, the marking pile will still be there. The planning will still need doing. The demands will keep coming.
That hopelessness is what's truly exhausting. And that's exactly why training to become a VA doesn't add to your burnout – it interrupts the cycle causing it.
When you start building something that could genuinely change your life, you begin to feel something you haven't felt in a long time: hope. And hope, it turns out, is incredibly energising.
What Makes This Different: Design for Exhausted People
We know you're exhausted. We were exhausted too when we left teaching. That's exactly why the Teacher to VA mentorship programme is designed the way it is.
This isn't one of those programmes that assumes you have endless evening hours and boundless weekend energy. We're not asking you to watch three-hour training videos after a full day of teaching, or complete extensive assignments while you're trying to survive report season.
The programme works for tired teachers because:
It's broken into manageable chunks. Each module is designed to be digestible. You're not trying to absorb everything at once or feeling overwhelmed by massive amounts of content. Small, focused sessions that you can fit into real life – not theoretical "perfect day" life.
It's structured but flexible. The four-month timeline gives you breathing room. Busy week at school? The content will still be there when you have capacity. Half term coming up? You can dive deeper then. The programme adapts to your reality, not the other way around.
It meets you where you are. We're not pretending you should be full of energy and motivation every single day. Some days, you'll engage fully. Other days, you'll just show up and that's enough. The community and content are there for whenever you're ready.
It acknowledges the emotional journey. This isn't just skill-building. It's processing the grief of leaving, working through imposter syndrome, and rebuilding your professional identity. That work takes energy, yes – but it's the kind of energy expenditure that ultimately gives back rather than depletes.
What Actually Gives Energy Back
Former Drama teacher Lynsey had the exact same worry:
"I had the same feelings before starting the VA course, questioning if I had time to do the training alongside working full-time but the way the course has been organised in manageable chunks has been brilliant! The course has also re-inspired me knowing there's a light at the end of the tunnel and that's been so exciting; it's really kept me going through my last few terms in education."
Notice what happened: the training became what kept her going, not what drained her.
Because suddenly she had three things that teaching had taken away:
Hope – a clear path forward instead of an endless cycle with no escape
Control – doing something for herself, on her terms, for the first time in years
Purpose – reconnecting with why her skills matter, beyond the bureaucracy and workload
The Practical Reality: What It Actually Takes
Let's be honest about the time and energy investment because we're not here to make false promises.
During the four months:
You'll need to show up to the live sessions and engage with the content. Some weeks will feel easier than others. The amount you can commit will vary depending on what's happening at school.
You'll need to do the internal work – processing emotions, working through mindset blocks, translating your skills. This requires mental and emotional energy, though often less than you're currently spending on stress and anxiety about your teaching career.
You'll need to take action – setting up your business foundations, reaching out to potential clients, putting yourself out there. This will feel uncomfortable sometimes. That's normal and expected.
What you don't need:
You don't need to be full of energy and motivation every single day. You don't need to have it all figured out before you start. You don't need to quit teaching immediately or make dramatic life changes while you're training.
You don't need to be perfect or get everything right first time. You don't need to magically transform into someone who loves networking and self-promotion.
You just need to be willing to show up, even when you're tired, even when it's hard, even when you're not sure it's going to work.
The Question You're Really Asking
"How will I find the energy?" isn't actually the question.
The real question is: "Can I afford to keep spending every ounce of energy on something that's burning me out?"
Right now, you're using everything you have just to survive. Marking until midnight. Planning at weekends. Running on empty while trying to give your best. Feeling guilty for being tired. Feeling guilty for wanting something different.
What if you redirected even a small portion of that energy toward something that could genuinely change your life? What if the "extra" thing you added to your plate was actually the thing that made everything else more bearable?
You're not just tired. You're tired while building your exit strategy. You're surviving while creating an alternative. You're getting through another term while moving toward something different.
You Don't Need More Energy - You Need Direction
The teachers who've successfully made this transition didn't wait for the perfect moment when they suddenly had abundant energy and confidence. They started where they were – tired and uncertain – and discovered that taking action created the energy they thought they needed first.
Ready to Find Your Way Forward?
Let's be clear about something: Teacher to VA isn't the right choice for everyone, and that's okay.
If you're looking for a quick fix or a get-rich-quick scheme, this isn't it. If you want someone to hand you clients without you doing any of the work, we can't help. If you're not willing to invest time and energy into building something meaningful, there are faster options available.
This programme is for teachers who are ready to do the work, willing to feel uncomfortable while they grow, and committed to building a sustainable business that aligns with their values and lifestyle goals.
The Real Question: Are You Ready?
Places on the next Teacher to VA mentorship programme are limited to maintain the quality of support and community that makes tired teachers feel seen, supported, and capable of transformation.
You're already using your energy to survive. What if you used just a fraction of it to build your way out?
Your future self – the one working from home without the marking pile, the one who finishes work and actually switches off, the one who has energy left for life – is waiting for you to take the first step.
The community is waiting. The path is clear. And you're more ready than you think.
To find out more about the Teacher to VA programme visit our training page.
