5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Leaving Teaching

When I first left teaching, it took me all my strength not to paint my face blue, a'la Mel Gibson in Braveheart, and run into the fields screaming Freeeeeeeedom! I expected endless freedom, sunshine, birdsong -the lot. In reality? It felt quiet. More like being dropped in the middle of a field with no map, no snacks, no company and the odd glance from a sheep/cow, curious to see what I'd do next.

The truth is, leaving the classroom is a huge shift. And while I don’t regret it for a second (a SECOND!), there are a few things I wish I’d known before I packed up my laminator and glue sticks. (Joke, we NEVER have glue sticks at the end of the year).

1. Freedom needs structure.The first week, I floated around in my pyjamas thinking, this is the dream. By week three, I was half-feral. It turns out too much freedom feels less like liberation and more like “what day is it again?” I found more structure when I went to work in the wellbeing centre. But not having every minute scheduled felt...weird. More recently, when focusing more on Green Heart, I've really had to plan my days in a more structured way. Even just a morning walk or some set days to work in a cafe, makes a difference.

2. Money matters (boring, but true).I thought I was escaping staff meetings, not spreadsheets. But when the pay cheques stopped rolling in, I quickly realised financial stability is its own kind of wellbeing practice. A budget doesn’t sound glamorous, but neither does living off emergency noodles.

3. It can get lonely. You are surrounded by people in education. The only minutes I ever got to myself uninterrupted were in the loo, or when I hid in my cupboard. Finding a new 'work' tribe — whether remote/co-working friends, online communities, or the barista who remembers your coffee order — is essential.

4. Your identity wobbles. For years, I had the easy answer: I’m a teacher. Without it, I would listen to myself rattle on a bit when asked, “So what do you do?” It takes time to realise your job isn’t your entire personality (though the stationery obsession WILL remain).

5. You don’t need the whole plan. I thought I needed a neatly tied-up “next career” before I could leave. I actually thought that is exactly what I was going to have. But it didn't happen that way. The reality is most of us are building the bridge while we walk across it. It’s messy, it’s uncertain, and yes, sometimes it feels like you’ve taken a wrong turn — but it’s also where the magic happens.

So if you’re standing on the edge of change, wondering if you’ll ever feel ready: you won’t. But you’ll learn, adapt, and surprise yourself along the way.

I dive into all of this in this week’s Green Heart Wellbeing Podcast, where I share the full, unpolished version of these lessons. Because honestly, it’s not all inspirational quotes and tidy timelines — it’s a mix of joy, wobble, and emergency chocolate.

With a Green Heart (and probably a half-finished to-do list),

Ashley

PS: You can also listen via YouTube

Ai's version of Ashley William Wallace. Peep the lashes.