Hi Vanessa,

January is going to be a heavy month for me, so this year I decorated purely with an idea towards how easy it would all be to put away at the end.   And yes, I felt a little guilty about that.

But I also felt a strange peace. Because this year, I chose ease. I chose grace. I chose not to let tradition bully me into feeling burnout. (Even if a small part of me still wonders if the ornaments I left packed away are silently judging me.)

This week on the podcast, and right here in your inbox, I want to offer you three things: Clarity, Connection, and Grace. Free gifts that might help you breathe again.

The Watermelon Effect — What Burnout Really Looks Like

Burnout isn't just about being tired. It's about what happens when your life has so many buckets to carry that they start to crack. Or to put it another way:

It’s like putting one rubber band after another on a watermelon. Nothing happens at first. Then all at once — snap! — the whole thing bursts.

This time of year, teachers are juggling family expectations, final grades, classroom performances, gifts, events, and oh yeah — holiday magic. Add one more thing, and boom.

If that resonates, I want you to grab this week’s Gift #6: Grace.

Because the answer isn’t more organization. It’s more self-compassion.

Download the Grace Gift Here →

Why "That’s a 2026 Problem" Might Be Your Cue to Start Networking

At this time of year, inboxes slow down. Everyone’s brain is running on gingerbread and fumes. And lots of folks start using the phrase: “That sounds like a 2026 problem.”

But here’s the thing: 2026 isn’t far away. And these quieter weeks? They’re actually a perfect time for low-stakes, low-pressure career connection.

This week’s Gift #5: Connection includes a Networking Tracker that helps you re-engage old contacts, track soft intros, and plant seeds for the new year. No pitching. Just people.

Download the Connection Gift Here →

 

THE LATEST PODCAST EPISODE

This episode digs deep into capacity, connection, and why burnout isn’t about failing. It’s about pressure that finally popped. We also talk about how to rethink the season with more ease.

Ep. 281: Holiday Chaos, Career Clarity, and the Gift of Grace for Burned-Out Teachers

UPCOMING - More Gifts!

Next week, we keep unwrapping. 🎁 I’ll be back with more real talk and practical tools to support your career transition. Think of it like your own teacher exit advent calendar.

And if you missed the earlier gifts, you can find them all at TeachersinTransition.com.

I'D LOVE TO CONNECT! 

 

 


Until Next time!

Vanessa 

P.S. Have you used one of the gifts yet? Hit reply and tell me which one helped — or what it sparked. Your words help shape this work. And if you know a teacher friend who’s quietly feeling crushed under all those rubber bands... feel free to forward this along.