Thinking About the Career Change is Taking Longer Than the Career Change Itself

Thinking about leaving teaching takes longer than actually leaving. Stop waiting for the perfect moment - discover how to start your transition now.

Thinking About the Career Change is Taking Longer Than the Career Change Itself

Teachers find themselves in a particular kind of limbo. You know teaching isn't sustainable long-term. You've had the Sunday evening dread more times than you can count. You've mentally composed your resignation letter again and again. But actually doing something about it? That feels like a massive undertaking that you'll get round to... eventually.

But the time you're spending thinking about leaving teaching is probably longer than the time it would actually take to leave teaching.

Bill Gates once said, "Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years." For teachers contemplating a career change, there's another version: most teachers overestimate how long their transition will take and underestimate how long they'll spend putting it off!

The Procrastination Tax

It's not that you're doing nothing - quite the opposite. You're thinking about it constantly. Scrolling through job boards at midnight. Having the same conversation with your partner every few months. Bookmarking articles about CV writing that you never quite get round to reading.

This isn't laziness. It's often perfectionism dressed up as preparation. You tell yourself you'll start when you've figured out exactly what you want to do. When you've researched every possible option. When the timing is perfect. When you feel completely ready.

“Thinking” about it creates the dangerous illusion of action when in fact there is next to none.

That’s not to say we don’t need to weigh up options and make sure we’re sure we want to make a move - of course we do. But that’s very different from the sneaky waiting energy we slip into… Another term passes. Another year. You're still in the same position, only now you're more exhausted and the idea of change feels even more overwhelming.

What Actually Happens When You Start

Many teachers who've successfully transitioned through the Career Change Academy membership will tell you something surprising: the actual process was faster than they expected. Not always easy, certainly. But faster.

Some teachers secure new roles within weeks. Others take several months. The timeline varies enormously depending on individual circumstances, target roles, and how much time you can dedicate. But the common thread? Once they actually started, things moved.

Action creates clarity. You learn what you actually enjoy by trying things, not by thinking about them. You discover which roles genuinely interest you by having conversations, not by endless research. You build confidence by taking small steps, not by waiting until you feel completely certain.

The Compound Effect of Starting Now

What could you achieve if you actually started this week? Not in a "completely transform your entire life" way, but in a "take consistent, practical steps towards a more sustainable career" way?

You could:

Identify roles that genuinely suit your skills and interests
Build a CV that speaks to employers outside education
Have informational interviews with people doing jobs you're curious about
Develop new skills that make you more competitive
Apply for roles and learn from the process
Potentially be settled in a new role before the next academic year begins

Or you could spend another year thinking about it.

The Cost of Waiting

There's a cost to staying in a role that's burning you out - the sick days, the Sunday evening takeaways because you can't face cooking, the emotional tax of dragging yourself through each week.

But there's also an opportunity cost. Every term you delay is a term you could have been building experience in a new field, developing new skills, or simply living a more sustainable life. Teachers who left two years ago aren't just two years into new careers - they're two years of learning, progression, and often significantly better work-life balance ahead.

Action Includes Discovery

One of the biggest reasons teachers put off starting is simple: they don't know what they want to do next. "I can't keep teaching" is clear enough, but "what do I actually want instead?" feels impossibly vague.

Figuring out what you want is part of the process, not a prerequisite for starting.

The Academy is structured around this. You can start with burnout recovery, because you can't make clear decisions when you're exhausted. Phase 1 helps you examine your values and what kind of work would genuinely suit your life. By Phase 2, you're actively job searching for roles that align with what you've discovered. You're moving forward before you even think about your CV.

Some teachers know exactly what they want when they start. Many don't. Both are fine. Taking action moves you towards clarity. Waiting until you feel certain keeps you stuck.

Making It Real

If you're thinking "yes, that's me - I've been thinking about this for ages," here's your permission to actually start.

That doesn't mean handing in your notice tomorrow. It means taking one practical action this week. Our Leaving Teaching in 2026 workshop will help you understand the key decisions you need to make and the practical steps to take before you hand in your notice.

The Timeline That Matters

I know from supporting hundreds of teachers through career transitions: the time between "I should probably do something about this" and "I've actually done something about this" is often longer than the time between "I'm actively working on my transition" and "I've secured a new role."

Stop adding to the first timeline. Start the second one.

The career change you're imagining doesn't have to take years. But putting it off definitely will.

Categories: : Psychology of Career Change