In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by Becky Dawson, National Wellbeing Lead at Twinkl, for an honest conversation about how a passion for teaching can slowly turn into overwhelm. Becky shares her journey from classroom teaching into the demanding role of SENCO, a position that is both deeply meaningful and incredibly heavy. Supporting students, staff and families all at once, often without time to reflect, can quietly build into burnout. What stands out is a tension many educators feel: loving the work and seeing the impact, yet carrying pressure that becomes unsustainable. Becky describes this period as both the best and the hardest of her career, a time of growth, but also where burnout became unavoidable. Together, we explore why this happens. Not just because the job is demanding, but because of the culture around it, constant doing, high expectations, and little space to pause. Becky highlights the importance of reflection, not as an extra task, but as part of everyday practice. Even small moments to acknowledge what’s been hard can make a real difference. We also discuss how burnout affects confidence, and how the things that go wrong often linger more than the wins. Sometimes, it’s not about doing more, but recognising that the system itself asks too much. Becky shares simple, realistic ways to protect your wellbeing, building connections, creating space to reflect, setting boundaries, and even keeping a “to-da list” to recognise what you’ve already achieved. At its core, this episode is about reclaiming balance. Passion doesn’t have to lead to burnout, but without support, boundaries and reflection, it often does. And the most important reminder: you’re not failing, you’re navigating a system that often asks too much. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why roles like SENCO can feel both rewarding and overwhelmingHow burnout builds slowly, even when you love your jobThe impact of constant pressure on confidence and self-beliefWhy reflection is missing in many school culturesHow connection and shared experiences reduce isolationThe importance of recognising what you’ve done, not just what’s leftWhy boundaries are essential (and what happens without them)How to spot when passion is starting to fadeKey Message Burnout doesn’t happen because you don’t care.It often happens because you care too much, for too long, without the support you need. When we create space to reflect, connect with others,and set clear boundaries around our time and energy,we give ourselves a chance to keep doing the work we love,without losing ourselves in the process. Connect with Becky Dawson: Website : www.beckydawsonccf.com Instagram : www.instagram.com/becsdawson Follow Rowena: Instagram: www.instagram.com/rowenaphicks Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Teach-Flourish-Thrive-Beat-Teacher-Burnout/61552987182926 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowenaphicks Website: www.rowenahicks.com — Subscribe to the Beat Teacher Burnout Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop fortnightly to help you reduce stress, prevent burnout, and lead with clarity and energy. Listen here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2unYCtcA81Qi5coaLZ22H1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beat-teacher-burnout/id1731803571 — Looking for Rowena’s books?Explore all books here:www.rowenahicks.com/books Buy on Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D2JJGG3T?ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_4SZ8663Z8DRGAT03NZA8&ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_4SZ8663Z8DRGAT03NZA8&language=en-GB&skipTwisterOG=2 — If you’re ready for gentle, practical support that fits into real school life, explore my courses here:👉www.rowenahicks.com/courses
