Why It’s Okay to Feel October Slump and How to Ease It.

Illustration depicting that the october slump is real.

By the time October rolls around, the September buzz has faded. The “new school year energy” is long gone, and the realities of lesson prep, marking, and admin are stacking up. If you’re feeling more drained than inspired right now, you’re not alone. The October mid-term slump is real, and it happens to almost every teacher.

Many UK teachers experience an “October Slump,” a predictable mid-term dip in energy and motivation caused by heavy workload, darker mornings, and the emotional demands of teaching.

Why It’s Okay to Feel Tired Already

Teaching isn’t just about delivering lessons. It’s about managing thirty different needs at once, keeping up with parents’ requests, writing reports, and preparing resources that meet curriculum standards. Add in darker mornings and colder weather, and no wonder October feels heavier than September.

Feeling tired at this stage isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’re human, carrying an extraordinary load.

Illustration symbolising teachers fatigue during the October mid-term slump.

Small Shifts That Can Make a Difference

The good news? You don’t have to overhaul your life to regain a little balance. Here are three shifts teachers tell us help:

Protect one small pocket of time daily — a walk, a cup of tea without multitasking, or even a no-marking evening.
Batch tasks where you can — marking a set of books in one go is less draining than dipping in and out.
Lean on templates and tools — not every lesson or report needs to be created from scratch.

Graphic showing small habits teachers use to regain balance during October.

Where Dolly Can Help

This is exactly why we built Dolly: to give teachers back some breathing space during the busiest stretches. Dolly’s AI-powered lesson templates, marking support, and ready-to-go report comments are designed to cut down the hours you’d usually spend on admin. Instead of facing another late night with a pile of books, you can log off earlier and recharge.

A Final Word

So if you’re running on empty this October, remember: it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Teaching is demanding, and feeling tired halfway through the first term is part of the cycle.

What matters is finding ways to make it through with your energy intact. Whether that’s a small shift, supportive tools, or simply a bit of kindness toward yourself.

This week, try choosing one thing you’ll do to lighten your load. And if you’re ready to take back more of your time, see how Dolly can help you skip the paperwork and focus on what matters most — your students.