Many caring teachers feel a flash of guilt the moment they put themselves first, as if every hour of rest is stolen from students who need them. That guilt is understandable, and it is also not telling you the truth. A depleted teacher has less to give, not more. The most generous thing you can do for your students over the long run is to stay whole.

So let the guilt soften. You do not have to earn rest by exhausting yourself first. You are allowed to close the laptop, take the walk, see the friend, and protect a quiet evening, not as a failure of dedication but as part of it. Choosing yourself, sometimes, is how you keep being able to choose them.