Spirit Week is supposed to be fun.

So why does it leave so many educators feeling drained, pressured, and quietly resentful?

In this Bathroom Break episode, we unpack the emotional labor hiding beneath school “fun”—the expectation to perform enthusiasm, manage student emotions, and carry the vibe on top of an already full workload. This isn’t an anti-fun rant. It’s a reality check on how easily optional events become unspoken obligations.

You’ll hear why opting out doesn’t make you a bad teacher, how to participate without emotionally overextending yourself, and why healthy school culture allows for different levels of engagement.

Because joy shouldn’t be mandatory—and neither should exhaustion.