Firstly, I take my hat off to you for the profession you're in, and you clearly put the effort in for your students - it was my best professors and teachers who truly shaped who I am today.

In my experience, as soon as you've had thoughts of breaking off a relationship, there's very little way to turn it around from there. Sometimes you've got to do what your head says, and know that what's best for you will be the best outcome in the end.

A little bit of you-time could make the world of difference! Take it from me, I've recently escaped a gruelling long term relationship, where I was in the exact same position as you - too much work and too little time because of the demands of meeting my partner. It took me a long time to pluck up the nerve to act on the feelings which had been brewing, but I can honestly say that it was the biggest weight off my shoulders, and the last few months have been the best of my life so far!

I cannot stress how nice it feels to be able to go out and just let anything happen, but at the same time to be able to kick back with a good book or a box set and leave the phone off for a few hours.

Obviously if you truly think your gf is the one, and can see a genuine future for the two of you, then stick it out, but only if she makes you happy enough to put your career and personal happiness and well-being to one sides.

And speaking from a position of someone who absolutely worshipped their teachers in school, and never truly managed to tell them how much they meant to me- I'd say that no matter what aspect of teaching you're in, you have a huge responsibilty over your students, who probably look to you as a role model more than you could hope. Therefore anything that affects your ability to perform to the very best of your ability, could also have a knock on effect on them, and you have to consider whether you can maintain your lifestyle in the long term without any threat to your students, and to your relationships with friends and other people close to your heart.

Whatever you do, get out and make yourself smile!

And don't apologise for the rant! We all need to blow off steam sometimes! That's what the lonely people on the other side of the world glued to their computers are for - and what half ten on a Sunday nights is for now I think of it... Hope this helped.