Teaching is one of those professions known for long hours, late nights, and high stress. Despite getting a summer "vacation", we all know that professional development and summer school tend to take that time away from us.
Teaching is not for the faint of heart. We teachers care about our students and our classroom SO much! So much, that we give up our time with family, friends, and ourselves. It is so easy to get wrapped up in all of the tasks we need to complete every day.
But, what if I told you that it's possible to teach and still keep up a social life? What if I told you it's possible to teach and still spend time with your family? What if I told you that it's possible to teach and still take care of yourself?
So many teachers ask me as I leave school on time, "How are you able to be so on top of it, yet leave at 4 PM every day?!" Here are a few non-negotiable actions that I take to keep a balanced teacher work life balance.
Leave at 4 PM
By the time 4 PM rolls around, I am SPENT from teaching and managing the classroom all day. Any work that I produce after this time is not my best, and I'm often so tired that I'm rushing and making multiple mistakes. Even when I do stay late to finish things up, I often get caught up in talking to other teachers after car-rider duty. This takes up most of the time I had to work, making me stay even later.
You may be thinking to yourself, "How in the world am I supposed to get anything done?" Well. Insert your early-morning wake-up call!
I get to school between 1-2 hours early in the morning. I drop my son off at day-care, and get set to work in the quiet school building. These hours are precious, and there is often no one in the school yet. This allows me to focus and really get things done. Sometimes I do have to stay an extra 10-15 minutes if I need to call a parent or deal with something urgent. However, I've done this for 8 years, and it is a game changer. I promise you.
Are there mornings where I would rather sleep in? Yep. But I have to remind myself that those extra few hours in the morning when all is quiet, will reward me with relaxation later in the day.
Plan Ahead... WAY Ahead!
As teachers, we are expected to have our plans posted ahead of time in order to collaborate with student support services and admin when it's observation season. However, if you have all of your plans and ideas laid out by the quarter, then planning time is a BREEZE!
I have a Type A personality, so when my admin taught me this tip, it was super easy for me to implement. For others, it may take some time.
At the start of each quarter, my team and I sit down and plan out our standards, assessments, and activities for the entire quarter. It is exhausting and takes a few days, but when you're finished it feels AMAZING!
When I started mapping out each quarter of the school year, my planning time was much more purposeful AND it was quick and to the point. You won't be staying after school for hours on end trying to prepare tests for the next day, because you took the time to plan ahead.
When you plan WAY ahead, you have peace of mind and the ability to focus on all of the other things that running a classroom entails.
Chit-Chat Time
I absolutely LOVE my teammates. They make me laugh so hard, and venting about my day with them always brings relief. However, teacher chit-chat can eat away so much of your planning and work time that it costs you time away from home. I see it happen to so many teachers every day.
It is so important to bond with your teammates and regularly communicate, so please don't think I'm telling you to hide in your classroom all day. What I'm saying is, schedule time to interact with your teammates, and leave the rest at the door.
I eat lunch with my third grade team almost every day. I don't grade papers or answer emails. I talk, laugh, and vent with them. I look forward to it and I LOVE it! I always feel refreshed afterwards and ready to take on the rest of the day.
Then, at planning time, I work. I don't chat about personal issues, gossip, or vent. I work. That is my protected work time during the day. I use this time to collaborate, create, and get things done! Which often does involve planning with my teammates, but I don't waste that precious time socializing.
I've watched so many teachers talk or gossip for an ENTIRE planning period. Then, I hear about how they had to stay late after school. Some teachers love this schedule and it works for them. However, I like my afternoons to be about my family, friends, and ME!
I absolutely love teaching and getting to be with such amazing and inspiring people. If you want to stay in this career field and avoid teacher burn-out, then it is so important that you make time for other things in your life. Remember that you are not just a teacher, but you are also a friend, a daughter or brother, a wife or husband, a mom or dad. Setting boundaries and organizing your work day to benefit YOU can change your life and keep you feeling refreshed and energized for your students AND your family.
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