As I was going through my credential program, I remember everyone telling me that teaching is a profession where it’s really easy to work, work, work and let your job consume you to the point where teaching is the only thing in your life. When I heard this, I remember promising myself that I would have a life outside of teaching and I would remember the importance of being me, a wife, a family member, a friend and so much more.
Now that I’ve been a teacher for a few years, I’ve mostly kept that promise. Of course there are some days or weekends that I bring work home, or spend way too long on Pinterest searching for the perfect activity to go along with the content we are learning, but mostly I’m proud of how I have kept a work, life balance while enduring this tough career. Here’s what I’ve learned throughout my journey this far.
5 Ways You Can Keep a Work, Life Balance
1. Keep School Work at School
This is the hardest thing for all teachers to do! When we’re passionate, we take an idea and can run with it forever. Although it’s good to be passionate, we must remember that teaching is our profession and we need to make time for ourselves and the other important things in our lives. That’s why it’s so important to try to keep school work at school. Work during your preps, or before and after school, so you can leave school without a bag full of things to do at home. When you leave school, let it be. There will always be a million things you can do but it’s important to step away once you walk out the doors.
2. Give Yourself a Time Limit and Stick to it
Now, if you must bring work home (which happens) don’t let it consume you. Give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Or give yourself a task limit and stick to it. Set an alarm for one hour and when the timer goes off, put all your work away and be okay putting it away. Or, once you finish a certain task, pat yourself on the back and put all other work away. When you give yourself a limit, you’re making life a priority instead of having work consume you. Again, there’s always going to be some sort of work you can do. It’s okay if you don’t have everything finished today.
3. Use Your Time Wisely
Plan and prep during your prep times. I mention this in my how to be a productive planner post and it is so important if you want to keep a work, life balance. I have 2 hours and 35 minutes a week for prep time. Granted, this time is not all at once but is split into half hour chunks, but you can plan a lot more than you think in 30 minutes. Focus on a subject at a time and write a list for the things you can’t finish in that time period. When you use your time wisely during the school day, you don’t have work to bring home and can focus on your home life at home!
4. Schedule Out Important Events in Your Life
An event can be as simple as “hang out with your friends” or “go to the park with your dog” but make sure you schedule it! When you schedule it, it feels more official and you hold yourself to it. I’m constantly asking my husband what we want to do over the weekend and we make plans to do things on certain days and when we know the schedule, we make sure we set time aside for these important events in our lives.
5. Do One Thing for you Each Day
As teachers, we’re born with the characteristic of always thinking of others and putting ourselves last. I’m here to tell you it’s okay for you to do things for yourself! Make it a point to #stopteacherguilt and do at least one thing you love each day. For me, I love to watch reality TV. And, although, there are probably a million other more productive things I could be doing, I let myself watch a show (or several) every night. I use this as my downtime so I can rest and recharge. We’re not any good for others if we don’t take care of ourselves first!
What do you do so you can have a work, life balance? Comment below!
