Hi everyone! Let’s take a moment and admit that the last two school years have been A LOT. The concept of a work-life balance hasn’t really existed for most of us. We thought we could all use a reminder that we deserve to reclaim that balance! Here are our tips to help you find a better work-life balance this school year!
Set boundaries
It is so easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything. We have been there and done that and trust us, it never works! The biggest shift that we’ve made in our careers as educators is learning how to set boundaries. Our boundary is that we will leave school on time. To make this work, we go in early and work through lunch and work through prep periods without getting distracted by socializing with colleagues. It is hard and some days more successful than others, but it is how we make sure we can leave on time.
Those rules might not work for you but we suggest you choose a boundary and stick to it. Maybe it is coming in early twice a week or making sure you always go home at your contractual time on a Friday. Whatever it is, stick to it from the beginning of the year and hold onto that boundary to prevent burnout!
Self-care
No, we aren’t going to tell you that a massage or exercise routine is going to magically give you balance in your life. Wouldn’t it be great if it was that simple? 🙂 When we talk about self-care we mean prioritizing the parts of your life that bring you joy. It is about doing something not because you have to but because you want to. Remember that you can’t do it all well without giving all of yourself.
Give yourself permission to say no
We know the pressure of feeling like you need to say yes to everything, including social events that seem to pop up every week. Social events can be a great time but they can also be draining! If that activity or event brings you excitement and joy then go! If it is causing you to miss out on something your family needs you for or causing you stress and you’re just going to go, then by all means say no without guilt. We promise, no one will hold it against you!
Focus on the positive
No matter how organized and put together you are this school year, challenging situations are still going to arise. In those moments, it is so easy to get down and stuck thinking negatively. When you find yourself stuck in a negative spiral, try to reframe your thinking to something positive.
So let’s say the internet goes down in your building during a lesson where you prepared an interactive digital activity. Instead of saying to yourself, “I can’t believe this is happening, my lesson is ruined!” Reframe it and say to yourself, “I can use this opportunity to show my students how to adapt and have fun without technology!”
Find yourself a teacher bestie
After the last two school years, we need connection more than ever! Between digital learning and hybrid learning and distancing rules, our teacher support networks have seen better days. We’ve never been more grateful to have each other as teacher besties! It is amazing to have someone you can talk to who completely understands all that goes into teaching and you connect with outside of the classroom.
If you’re still looking for your teacher bestie, the best thing you can do is put yourself out there! Take the extra time to talk to the teacher waiting for the copier with you. Offer to share materials with a fun activity you did with your class. Be open to others and don’t be afraid to share about yourself as well! In time you’ll find someone you connect with!
Remember that you are a person first and a teacher second! Your students will learn and thrive even if everything isn’t perfect in your classroom. If you have any other tips for finding work-life balance, comment below or email us at [email protected].
