We’re entering some crucial months of the school year. The getting-to-know-you stuff is over and the classroom is not yet sullied by talk of the holidays. Time to cover some real ground in the curriculum! This might lead to extra grading and other “extracurriculars” that might encroach on your home time. Here’s how you get it back.
Firm boundaries
The first key in any work/life balance situation is establishing firm boundaries for your time.
We’ve all brought work home to grade. It’s a tradition—one that should be as limited as possible. Whatever can be done to bring that workload down, implement it. It might come down to cutting home grading out for good. That’s what planning periods are for!
Also, the evening might be the best time to reach parents by phone but it’s also the best time to annoy your family. Stay on email and look into some texting solutions. They can be ignored at inappropriate times. But never text with your actual phone number or you’ll never get a moment’s peace.
What are your responsibilities?
Teachers tend to be the kind of people who take on many different responsibilities because they want to make a difference. There are the responsibilities of the job, then maybe heading a department, coaching a sport, serving on a committee, or sponsoring a club.
Be really honest with yourself about what you like to do, what you feel is making a difference, and what you felt obligated to pick up. Don’t let anyone bully you into added responsibilities (even administrators). Remember that family and the actual job of teaching your classes come first. If anything else is getting in the way of those two, it’s time to cut bait.
Use that time off!
Some teachers are really, really good at this next point. And others hoard their sick/personal time expecting a catastrophe that might never come. When it comes to events and travel, not everything can be done over the summer.
Save a reasonable amount for an unexpected illness relative to your age and health (for example, if you’re relatively young you don’t need weeks upon weeks for a broken hip) and make an effort to use the rest for something fun for yourself and your family. Sprinkle in some long weekends (or extensions of three-day weekends) to keep yourself fresh and remind yourself that there is a life outside the school’s walls. Your sub pool will thank you.