Time Management Strategies for the “Do it All” Teacher
Hello to all of the over achievers out there. I see you. If you’re reading this, chances are that the very trait that has brought you so much success (your go-getter personality), is now causing you to be overwhelmed in the sea of commitments.
I am here to help you identify what specific habits are eating away at your time and overall well-being, while also providing you simple strategies to get your time and your self back!
If you haven’t yet read the original blog detailing all of the different time management profiles, check it out here. It will be helpful for you to make sure this profile is the one you resonate with the most.
Let’s begin by reviewing the description of the “Do it All” teacher who is struggling with being over-committed.
Sound familiar? If so, welcome to the club. I’ve definitely been here before and have drunk the kool-aid that told me I’d let the kids down if I didn’t do more for them. It’s often those of us that are the “Yes, I’ll help” types that can get taken advantage of the most. If this has been your story, I’m sorry and I hope that the strategies I share today can help you reclaim your voice and help you say “No” to the things that you need to, and “Yes” to those things that light your soul on fire.
Let’s take a look at some of the strategies.
Make a quarterly list of everything that’s on your plate
Ooooh, make a list! How fun and glamorous!
Haha. I know this strategy may seem counterintuitive as it does require a little bit of effort and our whole goal is saving time, but let me explain before you ditch the idea altogether.
First of all, it is really important to make time for reflection in our lives. If you’ve ever felt like you were on autopilot, flying along without really any control or handle on any of it, then you more than anyone else will be able to relate to the importance of reflection. Reflection snaps us out of our complacency and through specific action steps gives us back the controls.
Second, this strategy is only quarterly. We all can make time for that. To do this strategy, make a simple two column list of all of the responsibilities you have to do, such as morning duty, meetings, etc. On the other side, record the “extras” you are already doing. This may look like mentoring, clubs, leadership team, curriculum cohorts, tutoring, etc. It’s super important to first make these lists before you say yes to year-long commitments. :)
Once you have your lists, take stock of how you feel. You may take a moment to marvel at how much responsibility is placed on you and how many hats you wear. You may be surprised at how many “extras” you signed up for. You may feel overwhelmed that all of this is your burden to carry. After you’ve sat with those feelings, move to #2.
Prioritize the “extras” you created, not ones that were asked of you
With that list you made, look and see if you created any of the extras, or if all of them were responsibilities placed on you. For example, is there an extra club you are doing because you are passionate about it? Take note of that. Or, are all of the “extras” things that the principal asked you to do.
Make a decision to prioritize the things you created. Chances are that you chose to create that to a.) fill a need that existed in your students’ lives and b.) fill a need that existed in your teaching life.
Recite and internalize the mantra “I am a helper. I am not the healer.”
Say it louder for the people in the back. YOU ARE NOT THE HEALER. You cannot “heal” children. You cannot “save” children. You “help” children. You can help them find resources. You can help them learn. You can help them succeed. You can help them advocate for themselves.
You cannot heal them. You cannot completely take away their pain. You cannot remove disabilities. You cannot heal home lives. You cannot heal a lack of motivation. You are not their healer.
The next time someone says that you should volunteer for ___________ because the kids will suffer if no one does it. Kindly remind them that you are there to help the kids and you help them in all the ways (you can list some ways). It is not your responsibility to be guilted into doing things for them as if their vitality and success in life depended on you completely.
Create an ideal “day-in-the-life” and a realistic “day-in-the-life” and compare
This strategy is a wild card, and like most wild cards is intended to be fun and get you out of your comfort zone! Record your ideal “day-in-the-life” (don’t worry, you don’t need to post it anywhere. It is for personal reflection). Think about how you would wake up, what work would consist of, what you’d do after work, what your interactions would look like, what your evening would look like, your bedtime routine, and how you’d feel through all of it.
Then, record another that is uncomfortably realistic. If you normally roll out of bed, talk about it. If you typically are out until 7 volunteering, mention it, if you fall asleep to the TV, say it. And then, discuss how you normally feel doing all of those things.
There is no judgment in this exercise. What I hope it does do is help you see that your ideal life is probably not too far off from your real life. With some minor changes and through practicing some of the aforementioned strategies, you will probably be super close to that ideal life! The best is yet to come.
With that, I’ll leave you once more with this reminder. Save it. Pin-it. Write it on your forehead and cement it into your memory.
