Time Management Strategies for the Overwhelmed Teacher
Hi, friend. Chances are if you resonated with this time management profile, you are weighed down by all that’s on your plate.
Please know that you were never meant to carry all of this alone. You do not have to be superhuman. You can slowly release those additional expectations that get placed on you. More peace is possible.
With that in mind, let’s review the “Overwhelmed Teacher” profile from the “4 Time Management Teacher Pitfalls”.
If this description resonates with you, then you are in the right place. There were many times during my time in the classroom that this could have perfectly described me. I would make a million lists, lose them, proceed to make more lists, stare at my computer-frozen- wondering how I could even start.
My efforts felt like they’d never be enough, so I became less and less motivated to even put in the effort. If this describes you, hang tight and read on to find some really practical strategies that may just help you get out of the rut you are in.
Screenshot, pin, and save this! It will save you if and when you find you’re becoming a shell of yourself.
Make a must-do/may-do list Sunday night
If you take a peek at all of the time management profiles, you will see that this strategy tops the list for each type. Why? Because making a list like this before the week begins sets you up for success and gives you back control. We all know that in education, very little is actually in our control. When you can gain a sense of that control back, you often will feel a little more confident and a whole lot lighter.
To implement this simple strategy, you will make a 2 column list of things you must-do and things you want to do, or “may-do”. Must-do items have an external accountability component (such as inputting grades, preparing for an evaluation, turning in paper work, etc.), while may-do items are those things that you want to do. The may-do items could be things that set your soul on fire as a teacher, new things you want to try out, or things you know will benefit your class community.
Make sure that in making your lists, you aren’t weeding things out prematurely that cross your brain. Write everything down that is on your mind so you can truly clean the clutter and mental space taken up in your brain by looming tasks.
Finally, circle 2 must-do tasks you will focus on that week and 2 may-do tasks. You may not complete the entire task that week, but make a quick bulleted list of steps you can take towards it. By turning larger items into micro lists, you can feel better about checking things off. You do not need to knock out the whole list. Be proud of yourself for accomplishing what you finish and you can continue adding to that same list the following week.
Try the “Do One Thing” Strategy
If the previous strategy still causes you anxiety and feels overwhelming, then try this twist on it. Make your lists and then pick only ONE thing. If you know something on your “Must-Do” list is time sensitive, pick that. If you know you are in a mental rut and need to find your joy teaching again, pick one thing from the “May-Do” list. Continue with this “Do One Thing” strategy daily, so as to keep some forward momentum. Don’t forget to celebrate the little things you finish along the way!
Set timers
It’s funny to think about all of the wonderful strategies we use with our students to help them be more productive and successful, but we rarely try those same strategies with ourselves. Using timers is definitely one of those things.
How can timers work as an adult?
Try setting a 15 minute timer 3x per day. One before school starts, one during plan-time, and one after school before you go home. During those 15 minutes you will get as much as you can accomplished and have grace for anything else you can’t finish in that time.
The most important thing about this strategy is that you come to your 15 minutes prepared. For example, if you know you want to use your afternoon timer for grading, have the paper stack ready to go with your pen and recording sheet all set. If there is an answer key you are using, have that near you also. This way you don’t waste any time gathering materials. You’ll be surprised how much you can finish in that amount of time.
Follow the philosophy “Something is better than nothing”
This strategy is one of the most simple since it requires very little of you, but it is one of the most difficult to implement. It does require you to change and adjust your thinking. So many of us educators are hardwired to want to do the most, be the best, go above and beyond, etc. When you are in a state of overwhelm and crippled by anxiety over all you have to do, you often are unable to get even the smallest task completed. This is where this strategy is most helpful.
Repeat over to yourself 3-5 times “Something is better than nothing”. Try to come to a place where you truly believe it. Then, you can try another strategy such as #1 or #3. Even doing one item on your list is getting you closer to where you want to be than if you had allowed yourself to stay in that negative all-or-nothing headspace.
Fast from anything that drains you
This is definitely the least attractive strategy. It isn’t the one to go viral on social media or the one you’d probably want to share with a friend. Ironically, though, it is probably one of the strategies that can be most life changing.
Notice if you feel a bit defensive in reading this one. If so, it could be that this is the very one you need to practice most. Sometimes we are so accustomed to the things that drain us that we can’t even notice if it is hurting us.
If you are anything like me, in times of stress, I go to an unhealthy place. I reach for the full bag of sour patch kids that I promptly devour in its entirety. I reach for unhealthy gossip. I reach for the social media scroll and comparison game. I reach for those things that feel easy and I can engage with at a minimal, complacent capacity.
If you are feeling brave, try to reverse the habit. Instead of reaching for the junk food, try to reach for a walk outside. Instead of engaging in the gossip, try to reach for a trusted mentor. And instead of reaching for social media, try journaling or spending time with a real-life friend. You just may be surprised how it makes you feel.
To close, I’ll leave you with this. You are here. You are acknowledging it. You are not broken. And you most definitely are not alone.
