Work–Life Balance

Now that you’ve dug in, taken some time for yourself, and gotten on board with progress over perfection, let’s talk about getting more balance in your life.

Now that you’ve dug in, taken some time
for yourself, and gotten on board with progress over perfection, let’s talk about getting more balance in your life.

Yes, things are crazy. Yes, you are working more than ever. Yes, you have so many more roles than ever before (i.e., teacher, home-school teacher, chef, recess aide, dishwasher, creative director of your family, etc.). However, there are still some things you can do to manage stress, uncertainty, and potential burnout to help you feel better in general.

Adjust Expectations

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that change happens. It can happen fast or slow, and it can feel very overwhelming. However, change can also have silver linings. For example, the 2020–2021 school year has looked very different than past years, with students far apart and everyone wearing masks. Some educators started the new year teaching remotely, and that has looked very different for them, from tech setup to managing all the different elements of engaging students in virtual instruction. Either way, you may be experiencing a teaching environment very different from what you are used to, and that is OK.

If you expect to do/be/teach the same way you always have, it’s going to put more stress on you and add to your anxiety and unhappiness. However, if you can surrender and accept that change is inevitable and different is OK, then you can begin to adjust to your current situation. Say you find yourself suddenly teaching remotely and that feels overwhelming. Can you shift your mindset to see the positives of your new situation? Maybe you can work faster now or teach the small groups you always wished you could, or maybe you can finally assign some creative projects that you were not able to before.

Set Boundaries

Take a moment and think: What do you need right now? Whether you’re in a classroom or teaching remotely, what would make your life easier? Really think about what you need to be successful. Maybe you need a clean workspace in a room with a door, or maybe you need to be clear with your principal on what would help you feel safe in your classroom. Once you have a clear idea of what you might need, the next step is to share your needs with others. If you need a clean workspace in a room with a door, can you work with your family to find that space? If you have ideas on how you can feel safer in your classroom, can you talk to your principal about what you need? The point of setting a boundary is not just knowing what you need—it’s expressing that need to others, too.

Set Boundaries with Email

Email does not need to control your life. Set times during the day when you check and respond to work emails. Sign out of your email program when you’re not actively using it. That way you can work on projects without distraction.

Establish a Positive Workspace

Sometimes it can be challenging to find your space, especially if you live in a smaller house or apartment or need to share workspaces with family members. If you are working from home, it’s important that you have a space that is separate from your living space. If you are in a school building, having a clean, positive workspace where you can plan, grade, and feel safe and calm is very important to your mental well-being. You deserve a clean, positive workspace, wherever you are working. Even if it’s a desk or a chair or a corner of your room, it’s still important to have a space defined so you know that when you are there, you are working, and when you leave that space, you’re leaving the work there, too. If you are at home, please do not make your daily workspace your bed or even your bedroom. If you do, there’s no separation of work and rest.

You deserve a clean, positive workspace, wherever you are working.

Create Beginning and End-of-Day Routines

The COVID-19 pandemic threw all our routines out the window and made the 2020–2021 school year the year of uncertainty. Many educators now find themselves working from home—a situation that makes their home and work lives feel blended.

However, even educators whose school buildings are open have had to adjust to new rules and safety-related restrictions. If you used to meet colleagues in the staff room for coffee or socialize with coworkers before your first class, chances are those daily routines aren’t possible right now.

Creating beginning and end-of-the-day routines can have a huge impact on your mindset. It’s been a contributing factor to many famous people’s success. For instance, Jane Austen would wake up, play the piano, eat breakfast with her family, and then start to write. Steve Jobs would start his morning asking, “If today were my last day on earth, what would I do?” (Van Edwards, 2018).

If you are working from home, consider starting each day with making your bed, getting a beverage (e.g., coffee, tea, water), turning on the light to your office space, taking a deep breath, and making a list of things you want to accomplish that day. If you are in a school building, when you walk into your classroom, get settled in and set a timer to take a mindful five minutes of breathing. When you’re done, you, too, should make a list of things you want to accomplish.

That’s it. The routines I’m proposing do not need to be huge changes. Very simple alterations can help you define your day. It’s important to create new, empowering routines wherever you find yourself working.

Amy’s Story: Make Time for Laughter

Amy is an elementary school principal, and 2020 has been the hardest year of her career. From focusing on safety protocols and training, to figuring out the logistics of how to safely open her school, to making sure that students who chose to learn remotely are still getting quality lessons, her work has become incredibly stressful. Before Amy attended one of my sessions, “Improv(e) Connection in Your Classroom and Beyond,” she had been struggling to find ways to lift the morale of her staff. After learning how improv comedy exercises could help her connect with her colleagues, Amy decided to try an activity at her next staff meeting.

She asked her educators to bring a joke to the meeting. Amy started the meeting by having a few educators share their jokes. Everyone laughed at the jokes and at each other. It was the best staff meeting Amy had conducted in a long time. At the next staff meeting, she finished by asking everyone to dance the alphabet with their butts— another success! Moral of the story: Even as a leader, it’s never too late to laugh and dance with your staff!