\
I have one golden rule for my teaching and home life. That is NEVER bring work home. I used to bring all of my work, corrections and reports home. My tables were piled high with work stuff. I would walk past it all of the time and feel guilty on my time off, knowing that I had to do all of this. This created stress and no space was free from the demands of the job. So one day after my husband suggested he still needed room for his place to eat, I vowed never to take work home again. At first, it was dreadful and challenging. I felt like I worked longer hours at work. I also felt that I wasn't working hard enough. But over time, I looked forward to coming home. Not wheeling in trolleys, or carrying in bags of work.
I hear many of my co-workers say that they cannot stay and work at school. I used to be like that. I did like just coming home, getting changed and finishing work. However, it wasn’t healthy. Our job as teachers is demanding and time consuming. It shouldn’t impact our house and home. A happy healthy and positive teacher is better for students and relationships within a school community. When you walk in that door, you need a space that allows you to unhook, unwind and relax from the day. How can you do that when the day has followed you home and is sitting in your study, on your kitchen table or on your coffee table? All it breeds is a sense of guilt. Your body and mind want to be in the safe comfort of your home but your mind is looking at that closed study door or table full of work and feeling guilt.
It is just not worth it. I need to be present in my home and house. Attentive to my family, husband and friends. In short, a work life balance. Whatever doesn't get done today, can be done tomorrow. I learnt very quickly how to prioritise tasks and let other stuff go. I know how it sounds. Like a ridiculous, unrealistic and impossible task. It can be done. If you set your mind to it and make it a priority.
So try and see how my golden rule works for you. Even for just a month. After all, fight club had it right when they said “What happens at fight club, stays at fight club”. So my golden rule is “Leave work and what happens at work, at work”.
#twocreativeteachers #goldenrule #leaveworkatwork #homelife
I hear many of my co-workers say that they cannot stay and work at school. I used to be like that. I did like just coming home, getting changed and finishing work. However, it wasn’t healthy. Our job as teachers is demanding and time consuming. It shouldn’t impact our house and home. A happy healthy and positive teacher is better for students and relationships within a school community. When you walk in that door, you need a space that allows you to unhook, unwind and relax from the day. How can you do that when the day has followed you home and is sitting in your study, on your kitchen table or on your coffee table? All it breeds is a sense of guilt. Your body and mind want to be in the safe comfort of your home but your mind is looking at that closed study door or table full of work and feeling guilt.
It is just not worth it. I need to be present in my home and house. Attentive to my family, husband and friends. In short, a work life balance. Whatever doesn't get done today, can be done tomorrow. I learnt very quickly how to prioritise tasks and let other stuff go. I know how it sounds. Like a ridiculous, unrealistic and impossible task. It can be done. If you set your mind to it and make it a priority.
So try and see how my golden rule works for you. Even for just a month. After all, fight club had it right when they said “What happens at fight club, stays at fight club”. So my golden rule is “Leave work and what happens at work, at work”.
#twocreativeteachers #goldenrule #leaveworkatwork #homelife
RSS Feed
