When Passion is the Problem
From the desk of Alice…
I recently had a conversation with a teacher who is in her 6th year of teaching. She is dedicated, professional, has non-instructional duties under control, has a growth mindset and is fully focused on best practices with teaching and learning. This particular teacher taught several years ago and is back in the classroom after taking time off with her children. She is not new to the world of work but feels like she is a first year teacher again.
As we had a conversation about her lesson, she talked about how hard it is to “turn off” school each day. She finds herself checking her phone for emails she may have missed or texts that would impact the next day and is grading and planning all hours of the evening. When I asked if she is able to find any time for herself, without hesitation, she said, “no.” When I asked her if she had recently received negative feedback from an administrator or a parent, she also told me that was not the case. All her interactions have been positive, the kids are doing well, parents are supportive and her administrators have nothing but praise.
Does this scenario sound familiar?
I have this same conversation at least once a week with someone in teaching. Knowing when to say when is increasingly impossible and the root of the problem might just be our passion. The same passion that drives us to the classroom is also the same passion that prevents us from “turning off” school. Teachers have been taking home work and worrying about students since the dawn of time. However, in recent years, the rise of technology has created 24/7 accessibility for people who already are not paid enough. The expectations we put on ourselves are unrealistic when we consider how many hours are in a day and the fact that we need sleep.
The first step in drawing some clear lines between our work and personal life is to recognize that in teaching, we are NEVER done. Everyone could work 24/7 and there would still be more work to do. It’s the nature of the job. That being said, instead of thinking we will stop when we are done, we have to decide each day when to PAUSE. The work will never be done, but it can be paused for us to regroup, reset and begin anew the next day.
Most of the administrators I know want and need their staff to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. This means you have to take care of yourself and keep your passion in check. Here are a few tips for setting limits on your work life:
Disconnect. If possible, leave your phone/computer/ipad in the car when you arrive home. If this sounds impossible, then start small. Give yourself 30 minutes away from the technology. Work yourself up to several hours and give yourself a time to check it if you absolutely must before bedtime.
Communicate. Be honest with people and tell them you are trying to find more balance with personal and professional life. Let them know you will check emails at 4:45pm and again at 8:45pm. The ones that are important can be handled but the others can wait. Nothing is more important than your health.
Find a hobby. It’s important to have a release of some kind. You can find friends with similar interests, work out at the gym, or take a lesson to learn something new. All of these things will allow your mind to relax and think about things other than school. Believe it or not, this will make you more effective at work.
Ultimately YOU are the most important factor in the classroom. Your passion is dependent upon your own health and well being.
~ A