Work Life Balance.

Work Life Balance. Is it just myth or can we really have it all? 5 top tips to help and rid your mind of guiltiness.

I’ve been thinking hard recently about what to write my next blog post about. I will be honest; I’ve had a touch of writers block mixed with a splash of life chaos. So maybe this week’s topic is ironic, because I haven't have a lot of time to write over the past few weeks.

I feel like work life balance is such an important issue within education. So as I’m sat in bed writing this, I’m thinking to myself… is it really possible to be an ‘outstanding’ teacher and live your life? Can you really do all your planning, marking, subject leadership and write reports? Let alone spend time with loved ones, go to the gym, cook dinner and run a social media account? To be honest the answer is no. You can’t do all that and then have your well deserved down time. So the question is, how do we manage our time effectively in order to not to burn out? This got me thinking… I’ve been having some serious social media guiltiness as I’m currently in the process of moving house and I’ve just been on a 4 day residential, so I’ve had zero time.  This has led me to think about some top, guilt free tips in order to have a work life balance.

1)   Prioritise, prioritise, PRIORTISE. This is fundamental for your sanity. Make a list of all the things that you need to do and add the deadlines to these jobs. This then allows you see the most important. However, a little tip I’ve found useful is to add non work related things to your list. Your list does not have to be just a work related list. It can have hobbies, your interests on there to! These are all you priorities. So I know this might sound stupid, but it honestly helps you to decide the most important things. I also think that as a teacher, you deep down, secretly like making lists, and get a kick when you complete it… Speaking personally, I’m much more likely to get a job done if it’s written on my to do list.

2)   Know it’s okay to say no. Even writing this, I instantly get nervous. I’m such a yes man. It’s a nightmare. The older, more experienced I get, I’ve learnt that it’s okay to say no. Unfortunately, I know that not everyone has understanding head teachers. However, too often, we are reluctant to say no, but it’s so important that we start to in order to avoid a burnout! It does not make you the best teacher because you say yes to everything. Headteachers are already grateful for all the amazing things that you do. Saying no is not a sign of weakness. Practice before what you will say and stick to your guns. The first time you do it will be the hardest and you can always offer to help on another occasion, when your workload has reduced. I once worked with a deputy head teacher, who missed her own daughter’s birthday, because she had too much to do. She soon left the school and was replaced… the school continues to run without her. It is a job, you can be replaced, and will be replaced. Just remember that.

3)   You may enjoy the results, but in time, you will resent all the extra time you put in. I think it’s the best job in the world being a teacher, but if you work every hour of every day, you will burn out, resent it and the people around you. One thing I’ve started doing is leaving my laptop at home one night a week. I then spend this night doing things for me! It’s amazing. Remember, your brain and body is like a bank; withdraw more than you put in and you will feel a deficit.

4)   Let it go. As perfectionists, it’s easy to get fixated on all the things you didn’t do and all the things that didn’t go to plan. It is hard, but remember that some things are out of our control. And for the things that are in our control, remember the world will still go on if you decide to reply to an email the next day and have a night off work. You will not be judged if you decide not to laminate every resource.  Just breathe and let it go.

5)   Switch off. Now this is my own personal downfall as the internet is such a wonderful thing. But it can lead to overload. You can constantly find yourself trying to find new ideas and putting pressure on yourself. You can find yourself answering emails at 10pm at night. You’re not paid to be on call 24 hours a day, so don’t feel like you have to respond all the time. Set a switch off time and stick to it.

Learning to have a work life balance is not only important, but imperative for survival. I recently read an article published by the guardian that almost a quarter of the teachers who qualified since 2011 have already left the profession. 31% of those quit within five years of becoming teachers. Let’s try and reduce this figure and spread the word. Hopefully, some of my strategies can help others.