I’ve been thinking a lot about a common problem I see in teachers everywhere– our time is managing US instead of us managing OUR TIME! If you can take control of your time, you’ll be able to find all the “lost time” you are looking for.
First, let’s talk about what time management is. Time management is really the balance of goal setting, planning, prioritizing, decision making, delegating and scheduling. You’re really good at knowing WHAT you need to do, it’s finding enough time to do #allthethings that becomes a problem.
The second part of time management deals with the actual minutes on the clock. We all have the same 24 hours in our day, it’s what you do with them that matters. This is the struggle and the struggle is real.
One way to wrangle your time is the Pomodoro Technique. With this technique, you need a good timer and a to do list. Set your timer for 25 minutes and tackle one of the items on your list. When the timer goes off, STOP and take a 3-5 minute break. Each cycle of work and rest is referred to as a Pomodoro. The idea is that the short bursts of work followed by a break will help you concentrate and focus.
I use a version of this. I set my timer for 30 minutes and address one area of my life- school work, cleaning, family, etc. Using a timer and a to do list really helps me keep a good work-life balance. I will spend 2-3 Pomodoros on one area of my life, school work for example and then switch my focus to something else such as cleaning or family time.
I know you like to read, so I found some books that you might like about time management.
(Please note, these links are affiliate links which means I may receive some pocket change to help support this blog and fund teaching expenses when you make a purchase. As always, the opinions are my own and I promise to only share what I truly love- cross my teacher’s heart!)
I hope my suggestions help you take control of your time. I would love to hear any tips you have for getting control of your time!
This is the second post in my Finding Balance series. You can find others by clicking on the images below or signing up for my newsletter!
Looking for more ways to Find Balance?
Subscribe to my email list and receive 5 Ways to Find Balance as a Teacher for FREE!
