11 Things Teachers Can Stop Doing to Reclaim Time for Themselves

11 Things Teachers Can Stop Doing to Reclaim Time for Themselves

As a teacher, your to-do list often seems like it stretches on forever. Between lesson planning, grading, classroom management, and extracurricular activities, finding time for yourself can feel like an impossible task. However, self-care is essential for your well-being and effectiveness as an educator. By consciously deciding to stop doing certain things, you can create space in your schedule for rest, relaxation, and activities that bring you joy. So, let’s talk about ten things you can stop doing to free up some time for rest, relaxation, and activities that make your heart sing.

 

1. Stop Attending Every Professional Development Session

While professional development is important for growth and staying current with educational trends, not every session is necessary or relevant to your teaching practice. Instead of feeling obligated to attend every available workshop or training, be selective about the sessions that align with your professional goals and the needs of your students. Prioritize those that will have the most impact on your teaching and consider skipping the rest. This approach saves time and helps prevent burnout from information overload.

2. Stop Running Extracurricular Activities or Heading Up Committees

Many teachers volunteer to run clubs, coach sports teams, or lead committees out of a sense of duty or passion for their subject. While these activities can be rewarding, they also take a significant amount of time and energy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to step back. Focus on your primary role as a teacher and allow yourself to say no to additional commitments. Your well-being should always come first. If mandatory after school game attendance and volunteering are a requirement, sign up early and get it over with. Just knowing that you have already done your time is a mental win. 

3. Skip Changing Bulletin Boards Weekly or Monthly

Updating bulletin boards can be a creative outlet, but it’s not a necessity. If changing bulletin boards weekly or monthly is adding stress to your schedule, consider creating a more permanent display that can last the entire semester or year. This change will save you time and ensure your displays remain relevant and purposeful.

4. Consider Reducing or Eliminating Homework

Especially in the younger grades, there’s limited evidence that homework significantly enhances learning. If your school policy allows it, consider reducing or eliminating homework altogether. This approach can save you time on planning and grading while also reducing stress for both students and parents. Instead, encourage reading at home or provide optional enrichment activities that do not require grading. However if you do not reduce or eliminate homework, you can assign it in smaller versions to accommodate student schedules. 

5. Cut Back on Classroom Transformations

Classroom transformations—where you decorate the room to match a theme or lesson—can be engaging and fun but are not necessary for effective teaching. These transformations can take a lot of time and energy to plan and execute. If you’re finding it challenging to balance your responsibilities, consider cutting back on or eliminating these elaborate setups. Remember, your creativity and teaching skills are more than enough to make lessons engaging.

6. Stop Trying to Perfect Your Classroom Displays

Creating visually appealing displays and decorations can be fun, but spending hours making sure everything is perfect is not necessary. Your time is better spent on activities that directly impact student learning. Instead of obsessing over perfectly arranged posters and borders, keep your displays simple and functional. Focus on content that enhances learning, such as anchor charts or student work. Remember, a great classroom environment is more about the learning experiences you create than the decorations on the walls.

 

7. Minimize Time Spent on Paper Copying

Do you find yourself wasting precious hours at the copy machine, endlessly duplicating worksheets and handouts? Consider implementing strategies to reduce the number of paper copies you produce.

One effective approach is to project activities directly onto the board, allowing students to complete them in their notebooks or on plain paper. This eliminates the need for individual copies and promotes a more interactive learning environment.

Additionally, leveraging digital platforms such as Google Classroom™ offers a convenient and eco-friendly solution. By sharing assignments and resources online, you can save time, reduce paper waste, and enhance accessibility for students. Embrace these digital tools to streamline your teaching process and foster a sustainable learning environment.

8. Avoid Creating Detailed Lesson Plans for Every Single Day

While planning is crucial, it’s also important to be flexible. Instead of writing detailed lesson plans for every single day, consider creating a more general outline that allows for adaptability. This approach saves time and enables you to adjust lessons based on students’ needs and classroom dynamics. Focus on the overall goals and objectives rather than the specifics of each lesson. Bear in mind that if you are a novice teacher, it is advisable to maintain detailed plans until you attain a greater level of comfort.

9. Stop Grading Every Single Assignment

Not every assignment needs to be graded. Sometimes, giving feedback or having a discussion about the work is more beneficial for students than a letter grade. Consider using a check system or providing verbal feedback for formative assessments. This approach saves grading time and helps students understand their progress without the pressure of constant grades.

10. Letting Go of Perfectionism in the Classroom

Okay, so listen up, teachers! We all want our classrooms and teaching methods to be the best they can be, right? But here’s the thing: striving for perfection in everything can lead to burnout and stress. It’s like trying to balance a million plates on a stick—not gonna happen. Instead, let’s embrace the idea of letting go of the need for everything to be flawless.

It’s okay if some days are better than others. We’re all human, and we’re bound to make mistakes along the way. Instead of aiming for that unattainable ideal of perfection, let’s focus on progress. That means celebrating our achievements, learning from our mistakes, and always looking for ways to improve. By doing this, we’ll create a more positive and balanced teaching environment for ourselves and our students.

11. Stop Saying Yes to Everything

It’s easy to fall into the trap of saying yes to every request, whether it’s covering a class, joining a committee, or attending a meeting. While it’s important to be a team player, it’s also crucial to set boundaries. Learn to say no when your plate is already full. Your time and energy are valuable, and it’s okay to prioritize your own well-being.

 

Conclusion

As a teacher, I know it can feel like you’re constantly juggling a million different things and running on empty. But guess what? Taking care of yourself isn’t just a luxury – it’s a must! So, let’s ditch some of those non-essential tasks and make time for some serious self-care and personal fulfillment. Remember, it’s not about doing everything; it’s about doing what’s important for you. By prioritizing your well-being, you’ll be a happier and more effective educator. Start by dropping one or two of those ten tasks I mentioned and use that time to recharge and focus on the things that truly matter.