Woke up at 4am and got cracking on setting the weighted assessment that was due this Friday. Logically speaking, I ought to have enough time during the week, but work life is full of curveballs and I hate to have my peace of mind held hostage by tasks thrown to me last-minute.
Did some focused work and managed to pull it off. Finished setting the paper at 6.30 a.m. sharp. *Heaved a huge sigh of relief after that. Having gotten the most urgent and important task out of the way, I felt that the rest are just details. Rushed to school with my son. Fed him bread and went through some idioms with him.
Continued with my workday, clearing all the miscellaneous tasks that gobbled up my time. Conducting a reading test separately with two students. Meeting the business manager of the food composter machine operating in my school. Teaching three rowdy classes six lessons. Involved in an online call and vetting the PPT slides of a National Parks team who was slated for a conservation talk in my school. Completing my Code of Conduct quiz and submitting my Annual Declaration to the Ministry of Education. I could tick all these nitty-gritty tasks off my list because I did not have a gnawing worry (that darned weighted assessment!) to weigh me down.
It’s 3.15pm now. I rushed back home, with a cup of cold orange juice in tow. Having typed this, I intend to nap for a bit before I pick up my kids. That is what work-life harmony means to me.
Being able to sleep in as much as I want, and then going to work, that's harmony for me. I only get it during vacation though.
But you work on your vacations?
Yep, I never sit still. I do two to three jobs at any given time. Even hours sitting watching TV is time to possibly earn something online.
Not setting an alarm, not having a fixed plan for the day
Enjoy this season of life! I miss it so much.
I’m the kind who likes to arrive at a new city, not knowing if I will stay overnight or take an overnight bus, relying on my wits
These days, even going to the toilet is a calculated act.
...scheduled between 11.15 and 11.24.
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue...
but seriously... when you are in the zone, a state of flow, where everything is going right, your instinct and mind are in sync
Do you still get this state of flow from your teaching career?
I said Miles Davis because his album emphasized melody, a direct contrast to Charlie Parker who overemphasized harmony
fyi
Thank you! I didn’t catch the references
Yes but I have never been a teacher lol
this state of flow applies to all careers and activities
To me, i would say, it's when im not stressing or thinking about something work-related at home. When i shut down slack, basically i expect to then be mentally totally off.
last q4 was chaos for me and i was quite angry and stressed for a few months, and that bullshit ripples out and affects everyone.
Most of this was due to product launching in many marketplaces and once and then stock ins and general chaos.
The lesson for me is to be stricter with shutting off any work comms and not letting other people's urgent drama affect me, which then gives me the right level of work-life ballance
Great points. I probably should incorporate stricter boundaries between work and life. I have been marrying them together because my son is in the same primary school I teach at. But I think I will come to an equilibrium soon enough.
But how do you get your mind to switch off from workplace idiocracy? I think having kids helps me stay detached, but sometimes I fail miserably
i find to me the key to shutting of is shutting down slack, because that's what is mostly used for team communication, so when i shut that off, it's like i shut off the work part because whatever comes up, i can deal with it in the morning.
usually ill play video games from i get home, and that will usually absorb my attention and take my mind off any work related nonsense
I get it. Some ritual that symbolises the closing of one chapter!
You sound busy! But if you love what you're doing then it shouldn't feel like work.
Teachers are overworked everywhere. I don’t mind what I do, but I do long for more space to be meticulous about the tasks I’m entrusted with. Right now, it seems that I’m fighting fires