Creating Work-Life Balance: Takeaways From Teachers Are Human Too That Apply to Everyone in Any Career
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After publishing my first book, I heard from readers that the tools I share to help teachers apply to other roles too.
My background is in teaching which made me familiar with the way so many teachers dedicate their health, happiness, and freedom to a job that doesn’t give much care and support back.
To be successful in any career you must sacrifice a huge chunk of your time, putting things, people, and activities you love in the backseat.
If you aren’t diligent about scheduling your work and play, work usually tends to eat up most of your time and headspace.
Below we will unpack the tools I discovered as a teacher to help you create more time for the things that make life worth living.
Schedule It or It Doesn’t Happen
A lot of us have grand plans that somehow never seem to manifest.
You want to start journaling, so you buy a fresh journal and pen thinking that will inspire you to start the practice.
But here’s the truth… Humans don’t work like that. We are always going to want more stuff, but when left to our own devices, humans will choose the path of least resistance.
So no, new gym clothes are not going to inspire you to work out. At least not consistently.
You have to schedule it and commit to just getting started.
For example: at 6:40 I am going to roll out my yoga mat and move on it, no matter what. If I’m not feeling well I’ll just sit and do simple stretches, but I am getting on my mat at this time, every day.
The key is to get past the resistance that comes when deciding whether you want to stay in bed or get up—staying in bed obviously sounds better. Once you have no option and you know you’re getting up, once you’re on the mat you’ll likely want to turn on a guided yoga flow and you won’t miss your bed.
This works for everything. You want to cook more instead of ordering takeout, but as you sit on your couch scrolling feels less resistant than getting up to cook. So schedule a time.
No matter what I am doing, whether it’s important or not, whether I feel like it or not, I will stop and go cook dinner every day at 5:30 pm.
Before you know it, you have no resistance to cooking, morning yoga, or whatever it is you want to do. It becomes second nature.
Set Boundaries Around Your Work Time
Whether you have set work hours or you create your own work hours as an entrepreneur, most of us feel as though we always need to be doing more. There’s never enough time to move the needle forward, get all the tasks done that you need to do to excel in your role, or go above and beyond to impress others.
Trying to live up to other people’s expectations and trying to rush success will not bring you happiness.
It’s a quick way to burn out or resent your job for taking over your life.
You must create boundaries around your work time so that you can enjoy life fully. You need time to explore other interests outside of your job. If your work is your passion, you need space in your schedule to rest and let creativity find you.
Teachers are expected to work hours beyond the time they’re paid for just to get everything done to prepare while students aren’t present.
When teaching, I chose to arrive at school no earlier than 30 minutes before I was required to be there and leave no later than one hour after I was required to stay. This gave me time for a short, enjoyable morning routine and some personal time in the evening to take care of myself with movement, cooking, reading, and writing my book.
Before I set these parameters, my life was consumed by teaching. I felt like I lost myself and nothing felt exciting anymore.
By having a life, outside of your job, you are better equipped to care for your health and engage in hobbies, both are life-changing for your overall happiness.
10 Minutes of Joy
All of us are busy. Between busyness and daily stressors, it’s easy to lose your feeling of purpose in life.
You feel like a hamster on a wheel, grinding through the same day over and over, never feeling the joy you thought you would at this point in your life.
As adults, most of us are missing play in our lives. Think back to what you enjoyed as a child.
You probably stopped doing it because it seems silly. Maybe it feels pointless because it doesn’t have anything to do with your career.
The activities that bring you joy are the furthest thing from pointless. They are the very things that make life rich and beautiful.
You will be blown away by how implementing just 10 minutes of an activity you enjoy, every day can change the way you feel about yourself, your job, and your place in the world.
If you don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas you can try:
Paint by number or do a coloring page
Read a book for fun
Cook yourself an amazing meal
Dry brush or massage your feet with oil
Take care of your nails
Journal
Movement (yoga, walking, weight lifting, dancing, kickboxing…)
Do a face mask or facial massage
Sit outside and listen to the birds
Listen to music or play an instrument
Scrapbook or make mood boards
Gardening
Once you decide, schedule when you have 10 minutes for this. Wake up 10 minutes earlier, make it a habit after you eat lunch on your break instead of scrolling on your phone, or immediately after you brush your teeth in the evenings. Find a time that you will stick to.
After just a few days, you will see that it is not a waste of time. It brings something special to look forward to each day. It sparks your creativity and passion for life. It forms a joyful energy around your very being which will help you uplift those around you.
Move the Workday Away
While you’re out engaging with the world, your body soaks in the emotions and stress from your experiences and from the people that surround you throughout the day. If you leave those stewing in your body they can lead to emotional distress, outbursts, and even physical ailments.
Whether the emotions you’ve picked up during your workday are yours or others, it is so important to immediately move them out of your body.
The second you get home from work or close your laptop signaling the end of your workday at home, let that be a trigger telling your mind that it’s time to move.
As a teacher, when I got home from school I’d drop all my bags right onto the floor in my doorway, grab my dog’s leash, and take him out for a walk. I didn’t worry about putting my bags away or unpacking because if you get too settled in your home, you’ll likely talk yourself out of the walk, thinking you don’t need it or you don’t have time.
Even if you think you feel fine, you will be shocked to notice how amazing you feel after moving.
During my walk, I’d feel the wind as I move forward and visualize all my stressors from the day floating away behind me.
This practice allowed me to let the emotions go and free me to be present and enjoy the rest of my day.
Find a movement practice that you know you’ll stick to even on the days when you feel most drained. Those are the days you need it most.
You can roll out your yoga mat and do a 10-minute flow, dance, or stretch. Whatever practice lifts you up and leaves you feeling incredible.
Creating Balance
Making an intentional effort to incorporate more joy, play, and self-care into your day changes the way you move through the world.
It helps you enjoy your work more, enjoy your personal life more, and spread more love to those you cross paths with.
After a full year of putting my needs last by giving all my time and mental energy to my job, I hit a breaking point. All my emotions spilled out and I thought I physically couldn’t go on as a teacher anymore.
By changing my approach and doing the things described here, I found joy in the classroom and beyond.
To dive deeper into my story, check out Teachers Are Human Too.
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