Work life balance

[temporarilyjerry]

Is it possible? I have been a teacher for almost 30 years and really should have this sorted by now. Every year I resolve to go to work, do my jobs and not allow it to take over my life; every year I fail. Any advice gratefully received.

I think it is possible - but only at a school where the work-life balance of staff is truly valued. At a school where long working hours and weekend working is the norm, it's near impossible.

I commute for an hour each way on public transport and recently finished studying for an MA via distance learning. I could only do this by making sure that work stayed at work (as much as possible).

At first, it's really hard to manage, but the longer you are strict about it, the easier it gets.

So there is hope. Thanks

At my school, SLT talk the talk wrt work-life balance but it doesn't seem to be a consideration when meetings and events that need preparation are time-tabled.

It is definitely possible but I echo the other poster about the fact it depends on the school. Teaching could take over your life and I know it does for a lot of people. I point blank refuse to let that happen. I am middle management in a secondary so time pressure is huge but I use my time at work wisely, I am ruthless when prioritising tasks and am pretty good at knowing what I can cut corners on and what I can't. My weekends are sacrosanct. End of. Weekdays i work some evenings when dc's have gone to bed but not every evening.

It is a mindset. It is possible to be a good teacher without losing every waking minute.

I've got an out of office type reply on my school email account and do not respond to HT emails between 6pm and 7am! And not at all at the weekends. She can send them as late and as often as she likes.

I try to ensure I'm mentally switched off at those times too, although I do still have the odd sleepless night or early morning worries about something.

Thanks. I think I need to sort my sleep out too. I stay up too late so that I can get some alone time but I don't think it's working for me.

I've done 3 years and not cracked it yet, in fact, each year I seem to work more (in the first year, I think I was oblivious to some of the things I "should" have been doing and blithely concentrated on stuff I thought was important like marking and planning ;) ).

I think the other posters' advice here is excellent and will try to take it on board myself - thank you, all.

To the OP, do you have a marking timetable? Also set an alarm when marking so that you limit yourself to 3, 5 or however many minutes per book or essay.

I still struggle with a balance and I've been teaching for 10 years this year. I spend any spare time during the day marking books to keep on top and ensure resources are printed on a Monday so I can photocopy as I need them. I have folders for each day of the week where resources go in so I can keep on top of what needs doing.
I mark maths and English every day and make sure foundation subjects are marked before the next lesson so may mark a set over two days.
I tend to mark during ppa and plan in my own time so I can leave earlier at least once a week. I try not to bring marking home so stay at school until 6 as I can still be sociable ish while on laptop.
My partner understands what my working week is like and I rope her in to help with cutting out, classroom displays whenever possible!

Only way I managed it, was by going down to only working 3 days a week. Well, only being paid for 3 days a week.

I only get 2 hours PPA because of the way it is covered. Most of the time is taken up with a phase meeting. We've been told that we shouldn't be marking in PPA.

Am thinking this might be the way to go, BfG.

I've managed to get myself in 70-80 hours most weeks and it has made me very ill. I am going to reassess my approach this year. I'm into my 13th academic year, so still a long way to go and I am determined that I will win!

Some good advice from posters here and will watch with interest.

Will continue to watch this thread as I am also trying to balance it all a bit better.

I'm full time (6th form) but with endless meetings taking up PPA and lunch plus compulsory training and meetings after college and the pressure to run additional support workshops at lunch means I rarely get to mark or plan during the day Add in learning walks, formal observations and peer observations plus parents evening and open days, it's madness.

I'm desperately trying not to work at weekends as my ds is only 21 months and I feel like I see more of other peoples kids than him so I try to do nice things with him at weekend. Evenings, I can work when he's in bed but I'm generally exhausted!

I send ironing out and shop online to save time but it's far from easy and SLT seem to be expecting more and more every term!

I'm about to start my 16th year teaching, and every year I think about how I can solve this one. I don't think I can to be honest. Have been looking at the calendar for next term and I already have school events on every Friday evening up until half term, and four Saturdays. I usually spend a large chunk of Sunday planning and marking.

I am fortunate in that my husband's job fits around school hours, so he runs the house during term time. I have already told my family they are unlikely to see much of me until Christmas!

I suppose in a way it's the pay-off for the long holiday I've just had. I'd rather things were a little more evenly spread, however.

What I find hard is the "work is never finished" aspect, as there is always something else you could be doing. I need to tell myself to stop sometimes, and be happy with less than perfection on some tasks, otherwise I will go under. I nearly did, last year.

The only time I was teaching and had anything resembling a w/l balance was when I was on supply, taught part-time, or didn't teach at all.

OK re-read that and saw the obvious error! Gimme an instant edit function!