Working in schools has a number of demands.
We know about managing classrooms and keeping up with the curriculum. We know about communicating with families and keeping up with daily responsibilities like attendance or paperwork.
When you are first starting out, it’s important to insert yourself into the community of the building(s) where you work. Foster relationships with colleagues, make sure you don’t piss off the secretaries (they are at the core of any school building), and “be seen.” Show up to afterschool events, volunteer for committees, be present so that people get to know you.
What happens after those first couple of years? Did you get married? Did you have a child? Did you realize that you wanted to have some type of social life or pursue an interest outside of your work hours?
The work-home balance can be a lot for some people, and keeping yourself both sane and involved can be a juggling act of dynamic proportions. When you are committed to a community, it’s very difficult to develop some boundaries.
In self-improvement circles, there has been a focus on saying “no” more often to both preserve boundaries and to allow yourself space to breathe and take care of yourself. This is especially true if you are a serial “yes” person.
The balance, of course, is the key. Mark Manson, author of the popular book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” talks about the concept of “hell yes” or “no.” In essence, when deciding whether to commit to a project or a committee, you should think about whether you feel like your acceptance is a “hell yes!” If not, then it’s no. At first, this can seem like a simple distinction, but I think there is a depth that is valid for the typical educator. Committees and meetings and projects take time. They also take consensus, and they are fallibilities that are present. Please don’t get me wrong- there is value in participating. There is value in being a part of your school community and helping to steer the ship.
On the other hand, making sure to maintain a balance will lead to more enjoyment of your out of work life.
Keep Manson’s idea in mind when thinking about the next “ask” you get at work. If it doesn’t seem like something you need to be a part of, say “no.”
