We just finished our third week of school. School starts early out here in Arizona, which is funny because it is still so darn hot in August. Our 600 students in grades K-6 and our 60 or so staff members have settled into the routines of another school year. I find myself worn out after running full speed for the last 4 or 5 weeks. It is nice timing to have a 3-day weekend so that I can remind myself to slow down, take care of myself, and play with my wife and kids.
If you are like me, you find yourself constantly playing catch up with all the work that goes into school administration. Late night emails? Sure. Bring work home that cuts into your down time? Yup. Trying to play superhero? Too often.
So this weekend, I will stay off the email. I will try not to worry about what I need to do on Tuesday. I won't check my outlook calendar to preview next week. Lastly, and this is huge, I will leave my laptop at home when we go visit family for the weekend. I hardly go anywhere without my laptop. I like to be connected where ever I go. I am always taking a few minutes here or there to get some work done. I will slow down. The work will still be there on Tuesday. School is off to a terrific start and I need to be fresh throughout the year so that I can effectively lead. Do you need to slow down and pace yourself?
You hit the nail on the head, Steve. These August and early September months are crazy-busy. Opening the school year is hard enough for us principals, but this year I am doing it with two brand new secretaries. Wow, it sure has been interesting!
Good luck with the new school year. It does settle down and into a routine, soon, doesn't it?
Posted by: Dave Sherman | September 01, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Thanks for the reminder to be good to myself! It is not just taking personal down time but it is also the tyranny of the urgent in my work day that plagues me. How do we keep the urgent from letting in the way of the important? And of course how do we keep from falling prey to avoiding those unpleasant tasks that always seem to get put back on the bottom of the pile? Another related question is how to find the right people to compliment your style ie. someone who is strong where you are weak.
Posted by: Barbara | September 01, 2007 at 10:51 AM
I was just thinking about this very topic yesterday as I rode the train home. I've been pacing myself, possibly at too slow a pace because I know that the systems are in place. Yet, I'm also interning this year, and not running my own school, so I have the luxury of knowing that someone else is ultimately in-charge. She has definitely been burning that midnight oil. I know that I'm going to need my strength over the next 10 months. The children haven't even come in yet!
Posted by: Learning to Lead | September 01, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Easier said than done, Steve. I find it so hard to get the details of work out of my head. Your reminder is well timed. I often preach to my teacher to have balance and take care of themselves and "Have a life", but do I follow that advice myself? I'm going to give that some serious thought this weekend...while I redo our collaboration schedule and read 52 narratives for teachers applying for a Kindergarten position. :)
Posted by: Dan Winters | September 01, 2007 at 01:37 PM
I am writing to you from Downunder where we have 4 weeks to go in the 3rd term of our 4 term year. I have just returned from a 4day technology conference, my daughter needs help with assignments, my classes are preparing theirs, my brother & sister-in-law are here from the US for just a few days...and so it goes. I sometimes wonder how we fit it all in, but have decided that takes up too much time!
Posted by: Lisa-Gaye Williams | September 01, 2007 at 04:16 PM
Why is it so hard to remember this? Maybe I should put a huge sticker on my computer that says... just for today, I am going to enjoy the rest of my life or there won't be the rest of my life left to enjoy.
Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: JanBorelli | September 01, 2007 at 06:01 PM
Oh yes - like others have mentioned, this is something we preach to others but it is just so difficult to do ourselves! Hopefully notions like shared leadership and collaboration will one day help us out with the idea that we need to do it all.
It reminds me of a speaker I once heard at a convention who used the analogy of airplane instructions for an emergency. When the oxygen mask falls we need to make sure ours are on before helping others with theirs - reminding us to give ourselves time to breathe so we can help others.
Posted by: Tracy Rosen | September 02, 2007 at 05:32 AM