5 Teaching & Self-care Hacks that Worked First Semester!

As we approach the end of the year, many of us are trying to rest before reflecting on what worked—and what didn’t—this past semester. If you’ve followed me for some time, especially on social media, you’ll know this year was particularly challenging for me. Despite cutting back on projects and presentations, I still found myself overwhelmed by work, student behavior, and administrative demands.

This led me to reflect on something a colleague said years ago. She often passed by my classroom after school and saw me still typing away. One day, she stopped to ask why I was still working. I explained there was just so much to do. She looked me in the eye and said, “The work never ends; the system is designed this way.” She sounded like a character right out of the Matrix. However, she was absolutely right. No matter how much we do, there will always be more. So the trick is realizing that you’ll never get everything done; and accepting that reality. However, if you can’t accept that reality, put in some guardrails to help you protect that unrenewable fossil fuel of your time.

This year, I tightened my boundaries, and it provided some relief. But let’s be honest—the teacher mindset often creeps back in through that tiny slit in the backdoor of our mind. That’s why I wanted to share a few strategies I implemented this semester that helped lighten the load and preserve the little bit of time I did have.

1. Stick to the Syllabus!
In our department, we revamped our grading categories. Instead of sticking rigidly to interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal skills with even percentages (which made our assessments worth less in the end) we shifted to formative, summative, and class activities categories. While we still focus on ACTFL standards, this approach created a more balanced grading system. The results? Students worked harder and showed greater respect for our department. We had far less attitudes regarding entitlements for grades. When students asked for exceptions and tried to plead their case, I referred back to the syllabus to back me up on everything.

2. (Re) Enforce Classroom Norms.
I’ll admit, I sometimes fall in and out of the habit of collecting cell phones at the start of class. But this semester, I made it a point to collect them routinely. Even on days when students weren’t using them, I still collected the phones to reinforce the expectation. Consistency is key. As a result, I don’t have to call home due to rampant cheating. Some of my colleagues haven’t taken this step yet, and they are paying the price.

3. Practice Saying “No.”
Saying no to students can be tough, but it’s a skill worth developing. When students ask for favors or exceptions, I check my calendar first and weigh what I might have to sacrifice. Sometimes, I say no just to remind myself that I can. Setting boundaries is empowering, and I don’t want to reinforce the expectations that teachers are always there; we’re not. We have lives and families too. In fact, I routinely tell student leaders of the 2 clubs I sponsor “ I can’t do such and such activity because I have a life too” when they ask me to stay after school so they can practice. That said, I do have some days I volunteer.

4. Limit Email Checks
I started checking my email every two days instead of constantly refreshing my inbox. Sure, I missed a few freebies in the teacher’s lounge, but I usually heard about them through word of mouth anyway. Cutting down on email checks saved me time and mental energy. This may not work with all admins, but when pressed on it one day, I told my administrator that I want to be as present as possible with students, and I check my email during prep periods every other day. It’s been fine so far.

5. Grade During Class.
This one depends on the group of students, but I tried to grade during class whenever possible. Even with my most challenging class—one that was sometimes downright mean-spirited—I managed to grade a bit here and there. It added up and saved me hours outside of school.

Teaching is a demanding job, and the work will always be there. But we don’t have to burn ourselves out trying to keep up. As we head into the new year, I encourage you to reflect on your own boundaries and habits. What small shifts can you make to lighten your load?