Once the weather gets warmer, we definitely start feeling the crunch. We want to be outside. The kids want to be outside. No one wants to do anything except enjoy the spring. But for teachers, it’s crunch time. Even more so if you have planned concerts, musicals, and the like. So what can you do to get a grip? Here’s some tips on handling crunch time.

Visualize

The has always felt so corny to me. But there are things I visualize. True story: I can’t figure out what to wear in the morning unless I mentally pick it out and visualize what I’m wearing the night before.
So try visualizing how some things will go. Your more difficult class of the day. You leaving and looking at your watch/phone at the time you want to leave. Having all your lesson plans done at the end of planning time. Pick one or two big things and start there.

To Do Lists

Yes, this is obvious, but write out all the things you need to do in a week. Write a day next to each one that you intend to complete it, and start with the more important things first. Even if you don’t feel the need to do it, try it. When we are more stressed, we are more likely to forget things.

This one a week planner is something I keep in my purse with all my tasks for the week. It’s helpful to not lug my planner around and keep me off my phone. I keep one side with the calendar and one side is my to-do list.

Communicate

To your admin, your coworkers, your students, your family… Let them know what needs to be done, what’s the plan, and what you need from them. Schedule emails. I use the email scheduling in Gmail constantly. I’ve been careful not to send emails on the weekends. I might write them on the weekend and schedule them for Monday. No one can help you or know what you are doing if you aren’t letting them know.

With students, I’ve let mine know when I’m stressed. I think it helps to let them know you are human, teach them empathy, and help them learn social cues like reading the room. If I’m a little more short on patience, I let them know. Chances are that most of your students will understand and adjust accordingly.

Take. Breaks.

I’ve absolutely, and am sometimes still the person that works from sun up until I go to bed. And I’m honestly not more productive for it. If anything I’m more stressed, more burnt out, and need more time to complete easy tasks.

Take 15 and drink your coffee. Sit in silence for 5 minutes. Play a video game, or read a book. If you need to do a huge chunk of tasks, find a pomodoro timer on YouTube with some chill music and abide by the time cues. These planned breaks are a great way to help you be more productive.

Work Smarter

• Set timers
• Turn off notifications or put your devices on silent
• Use the Self Control app on your computer to block your website rabbit holes. It blocks websites for a time period you pick. This is only for Macs as far as I know.
• Clear your workspace. Take the stack of papers and put them behind you, stick them in a drawer, or hide them in a bag. Remove those visual distractions so you can focus on what you need to work on.
• Don’t multitask.
• Get out of your element. Find a new place to work. If you get sucked into other stuff in your classroom, try the school library, the teacher’s lounge, or another place you can concentrate.
• Batch tasks – do all of the same thing at once. Plan all your lessons, then make all your copies, then do all your grading.
• Do your most disdained things first. If you hate entering grades, start there.
• Turn on white noise. Lots of people suggest music for working, but as a music teacher it may be more distracting to you. I like putting on white noise for when I’m really working.

Sprinkle in Easy

Easy for you. Let the students have some extra movement. Make sure you give creative opportunities that don’t require you to manage learning. Take them outside. Play an extra passing game. Keep them engaged and you a little less stressed. Bring back a game they know so you can get a few things checked off while they “work”. General classroom teachers don’t have to be “on” the same way we are all day. Kids get some silent work, have reading time, or more. Of course there are interruptions (not taking that away!) but we can benefit from a little “students work independently” time too.

I hope this gives you some ideas for handling the crunch!