I appreciated this chapter becuase I think it's one of the hardest things for leaders to accomplish. How do we have balance in a very demanding profession? I have a collegue that says that on any given day she is either not a good teacher, not a good mother, or not a good wife. She can't be all things everyday. I think part of it is maybe not looking at it on a daily basis, but weekly, or bi-weekly. In a week, can and have I done everything I can in all aspects of my life. The interesting part of my collegue's quote is that she left out taking care of herself.
The example of the professor that asks his doctorate students to prioritize family, health and job is not surprising, but a little unsettling that job was often people's first priority. I agree that health must be number one, but it is easier said than done. As educators, I think most people who get into this profession do it becuase of their altruistic nature. They like helping others and making a difference in other's lives. We must remember to take care of ourselves in order to be of service to others.
This chapter is a good reminder to keep things in perspective, know when a battle is worth fighting, stay organized and find balance between personal and work life. I think the best thing we can do for our staff is to be a good role model in having balance.
Hi Marci!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what your collegue says. I often think the same thing. It is so hard finding the balance for work, family, and social life. We all have to make the very important 'me' time. Sometimes I feel silly when I talk about this particular topic. Until you are in this situation, you don't really understand. Just this last week I felt that I was at my breaking point. I recognized this problem and decided that I needed my weekend for myself. This not only gave me the rest that I needed, but I was able to recharge my batteries. I know that when I return to work I will be able to get more done and I will be able to motivate my students better than before.
Thanks for a great post!
Tabitha
Great post Marci-
ReplyDeleteI agree that often times it is impossible to balance ALL aspects of your life and there is ultimately something that suffers because of the hectic schedules we all have. The idea of continuous renewal is something we must all focus on in education. We must continue to challenge ourselves and be our best professionally. It is tough to do it all.
I like the idea of looking at it biweekly instead of daily. On a daily basis, it can be hard to find balance. Maybe a day is too short of a span of time to balance all three areas, but a week makes a lot more sense.
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