Let’s talk about teacher work boundaries. Do you have them? I wish I could say I started my teaching career with intentional teacher work boundaries but I absolutely did not. I was the teacher giving her phone number out to every parent and answering emails, texts, and calls on weekends. Boundaries will look different for everyone, but if you’re on the lookout for some ideas, here are the ones that stuck with me.
Computer Stays At School
It’s inevitable that there will be seasons where this simply won’t happen. However, this is something that I try to be very intentional about. Leaving my computer at school allows me to also feel like I am actually leaving my work at work. It also helps me be more intentional with my time at school. Don’t want to take your computer home? Let’s get done what we can at school so that doesn’t happen!
No Emails After Contract Hours
Picture this scenario in your head: You have just finished the work week and you’re heading into a well deserved weekend. You leave school and head home to your family. When you get home you decide to check your email and you’ve learned that you’ve received a nasty email from a parent. Talk about a ruined weekend! It can wait till Monday. It can wait till the following work day! Protect your peace by protecting your time outside contract hours.
Leave On Time
First year teacher me was the last one to leave school every day. I wish I could say that it was because I was just new and learning the job, but it also continued into my second and third years teaching. Finally, in year four of teaching I started protecting my own time and decided that whatever I could get done between the hours of 7:15-3:45 was enough. Similarly to leaving my work computer at work, there are seasons where this might not always happen. But being conscious of it and setting alarms DOES help getting out of school quicker.
Take A Non Working Lunch
I know it is so tempting to have a working lunch. A teacher’s to do list truly never ends. Something I learned is that taking a lunch break for myself actually makes me a better teacher. It allows me to come back refreshed and ready for the remainder of the day. And if you’re not getting a lunch break, tell someone who can help you. Even if there is “no coverage”, there is always a way. Teachers are required to have a non working lunch every single day. Accommodating your 30 minute lunch is the least someone can do for you.
Don’t Say Yes To Everything
I sure do hope a first year teacher finds themself reading this and learns to say no here and there. I said yes to every single after school volunteer opportunity and I sure do regret it! A yes here or there is okay, but not every single one. New teachers, you don’t have to prove yourself. And just because you are single or don’t have kids yet also doesn’t put you automatically at the front of the volunteer list. I always try to remember one of my favorite quotes when it comes to this. “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no”.
If I could go back and tell first year teacher Sofie to do these things, I would in a heartbeat. I do want to say that boundaries are gonna look different for everyone. What works for my teacher happiness and well-being may not work for yours! Know what things are compromising your mental health and be diligent in seeking and setting teacher boundaries for yourself!
If you enjoyed reading these tips on teacher work boundaries, be sure to check out my other first year teacher tips here.
Happy teaching,
Sofie
