Last year in my first year teaching I spent all of my time working on school. All of it. My poor then-fiance was incredibly understanding with my tendency to not speak to him a lot. First semester especially, I really worked from the moment I got up to the moment I went to bed. It was crazy. Second semester I got better, partly because I was planning a wedding and had a lot of extracurricular responsiblities to deal with.

My fear for this year is that I will revert to my workaholic ways. That’s fine, but I also want to make sure I spend time with my now-husband. It’s been so nice really spending time with him this summer. Second semester I really didn’t feel anymore behind than first, even though I was doing less work. So that means I shouldn’t have to do work all the time, right? It helps that I know the ropes a little more now. But, I also know that I am a perfectionist. I get bogged down in details, and I can’t let go of things if they aren’t done.

I’m really hoping to maintain a better balance, because it makes me a happier person. Are there any secret tips that other educators have to manage time? I wonder.