lol Okay but seriously how do you manage stress and work-life balance? I have worked hard on boundaries but really care for my students and sometimes it carries over into my personal life

Copious amounts of alcohol. Wish my answer was staying fit and eating clean to reduce toxins and promote my mental health.

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A few years ago we went "work to rule" during a contract dispute and we worked exclusively by the word of the contract. It was terrible! I felt like I wasn't there for my students, but they adapted and so did I. Generally, I no longer check email after school hours, never during the weekend, and I try to do as much of my grading during my prep and planning times (that is generally the least successful of my tactics). Other than that, I've got a tactic that during vacations, long weekends, etc. I just sort of pretend I don't have a job. Works for me most of the time.

geez, I hate this question because I suck at it no matter how hard I try. I try to focus on small things as self care - a $1 face mask, a bubble bath in my shallow tub made for toddlers, staying up late with my puzzle book, etc.

I work at a boarding school and live on dorm as a residential faculty member. I walk out my door EVERYDAY and see students when it’s between the hours of 7am-10pm and later when I’m on duty. I’ve checked homework at 10:30pm for girls who are my students and live below me. I share a laundry schedule with 24 teen girls 😂.

I learned to scale back my responsibilities on campus for my own personal sanity. I’ll casually chat with students when I see them, but I keep it brief “off hours”. I see them all the time so there will always be plenty of opportunities to build meaningful relationships. I don’t answer emails on Friday evenings through the weekend and consistently state when I’m available and when I’m not to students. It took time to adjust to separating work/life in a boarding environment since the lines are always overlapping.

However previously I worked in a public school and had to learn not to take work home. I’d do everything before I left for the day and kept communication strictly during school hours. I had family and friends near by that I would see often and focused on that during my free time. Every Friday I have a “self care routine” that I stick to so that I know that I have at least done one thing purely for myself. During that time, it’s my priority.

As a special ed teacher, I am both a teacher and a case manager, and it’s like trying to do two jobs in the time frame of one, and it just doesn’t work. I’m overwhelmed and struggle with juggling both jobs and my personal life. Wait, what personal life??? Other than spending time with my grandson and going to church, I don’t have energy left for a personal life! I take work home even if I don’t physically take work home - I think about students before I go to bed and in the shower in the morning, and I sometimes wake up in a panic realizing I forgot to do something! I love my students, but other parts of the job are getting to be too much. I’m hoping I can make it to retirement and not look like the woman in the meme, but I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll even make it to retirement!! 😔

Sometimes you are loving your students the most by having firm boundaries. Teachers get a lot of guilt trips and are pressured into working more hours than we are hired to do. The only reason this is successful is because we let it be. You are a professional and you deserve that professional dignity. That doesn't mean you don't love your students, but by standing up for yourself you are allowing yourself to return to school better recharged and more in a place to focus on them. You are also modeling what setting strong boundaries looks like and this is a lesson they will need to learn too.

I try hard to get work done at school and come home and relax. Not always possible but I try. I like to take walks which is a great way to work out the stress. I also like to read for enjoyment. I am an animal lover and have three pets that offer me great “therapy.” They love me unconditionally and no matter how bad my day was, they are so happy to see me when I get home! Find what brings you peace.

I don’t have a life outside of school. On Monday I am already planning what I need to do during the upcoming weekend.

Leave work at work, nap when able, get a “green” card, soak in tub, burn some sage.

Setting boundaries. Do what you can at school and if you HAVE to finish prep at home, keep it to a minimum. You gotta be able to separate the two. Don’t let it overwhelm you. There is no “perfect lesson” or anything like that. Just do what you can with the time you have. Go home and do personal stuff, veg out on the tv, workout, hang out with friends, whatever your jam is.