Ultimately, what we went through as teachers during the first years of the pandemic is what forced me to find a realistic balance in my life. When public perception of teachers went sour while the demands on our time and flexibility increased, it broke me. Almost every day it felt like I had nothing left to give.
Thankfully, I made it through and am solidly on the other side. Teachers have always operated under the premise of “we’ll figure it out” or “we’ll make it work.” At some point, this becomes impossible.
As I worked to rebuild and put myself back together, I found myself empowered to say “enough is enough” and “done is better than perfect.” No more working past contract hours (I don’t always meet this goal!), no more thinking about work all the time, no more feeling guilty for what didn’t get done today.