Personal Development
Devote your entire focus to the task at hand
Close out all other browser windows . Put your phone away , out of sight and on silent . Find a quiet place to work or listen to some music if that helps you . Concentrate on one task at a time . Nothing else should exist . Immerse yourself in it . This is called deep work and it will allow you to get more done better and faster .
Get an early start
Nearly all of us are plagued by the impulse to procrastinate . It seems so easy , and you always manage to get it done eventually , so why not ? Take it from a chronic procrastinator it is so much nicer and less stressful to get an earlier start on something . Come into school earlier , before the students arrive and use the quiet time to work uninterrupted on tasks . This will also save you taking things home .
Turn key tasks into habits
From marking to planning and searching for resources , these are among some of the most common tasks educators have to perform , turning them into habits makes it so much easier . Schedule a specific time during which you do the important tasks every day . If you remain consistent , they will soon become habits and as the old saying goes , habits are easy to form but hard to break so it ’ s better to form good habits .
Leave a buffer-time between tasks
When you rush from task to task , it ’ s difficult to appreciate what we ’ re doing and to stay focused and motivated . Leave buffer time as some tasks will run over and if you finish a task early you can take a well needed rest . Allowing yourself down-time between tasks can be a breath of fresh air for your brains . While taking a break , go for a short walk , meditate or perform some other mind-clearing exercise .
Exercise and eat healthily
Numerous studies have linked a healthy lifestyle with work productivity . Similar to ; getting enough sleep , exercising and eating healthily to ; boost energy levels , clear your mind and allow you to focus more easily .
Sleep at least 7-8 hours
Some people think sacrificing sleep is a good way to hack productivity and getting a couple extra hours out of the day . This is not the case .
Most people need 7-8 hours of sleep for their bodies and minds to function optimally . You know if you ’ re getting enough sleep . Listen to your body , and don ’ t underestimate the value of sleep . Tired educators are not good educators .
Create organising systems
Being organised saves tons of time , and you don ’ t have to be the most ultra-organised person in the world either . Systems aren ’ t complicated to implement . Create a filing system for documents . Make sure all items have a place to be stored in your office or classroom . Streamline , streamline , streamline .
One Last Tip ( The Best One )
There ’ s one final tip worth mentioning . If you remember one thing from this article , remember this : Enjoyment should always be the goal . Students know when educators enjoy what they are doing . When you are having fun , so too are your students .
You can get so caught up in busyness that you forget to enjoy what you are doing .
After The Bell | | Sep - Oct 2018 | 49