Time management

Coming from a three week stint in the private sector over the summer and straight back to the classroom, I had forgotten how much time is wasted on inessential tasks and how self-disciplined you have to be to spend time effectively. As a teacher you are sort of your own boss--certainly one of the joys of the vocation. However, it is also true that, to an extent, the job will expand to meet the amount of time you are willing to devote to it. There are so many things in teaching that you, I feel, have to learn on the job: problem students, awkward parents, time spent on marking, a teaching style that suits you and your students. One of the greatest challenges has been developing self-discipline and time management skills to avoid working until midnight every night. Being a perfectionist does not do your social life any favours and doing 1 thing at 110% when you could do a handful at 80% is sometimes a better option.