Teachers are notorious for working on weekends. Whilst it’s not always avoidable thanks to marking and lesson preparation, it’s important for every teacher to live a balanced life. If you’re studying a Bachelor of Education degree, you can get a head start on this so that your future classroom will be a happy and productive learning environment for everyone, including you.
A Bachelor of Education degree will prepare you for the challenges that come with teaching your students but only you can choose to live a balanced life. Although this is easier said than done, with a little effort, anyone can make the most of their weekends without worrying about what the weekdays hold.
For starters, we suggest having a period of no online work activity. Yes, this is tough with our dependence on social media but it is important if we’re going to recharge our batteries. By not disconnecting from your work, you might have left the premises physically but mentally your attention and energy are still there. Resist the urge to check your emails and respond to queries, you deserve to have a break and in taking one, you’ll feel more positive about returning to work on a Monday.
Those weekend chores are also an area that needs attention. Whilst many of our chores seem to roll over to Saturdays and Sundays it’s important that we don’t get consumed by them. With these household activities feeling a lot like work, they tend to trigger the same sense of stress. This means that they have the potential to make us feel like we’ve worked all seven days of the week. We suggest breaking these chores up over weekdays to ensure that they leave you free to relax once school is over for the week.
Believe it or not, a balanced weekend should include exercise. Many of us tend to sacrifice our workouts during the week in favour of getting work done. This means that once Saturday comes, we should all be making a conscious effort to get moving. Just ten minutes of exercise can help release endorphins that ease the effects of stress. Exercise is also an ideal way to get your creativity flowing. So why not find some inspiration by sweating it out.
The next thing to focus on is reflection. This is a major way to improve ourselves so it’s vital that we spend some time on the weekend thinking about ourselves and what we need to live happier lives. We suggest that this happen on the weekend so that you are free from weekday stresses and distractions. Once these are removed from the equation, you’ll be amazed at the insights you gain. These can then be put into action in the coming week.
One of the most important things to do on the weekend is something we are passionate about. Our passions are a great stress reliever and they help us to escape from things that might be weighing us down. From painting to music, poetry or even watching movies, there are several hobbies that you can try. In doing this, you can foster creativity and happiness that you can bring into every new school week.
Finding a perfect balance takes some practice but, after some time, it will come naturally. If you were born to teach, why not get a qualification that helps you pursue your passion? The IIE B.Ed in Intermediate Phase Teaching helps graduates make a true impact on the lives of young people.
At The IIE’s Varsity College, you can study a range of credited IIE qualifications that suit a wide range of industry needs. Give yourself the best possible chance at the career you’ve always dreamed of. For more on how we can help you take life to the next level, please click here.
Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). South Africa’s leading private higher education provider that’s registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).