I overcommit. I often want to do everything, and enthusiastically put my hand up for new roles, responsibilities, opportunities and projects. It all starts with good intentions; that lunch appointment, helping a friend move, that birthday party, but soon ends in burnout. Can you relate?
This kind of lifestyle is not sustainable. I learnt a very hard lesson, very early on in my teaching career – ‘Doing a few things well is far better than doing a lot of things badly.’ I understand the pull, as a new teacher you want to be seen to being doing extra-curricular activities; that extra band practise, joining committees, debating and the Clean Up Australia incentives. This is partly because you are excited to be in the profession and want to gain as much experience as possible in a variety of roles, it may also be to impress your supervisor with your ability to handle multiple responsibilities, or it may just be to add depth and to pump up your resume. All of these things are good and part of the profession, but you do have to learn to exercise a little bit of caution.
Remember why you are teaching:
First and foremost, you are employed as a teacher. Your primary responsibility is to teach those children in your care. If you are a primary teacher, you are already teaching multiple Key Learning Areas.
Have a careful look at your resume:
Adding value to your resume and making it attractive to prospective employers is really important, but be wise. Maybe choose a couple of specific commitments per term.
Speak up:
There are have been so many times that I have had to ask for help in my career. If you’ are feeling overwhelmed speak to someone. Maybe ask another teacher to help you co-lead the choir, or take turns in coaching soccer.
Decide what is necessary:
Each term I do an audit on my extra-curricular commitments. If the need arises you can negotiate out of previous commitments. and
Say no:
It is OK to just say no. Stress and over commitment is a huge problem with beginning teachers. If there are not enough people to run all of the extra-curricular activities that the school would like to initiate, it is not your problem.
I understand the desire to do everything yourself. You want to prove to yourself, and your superiors, that you have what it takes to cope in the profession. The truth is, burning the candle at both ends is not sustainable. In order to not only survive the complexities of teaching and thrive in your career you have to be selective about the commitments your take on.