Maintaining professional stability through daily balance

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No matter our role in public education the work is heavy. From a grade level, core or elective classroom teacher, to instructional coach, school or district leader, the ongoing effort is often significant. Maintaining a healthy balance is necessary but all too often overlooked by far too many in our profession.

Maintaining this balance is tough, but can and should be made a priority.

I’ve blogged about balance in the past but am going to dig deeper in this post. The past several years, I have made stability in my daily life throughout the work week, weekends and breaks a daily priority. This priority is three pronged.

  1. Rest. Sleep should be a priority. For me 8 hours is the daily goal. If that means I have to sacrifice a little tv time during the work week, so be it. My health is paramount. Production is so improved once you’re fully rested. Far too many of us do not get nearly enough rest. There is so much research on the importance of daily on our overall health but below is a great article from a few years ago from the University of Michigan on the topic — https://sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2020posts/why-sleep-is-so-important-to-your-health.html

2. Nutrition. I haven’t been sick in years. Legit years. I know without a doubt nutrition along with the above rest and what’s below are a big part of that. I grew up eating pretty healthy and this has been maintained throughout adulthood as a priority. Getting daily amounts of fruits, veggies, etc. and avoiding fatty foods at almost all costs have been so helpful to my all-around well being. CDC research certainly backs this up — https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/about-nutrition/why-it-matters.html

3. Fitness. I’m a bit fanatical about this but blocking off 60-90 minutes per day for cardio, core and/or weight training is a must for me. Completely blocked off from the outside world with phone being in an entirely other room to avoid distractions and focus on the fitness. Even on my rest day most weeks I’m doing some sort of scheduled fitness – usually at least a low impact class on the Peloton. This is is a mindfulness game changer and helps keep me as sharp mentally as physically. Mayo Clinic research backs this up fully — https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389

Within our profession pour so much into others every single day. It is vital we pour so much into ourselves and our overall well being, too. That’s the least we can do for our body.

Drive. How my rural background formed me.

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Growing up on a farm in a farming community in rural south central Ohio had and continues to have a significant impact on my life. While I’ve been removed from living in the region for nearly 20 years, the lasting meaning the first 24 years of my life living in the heartland had on my life both ground me and drive me daily.

I don’t talk about it much but the evidence is around me if you look in a variety of much. Most people are shocked when they learn this is a significant part of my story.

Both my home and work offices have a lot of green – John Deere green, specifically. Toy tractors, mostly from my childhood – gifts from my paternal grandfather. Reflecting on the significance my family farm had on me growing up and continues to have today.

From a young age I knew I enjoyed agricultural community but I loved education. I was at a crossroads around middle school – my like (agriculture) or my love (public education) so from third generation in farming I chose third generation education from that point and never looked back.

Life lessons were learned from a young age. Responsibility – so much responsibility. Caring for cattle, hogs, time sensitivity during the planting and harvesting seasons especially, machinery and storage upkeep – early to bed, early to rise, the list goes on. Fiscal and physical responsibility in all areas, punctuality and overall drive stick with me daily all stemming from the foundation rooted in my 24 years in the midwest. So many life lessons gained.

The Raleigh area has proudly been my home for nearly 20 years. I love the entire Triangle region and am deeply rooted in as well as invested in the greater community both in and outside of my work within our school and district. I also enjoy the fast pace of a large metro area – far different from what I grew up with but the life and leadership skills gained have been priceless.

The family farm is still in operation and provides a great place for reflection, peace and calm for me whenever I find myself back in Ohio for alumni events at my beloved Wilmington College nearby.

So many of these overall skills – prioritization, connecting with people, goals, aspirations and most of all overall drive both short and long term stem from my my background. Grateful.

Leadership can be and often is – a lonely place

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Since I was a young boy, helping my mom setup her classroom many summer days in preparation for a new school year of teaching high school ELA at the now-demolished high school I would eventually attend as a student later in my K-12 career in rural South Central Ohio, I knew I wanted to be an educator. Just like my mom, maternal grandparents and aunt. Those high school visits on those sweltering July and August days in a school that back then was not air conditioned, cemented it, though.

Fast forward 30 plus years as I progressed within my own career and my scope shifted from leading a classroom, to instructional coaching within the faculty to my current role of school administrator and having a more global view, I’ve learned to come to the conclusion that leadership can really be isolating. Leadership is often about making and/or enforcing decisions that are best for the building, school community, district and ultimately the students. It is often a challenge, if even possible to not receive some push back even on decisions that are popular.

As Mandy Gilbert’s outstanding article in INC puts it right out of the gate “leadership and loneliness go hand-in-hand. As the person in charge, it’s inevitable that you’ll be treated with a different regard than when you were a regular member of the team. Those daily 3pm coffee breaks and happy hour invitations are no longer being extended, and your water cooler conversations have become trivial small talk. You’re no longer one of the gang. You’re one of them.”

https://www.inc.com/mandy-gilbert/feeling-lonely-that-means-youre-actually-a-good-leader.html

Being friendly and legit friends are two different things. Critical conversations and decisions are hard enough and inevitable within leadership. Don’t make things more difficult. This was critical within moving to my first school administration position 6 years. Balance is key. I intentionally do not live in the school community I serve, but rather a neighboring suburb in part for separation and mainly for balance within work/life. Mr. Fetters vs. Brendan. Vital for mental, physical and my overall well-being.

Being comfortable within your own skin and remembering leadership is indeed often a lonely place. That is ok. Bouncing ideas off fellow school leaders within your district, collaborating with building peers within leadership to ensure you’re functioning as a true team, a collective unit.

Strong work/life balance. Being able to cut off once the work day concludes, say no to that after hours text message or email thats not urgent. Say yes to taking off email app alerts after hours making more time for fitness, making ample sleep and nutrition a priority just to name a few.

While leadership can be a lonely place it doesn’t mean you’re leading completely in isolation. Find your support system. Discover your balance. Key. Check in on the people you serve ongoing. Let them know that you care. No matter their role. They matter – remind them of this. By doing this in an on-going genuine manner, it makes those tougher “big picture” decisions more connectable often as well. After all, everyone needs encouragement in our fast-paced every adjusting profession. Never forget where you came from. Humility goes a long way.

“If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it – young or old, successful or less-than-successful, unknown or famous – is changed by it” – John Maxwell

The boundless value of sending positive energy

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Last week started the 2022-23 school year for the district I work in. As students and teachers head back to into buildings throughout the nation it’s no secret our profession is in a difficult spot.

Professionals of all aspects of education are often feeling undervalued and under paid. Add to this the national wave of scrutiny toward our public schools often landing in school communities all over, this often only adds to the burden.

As school leaders, it is imperative that now, more than ever, we create a culture of trust, positivity, caring within the professionals we serve. Sending and attracting “good energy” should always be a foundation. In 2019, Entrepreneur had a valuable piece featuring 9 ways to attract good energy. For specifics, the article can be found here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/332544

In short here are the 9 ways:

1. Pay attention to the energy you’re emitting.

2. Change the tone of your thoughts.

3. Cut off negative influences.

4. Expand your circle.

5. Embrace compassion and kindness.

6. Cultivate gratitude.

7. Find your inner strength.

8. Align your current self with your future self.

9. Act in good faith.

When times are challenging as they have been the past few years especially both in our profession and in life with navigating a pandemic world and as we emerge from this, it is often easy to find ourselves on the “complain train” about ever shifting world, career and changes not always for the better do to said challenges.

Reinforcing this negative talk is never going to help. Instead, treating everyone with compassion, kindness and grace, even if they aren’t doing the same, will go a long way. Your kindness will come back to you in the form of good energy. We always want to put good energy into the universe — not the opposite — if we want positive outcomes, even if they don’t come immediately. Begin with the end in mind.

Lead by example. Embrace the staff you lead. Celebrate your staff collectively often – genuinely. Celebrate staff individually when they’ve added value to the group in any capacity. Encourage collaboration within the group, if there is an expert on a platform or skill — encourage sharing. The list is boundless. Better together. Listen to them. Reflect. Listen more.

Leadership is often a lonely place. However, leading with positivity, grace and understanding often yields a less lonely setting and spreads – a win-win.

Better together: 2 years later so much has changed… what will tomorrow bring?

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Two years ago today, the Covid-19 pandemic had really started to affect us locally, at state level, nationally and globally. Locally, it had been a few weeks since the first confirmed case. Concerts, the NBA, events and most notably locally, the beloved ACC basketball tournament had all been cancelled. Schools all across our area had closed. The local headlines seemed on the very day (March 13, 2020) our schools all across the state (and for the most part, nationally) closed.

https://www.wral.com/how-long-before-things-are-normal-we-don-t-know/19010726/

Since that day so much has changed in our world and especially our profession. The shift to virtual school, back to in person in a cohort model, back to virtual when variants spiked, mask mandates, vaccinations, boosters, return to school at full capacity, etc. So many shifts in the last school year — enough to make ones head spin when they stop and think of it.

Education is tough. Education during the middle of a global pandemic, even tougher. Now we see more hurdles. The great resignation sweeping the nation has hit our schools, too. With so many staff outages daily, unfilled positions, etc. teachers and school administrators all across the country find themselves often filling these gaps. Trying to maintain daily structure while filling staffing needs however possible is a new level of challenging.

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/teacher-shortage-attrition-challenges-philadelphia-schools-20220311.html

It is clear the past two years have taken quite the toll on everyone. Our profession is not spared. As we rethink our profession in a post-covid world there is a lot to consider. It is evident we must make the profession attractive to those who might and hopefully would consider entering the field. Stakeholders with most ties to pursestrings depending on individual states’ salary structures would do a great service by making significant adjustments to salary structures within public education. While increased pay would help significantly, especially to those just starting out in the profession it would also assist in attraction to the profession which began taking a hit in the years leading up to the pandemic now even more significant. Expecting professionals to continue to do more with less simply isn’t attainable. We must look at effective ways to rethink how we do things in a post-pandemic world in general, our profession is no different.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90728707/how-to-convince-people-to-become-teachers

As a general rule most of the voices in the back making significant noise aren’t the answer. Arguing over non-existent “problems” and attempting to create political points over such is problematic to put it mildly. We can and should be better as a nation.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/04/pandemic-p

Take time to listen. Our teachers, administrators, support personnel and most of all, the students we all serve, need us now more than ever. It is so important we support one another. Is it one more thing? Absolutely. Does it take a village? Always. Is it vital for success in a school year truly like no other? You better believe it.

Self care and balance has been the hallmark for many during the past two years. I’ve preached this often throughout and stand by it daily. I can’t say enough how important it is now more than ever to check on each other though. Focus on the positives and stand up for one another. Offer support when needed.

We may not know what the future holds but I am fortunate to work with so many amazing educators both directly and indirectly I have no doubt it will be bright. Better together. We’ve got this. Trust and believe.

Wrapping up 2021. Breathe. Continued balance. Perspective. Repeat daily.

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2020 was a lot. 2021 has proven to be even more. Our profession has really taken a hit locally, throughout the state and nation. Teachers, central office personnel and fellow school administrators are leaving the profession. Maintaining high morale has been a challenge while navigating my own. A few things have kept me balanced throughout navigating my career through the nearly past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Making family/loved ones, friends, health/wellness, and hobbies a focus while having clear work/home balance each and every day have helped significantly.

NPR ran the article below today that really hit me.

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/23/1067077413/teachers-pandemic-school-classroom-return-to-in-person-learning

Times are tough in our society and especially education. Maintaining a growth mindset, focusing on our circle of control and silver linings are vital.

Make time daily for wellness. Ideally well over an hour but less if needed. Uninterrupted. Phone in another room. Focused. Peloton is my universe of choice but choose what works best for you and stick with it. Make it part of your day. Completely free of distractions – that is key. You’ll be amazed at how great you feel physically and mentally. Ample sleep nightly and well balanced meals help significantly, too.

Make time for family. If they’re far away — call, Zoom, Facetime. If near make time once a week to see them even for an hour or so. Device and distraction free.

Make time for friends. Make time at least once a week to catch up with friends in some capacity. Also uninterrupted time is paramount here.

Make time for a hobby or two. You can do it solo or with family, friends, loved one(s) just make the time to find the joy. For me it is fitness, going on walks on the greenways or trails, listening to some vinyl, reading, or even the occasional Netflix binge. Find what works for you and stick with it.

Work is vital but it is not our everything it shouldn’t consume our daily lives 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Far from it. Balance.

Focusing on negatives accomplishes nothing and is in fact counterproductive. Focus on the positive aspects of work and life. Yes 2021 has been tough but shown below are just a sampling of some of the positive vibes that 2021 has provided professionally to put things in perspective.

We’ve got this. Happy Holidays and a very happy 2022 to all!

Balance and the importance of self-care in our daily lives

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Two phrases we hear often in not only education but in the work space as a whole as well as throughout society are balance and self-care. Its so easy to go into rabbit holes of work, work, work, and nothing else if we let it consume us. We always have to be sure we make a valiant attempt to strike the right balance between work productivity, life, self-care and making sure are personal connection needs are met,

One of the things that struck me often, especially before the Covid-19 pandemic completely upended our collective worlds in early 2020, was how “great” I was at maintaining a “work-life balance.” Every day I would cut off from from the outside world almost entirely while at work. As soon as I left for the day a switch seemingly occurred, I was done. Able to focus almost exclusively on friends, family and myself for the rest of the day, weekend, etc. I’m very accessible at work — all stakeholders have my direct number — but it was wide known not to contact me unless an emergency after work hours. I had this down.

As the pandemic rolled along and our lives changed to a work from home model and gradually in person then fully in person throughout the 2020-21 school year, I started to read more about moving away from this “work life balance” model and instead thinking of balance as an ongoing circle. This has been something I’m striving to do, and self-care is woven in.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/jeff-bezos-says-life-balance-111400459.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACNhWW3DINb6H-7KU7TbYORLN02N4wY8HtGAYCvMssztXxY-7Sa3KgpV80RRgYkpMS5fbTmxYVg1Z4YWzwMFyfqQegmTJpgwfjInFmWZxK2E1CQtSu07WkN77j46wGYKwTUsnlzNUfVh95TWNezU9uaDHbNRQvpBMRsMf8fJ9Qll

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210302-why-work-life-balance-is-not-an-achievement

https://www.fastcompany.com/90641070/work-and-life-arent-opposites-and-balance-is-biased-heres-why

This TED Talk really spoke to me. It was filmed just as vaccines started to rollout in early 2021 and we were about a year into the pandemic. Our lives had totally shifted. How do we focus on building capacity in others? Instead of taking on so many tasks ourselves embrace those around us. Share. Lead by example. Shift. All the adjustments that have been made as school leaders from the beginning of the pandemic, ongoing and throughout — wow. Mind blowing in retrospect. What did we learn? How did we adjust? How are we better? How will we maintain balance going forward?

For me personally, I dedicate time and space 6 days a week for self-care in the form of fitness. 30-90 minutes daily. If I have plans in the evening I’ll get up earlier in the morning and knock it out. Must be a priority. For both my physical fitness and overall well being but also time to completely disconnect from the outside world. Excuses go out the window. Just do it.

I also devote time and space several days a week for friends and family. Uninterrupted and again, disconnected. The personal connection time, no matter how busy we get, it vital. Also is completely focused and connected on the person (or people) not our devices.

Time and space for hobbies for me its been walks 2-3 times a week alone or with a friend enjoying the community, nature, the area and fresh air. Refreshing. Also, listening to music, specifically my love for vinyl a few times a week. Losing self in music can be so beneficial. Blogging, writing and taking time to read a book for pleasure can also give great joy. Find hobbies that bring you joy, relaxation and a brief pause from the day to day grind.

All of these forms of self care are also intertwined in our balance and something that is so beneficial for our overall well being.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/naomi-osaka-allyson-felix-talk-210616238.html

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/self-care-4-ways-nourish-body-soul-2017111612736

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/201812/self-care-12-ways-take-better-care-yourself

We always have ways to stop, pause and reflect. This was an area I struggled with for so long. Now I focus on daily — a priority. All around. Balance. Self-care. Mid-2021 and beyond. How are you doing? Real talk. You are 1 of 1. Limited edition.

One year later.

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One year ago today. My world changed. The lives of my building colleagues changed. My lives of my district colleagues changed. The lives of my friends, family and neighbors all around our community, state, nation and world changed. Dramatically. One year ago today the world started to shift rapidly in response to Covid-19 which had just officially been named a pandemic by the WHO.

In the past year like so many people within education and all walks of our community, state and nation I have learned, grown and adapted so much. Shifts are ongoing throughout the pandemic. A natural planner, I’ve had to shift. One day at a time. Focusing on circle of control ongoing. Leading with grace, listening and understanding always even if its hard to focus on the positivity myself often — always focus on those silver linings just as I’ve been doing the past year even more than usual.

We now have three approved vaccines which truly is a modern medical miracle. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Our return to normal will not be the same as pre-Covid it’s becoming more and more clear.

When we do return to a world without masks, social distancing and mass gatherings again what value adds will be bring from this experience.

Slowing down, reflecting, a deeper respect of self care in the form of diet and fitness while working smarter ongoing are some of my main take aways. I have no doubt I’ll emerge a better person professionally, physically and mentally. You?

This past year has been extremely challenging for everyone especially our front line workers, medical personnel, educators and our elected officials who have had to make difficult, often extremely challenging weekly, sometimes daily decisions throughout the ever-changing landscape of the global pandemic. Offer grace. Lately it seems we’ve drifted away but remember we’re all in this together. Let us aim to emerge better – together.

Turning the page on 2020 — flipping to 2021

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2020 was a tough year. This is no front page news. Professionally, personally. For so, so many. Myself included.

Throughout this past year I have been determined to focus on almost entirely two things — “silver linings” along with circles of control, concern and influence. (For more on this see the clip of Dr. Covey below)

What do I have control over? What has gone well this year? What are the main silver linings of the day? Week? Month? Year? They are always around – focus on those.

For me my parents recently retired near me. In the past they were several states away and if I was lucky would see them 3, maybe 4 times a year. Now, not always in a “normal” manner I’m able to see them weekly which has been such a blessing in general but especially during a pandemic when in person interactions are at a minimum often.

At work we’ve gained two outstanding educators to our administrative team and several new faculty members who are have fit seamlessly into our lineup and are going above and beyond daily during these challenging times.

I made a goal at the start of the year to go above and beyond with fitness and while the significant shift I knew I needed was expedited by lockdowns early on in the pandemic I’m forever grateful. Having fitness in my daily life again and at a deeper level than ever in my professional life has helped so much not only with my health but also providing daily motivation, peace and balance.

Those are just a few of the truly significant “pros” of 2020. I could go on and on. Appreciate what we have, what we’ve gained from these experiences and how we will add on to this for the new year and well beyond.

Resolutions seem to have more importance to people now more than ever as we leave a year that putting it mildly disrupted our lives and forced us all to significant adapt to sizable shifts within our daily living. When we make them (if we do) it is important to be both intentional and realistic by choosing targeted resolutions that will lead to happiness. This recent article in The Atlantic gives outstanding perspective on this very subject.

Happy New Year! Make 2021 truly great or not. The choice is yours.

Navigating social media during challenging times and lessons learned from a pause in usage

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In the months since I last blogged our collective lives have changed even more. COVID-19 remains with us and without a vaccine continues to alter our worlds. In the wake of the recent deaths of George Floyd and Brianna Taylor on top of years of racial inequities outrage sparked nationwide and even globally. These events have resulted in rapid idealogical shifts along with much needed conversations and in many cases action to lead toward real movements to confront these inequalities all across the nation. By far the positives of people trying their best to become better allies, supporters and friends while deepening overall understanding, learning and growing within the ongoing work was evident throughout social media.

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https://sports.yahoo.com/a-changed-world-mlb-managers-explain-how-they-are-leading-clubhouses-after-george-floyd-coronavirus-003336144.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/11/ceos-unveil-plans-against-racial-inequality-after-george-floyd-death.html

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/16/world/meanwhile-in-america-june-12-intl/index.html

https://www.wral.com/books-for-kids-to-help-spark-conversations-about-race-justice/19128212/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/13/us/changes-from-protests-george-floyd-trnd/index.html

We all are living in very anxious times during these times of such uncertainty. Since the pandemic rocked the world in March our lives have drastically shifted. We’ve had to collectively shift our day to day lives as we all navigate living with a global pandemic.

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When will there be a vaccine? How and when will large in person concerts and sporting events return? What about schools? When will we have more normalcy in our world? So many questions. So much unpredictability. Social media can assist with the pandemic at local, state, federal and global level when reliable information/sources are utilized.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Social media is a great and powerful tool. It’s been a significant part of my life for well over a decade, especially Twitter. I joined the platform nearly a decade ago and had so much impact on my life even once blogged about my entry into the Twitterverse.

I’ve always operated all social media platforms under the mindset of using Facebook and Twitter for good. During these often unstable times this is especially true.

However far too often we see users not abiding by this. Actively complaining, engaging in unhealthy/productive conversations and not abiding by social media etiquette best practices. What value is added by utilizing social media platforms in such a way?

The above mentioned activity became so toxic recently in my own social media circle that I voluntarily cut out all social media for over a week. Logged off my laptop, desktop, all iOS social media apps. Done. Didn’t think about it for over a week. Life went on. The break from the negative energy was refreshing, honestly. I had so much more of my day left. I lived my life completely removed from the social media bubble. After a week plus away I was rejuvenated.

Below are some sound resources on social media best practices.

https://www.houstonpress.com/news/4-rules-of-twitter-etiquette-to-follow-immediately-11271695

https://wlstraininginc.com/social-media-etiquette/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-facebook-etiquette-rul_b_9425740

https://topdogsocialmedia.com/twitter-etiquette/

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We are living in very trying times as a society. We all deal with stress in a variety of ways. Be mindful of who and what you represent. Your words matter. Pause and reflect before you post.