When you are a teacher, it often feels like the to-do list expands to fit the time you have available. Unfortunately, that time is usually your free time! This episode is all about how you as a teacher can create more time (and energy!) for yourself using Parkinson’s Law.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What Parkinson’s Law is

• How you can use time blocking to improve your efficiency

• How you can use Parkinson’s Law to create time for yourself

This week, give time blocking a go. Schedule in a break out block for yourself as well as time blocks to get your school work. Let me know how you get on!

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

You may be aware of the safety guidance that says in a plane crash, you need to put your oxygen mask on first. The same applies in teaching. It is perfectly professional to be selfish and put your needs first. By doing so, you are being an even more awesome teacher for your students and team.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Ways that you can be professionally selfish

• The benefits of filling your cup first

• Why it is your responsibility to protect your teacher wellbeing

Unfortunately, no one will do this for you. You are the one to take action. Take time out this week to explore incremental changes that you could make to begin putting your oxygen mask on first.

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

When you are a teacher, you may be a glutton for perfectionism. High expectations of yourself in teaching comes from a desire to be, have and do the best for our students. It’s an honourable cause but it may not be benefitting you and your students as much as you might think.

What you will learn in this episode:

• The different ways perfectionism can manifest itself in teaching

• How perfectionism can get in the way of your enjoyment of teaching

• How reducing your work input may not negatively impact the outcome of your work

Take time out this week to reflect on what may be the impact of reducing by 10% the standards you set for yourself. You may be surprised by how much more time and energy you gain for little cost.

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

• Start Now. Get Perfect Later by Rob Moore

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

For many teachers, half term is what they live for. For one or two weeks, you are free to go to the toilet when you wish, make a cuppa and drink it hot and catch up on the school workload. However, treating half term break as an extended free period may impact your ability to begin the new term fully rested and restored.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Different ways you can spend your half term break.

• How long term stress is impacting your half term break.

• Ways that you can make the most out of your break.

Half term is an opportunity to observe your teacher boundaries at their clearest. It’s also an opportunity to establish clear boundaries for the new term too. Take time out this week to reflect on your school term and how you want the next term to go.

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

It may feel like the education sector is broken. It’s poorly funded, teacher retention is at an all-time low and students often disrespect you. It can feel like an uphill battle with little reward at the end. If that’s the case, what control do you possibly have? Despite the challenges, there are steps that you can take.

What you will learn in this episode:

• The impact that the state of the education sector may have on you.

• What responsibility you may have for your own wellbeing.

• How a change of perspective can transform your experiences.

How we look at situations impacts how we feel. Take time out this week to consider which lenses you are wearing at school and how a different perspective may change how you feel.

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

Sometimes, you just want to quit teaching. The workload is too much. The students don’t listen to you. You don’t feel appreciated. This stops you enjoying being in the classroom and can drain you of the will to carry on. You’re not alone. 1 in 6 teachers leave within their first year; 1 in 3 leave within five years of qualifying.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to discover if it may be time for you to leave teaching.

• Why it is ok to leave teaching.

• Small changes you can make that will help you to enjoy teaching again.

When you refocus your mind on the positives and take time out for yourself, you may rediscover your love for teaching. Take time out this week to reflect on what you love about teaching and what value it is bringing to your life. After all, you only live once.

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

Stress among teachers is high. It can sometimes feel like stress is such an inherent part of being a teacher that if you were to google image ‘stressed out teacher’ you may find yourself in the results. In today’s episode, I shall be discussing the impact stress can have on your health and teaching.

What you will learn in this episode:

·  What long term stress is

· How it can impact you

·  What changes you can make to prevent long term stress It can be challenging to break the mould and work to reduce teacher stress.

Take some time out this week to reflect on your pinch points, what may spike your stress levels and what will help to relieve your teacher stress.

Resources:

·  Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

· Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

·  Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

·  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

· Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

· Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

· Education Support Wellbeing Index 2021 https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/resources/for-organisations/research/teacher-wellbeing-index/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

Creating work life harmony as a teacher can feel incredibly challenging, especially when your boundaries have been corroded. Is it possible to achieve work life blending? Yes but it may not look like your generic work life balance but instead looks more like "intentional imbalance". What you will learn in this episode:

· Why the idea of ‘work-life balance’ is a myth

· Why striving for ‘intentional imbalance’ may work better for you

· How you can be intentional with how you choose to manage your time and energy

Take time out this week to assess what areas of your life are important to you. How can you ‘turn the volume up’ on these areas? Which areas may you need to ‘turn down’?

Resources: 

· Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

· Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

· Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

· LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

· Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

· Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

· The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

When you’re a teacher, one of the most valuable commodities you have that you wish you had more of is time. You feel like you never have enough time. Yet, if you had more time, you’d be able to not only get everything done but also enjoy life outside of the classroom as well. Time is finite yet, it is possible to learn how to make better use of it.

What you will learn in this episode:

 Ways that you may be losing time

 How you may get back some of that time

 Time management techniques

The importance and benefits of time management for teachers cannot be underestimated. Take time out this week to plan and schedule your tasks so that you can feel in control of your time again.

Resources:

 Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

 Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

 Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

 Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

 The 7 Habits of Highly Effectively People by Stephen Covey

 Pomodoro Technique Timer: www.focustodo.cn/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com

As a teacher, you feel like you are ‘on’ all the time. Teacher emails are one way that you feel you can never switch off. You may always be contactable and so you are always being a teacher. This stops you enjoying your life outside of teaching, something you need in order to both enjoy teaching and reduce the stress of it. What you will learn in this episode:

• The negative impact that being switched ‘on’ all the time can have.

• Ways that will reduce your contactability.

• How reducing your contactability will reduce your stress now.

When you reduce your time on your emails, you’ll discover more free time, energy and focus. Take time out this week to review your notification settings so that you can feel in control of your focus again.

Resources:

• Join our friendly Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/teacherswithboundaries

• Find me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemmadrinkall_headsphere/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GemmaDrinkallHeadSphere

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-drinkall-10a9861a0/

• Twitter: twitter.com/Gemma_Drinkall

• Linktree: linktr.ee/GemmaDrinkall

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gemmadrinkall.substack.com