I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?
– 10 Things I Hate About You
Back to school is a thing of the past, yet I still feel like I’m running around, scrambling, trying to get things done! I would come home every day feeling overwhelmed with things to do, my to do list was never-ending, and I was running on fumes.
This past weekend, I took a step back and realized something needed to change. I don’t want to feel overwhelmed anymore! I don’t need to feel underwhelmed, but if I can be in the whelmed state I’ll start to feel better!
Every day I would look around my classroom before leaving and think “What do I need to take home with me today?” NO! That needs to stop! I don’t want to feel like I need to take something home with me. I don’t have children yet, but I do have my wonderful husband and doggie. I want to come home and spend time with them, not with my school work. I love to come home and veg out while watching TV and creating new products for TpT. I’d also love to get on this blog more and write to you all. Bringing home a bag of work every day is stopping NOW! (Half the time the bag would just sit near me and nothing would get done anyways!! So what’s the point in bringing it home at all?!)
We do so much as teachers and we all know we don’t get paid enough. Don’t get me wrong, I love my career and I knew I’d never make tons of money from it. But, I’m tired of feeling like the world is on my shoulders and having a to do list with hundreds of things. I don’t mind coming home and looking up new activity ideas or laminating and prepping for stations, but gone are the days when I sit at home every evening with tedious school work. I will do what I can with my time after school (and I don’t even mind staying a little late), but then I need to come home and enjoy myself and my little family! I need to put myself and my family first!!
I will continue to love what I do… but I just can’t do it all the time!
No more breakdowns, no more bags of work, no more late nights trying to get just one more thing done! Let’s get to the whelmed state and put ourselves and our families first!! Are you with me?!
Thanks for listening to my rant, my opinion, my view! I know it may not be yours and you may be thinking “Wow, that girl is cray to the Z!” but I appreciate you reading along! And because you made it all the way through, I have a little freebie for you! Along the lines of making sure I don’t feel overwhelmed, I’m having a “copy mom” for the first time!! I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to my copies, so I made up these little copy direction sheets for the parent so she’ll know exactly what I need. Enjoy!!
{Click on the image to grab your freebie.}
Elyse,
This post could not have come at a better time. I came home late today after a ROUGH day (you know those days when nothing seems to work out) and had a mini-meltdown telling my husband how overwhelmed I was with school. I SO needed to read this. I too am happily married with no kids yet and want to just truly be present at home! So thank you, my friend, for this wonderful post!
Katie
Simply Creative in KY
So happy this helped you today my friend!! Take time for yourself and enjoy your evening!
I am RIGHT there with you! This school year has been kickin my behind! I even blogged about it last week. I have stopped bringing things home. You do need that down time and time to be YOU! Things will get done in time, and if you don't get to everything IT'S OK! Proud of your decision and learn to take time for you. You, your hubby and your dog deserve it 🙂
YES! It will be OK!!!! 🙂
Dear Royal Queen of Whelmed,
I would like to be a princess in your kingdom. I walked away from a table full of paper piles in my classroom this afternoon and took a long walk with my Rosie. Stepping away from the deluge is something I need to do more often. Thanks for reminding me!
Gratefully,
~Jennifer
Stories and Songs in Second
You are welcome in the Kingdom of Whelmed ANYTIME!!! The weather is great! 🙂
AMEN! Thank you for being honest and sharing with us. I am going to snag your freebie and then put my teacher bag away!! Haha
XoXo,
Kristen
Loving Teaching Inspiring
Loving Teaching Inspiring on Facebook
Put away that bag girl!! 🙂
I couldn't have sad it better myself! I'm only in my second year and I'm already feeling jaded. How SAD! I often feel guilty when I don't bring any work home or don't get anything done over the weekend. I wish I knew what it was like to be able to leave work at work. Thanks for making me feel a little better!
Kristin
My Carolina Classroom
Don't feel guilty or jaded!! Take time for you!! 🙂 🙂
I was so thinking the same thing! Great post girl!
So glad I'm not alone! Thanks for reading! 🙂 🙂
This is perfect, Elyse! 🙂 Spending time with you this weekend was great. It allowed me to take a step back from TpT also. I completely agree. We can take SO much on our shoulders, stuff that we TRULY believe in and feel NEEDS to be done. I've been there plenty of times! Thanks for writing this to clear our minds and remember that our families come first!
Meredith
Creativity to the Core
Thanks Meredith!! Chatting with you definitely helped! 🙂
Thanks for your honesty Elyse! I wrote a similar post last fall because I was so overworked and exhausted. It's hard to step back because there is always so much to do. Make it a point to leave at a decent time and come home and relax. I started leaving my laminator at school and will only do it there now! Find some happy time for you and your hubby!
Thanks Kristen!! I love the idea of leaving the laminator at school…. maybe I'll try to let go of that thing too! That will take some time though … love that thing!
This was a great post to read (and I LOVE that quote from 10 things I hate About You) as I too have been noticing my bag to take home has been growing, and it too ends up sitting near the dining room table and not getting touched!! I am really working on being sure I give 100% or more during the school day and accepting the fact that in teaching, it just truly will never be done, perfect, etc. I think a huge part of finding the balance between teaching and life is accepting that! I stay late and even enjoy that sometimes, but I agree that family needs to have the most special place! I love teaching as you do, but we want our love to continue and not burn out!! Thanks for the post – I needed it!!
When this post came to mind, the first thing I thought of was the 10 Things quote! Had to use it!! Glad you stopped by and read the post 🙂 🙂
I hear you girl! This year I made a choice to leave every day at the end of my duty day and I don't take anything home (except for the occasional lamenating project). TEACHERS UNITE! And I love your freebie- thank you! Sharing this post now! xoxo
Learning With Mrs. Leeby
Thanks for sharing my friend!! I'm going to try and leave at the end of my contract hours at least half of the week! 🙂 🙂
Great article! So glad to see you are finally letting someone do your copies! I also don't have kids but that doesn't mean I want to stay up all night planning and doing paperwork.
Great post Elyse! I needed this today! Feeling very much like a hamster on a wheel this year! xxoo