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| With some of my students in my old classroom in Hong Kong |
The early wake-ups, the aching joints, the over-stretched voice, and my conspicuous absence from the blogosphere can only mean one thing: I’ve gone back to teaching full-time.
You see, after saying farewell to my students in Hong Kong last June, I took on a ridiculous travel schedule that saw me dart from Asia, to the U.S., Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Chile, the UK, Germany, Malta, Belgium, and France over the 8 months that were to follow. In December, comfortably settled in the UK in a new home with Liebling, I decided it was time to go back to work (the wallet was suffering!), and I picked up a gig substitute teaching (replacing ill or absent teachers) at a middle-school here in London.
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| Living it up on the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC last summer |
But eight days ago I stepped into a new role at the school I was substitute teaching at. Eight days ago, the pregnant teacher whom I was slated to replace at the end of February went into labor unexpectedly and, as a result, this here sub suddenly became responsible for the molding of young minds on a full time basis.
Damn.
I love it (the kids are awesome), but I am exhausted. Being a “real” teacher instead of “just a substitute” means I have a LOT more responsibilities and do a lot more work. When I was substitute teaching, it was enough to roll into school two minutes before my shift started, and I could spend my breaks writing on this blog or catching up on my favourite celebrity gossip world news websites. Now, I have to get to work early, and spend all of my free time when I’m not teaching preparing lesson plans, grading papers, and organizing materials for my classroom/pupils.
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| With a few of my students when I taught in Mexico from 2007-2008 |
It’s a shock to the system, to say the least. I have aches and pains all over my body. The other day my throat was so enflamed I was convinced I had contracted strep throat (kids are germy as a rule!). The shock to the system is also social: I only check Facebook once or twice a day (if even that). My personal email is piling up with a quickness (sorry if you sent me message and I haven’t responded yet!). My “news” knowledge of who wore what, who’s sleeping with whom, and who’s up for what oh-so-prestigious acting/singing/athletic award is waning. I am feeling a bit out of the loop. And this blog? Well just look at it. I haven’t posted since Sunday. Today is Thursday. That’s a long time (for me). I don’t want to see this decreased frequency in posting become a trend. Do you?
I have a full-time job now and am very happy about it. Nevertheless, I am feeling a bit disconnected from the non-work world.
I am loving what I’m doing, the energy and enthusiasm from the kids is electric, and I’m really striving to make my classes as fun and interesting as possible, so I can establish good relationships with the kids and create a laid-back (yet productive!) vibe in my teaching space.
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| Posing in my classroom in Mexico back in the day |
But getting back into the swing of things is taking its physical and social toll.
I need to find some balance.
Thank goodness I’ll have all next week to relax and regenerate when I fly off to Dubai tomorrow *large grin* . You know, provided I don’t miss my plane or anything.
Does working full- time affect you physically and socially? Do you find yourself achy, exhausted, and disconnected like me? How do you create a work/life balance?
Psst! Don’t forget to “like” me on Facebook if you haven’t already! Your support is much appreciated!
62 Comments
Congrats on the full-time job and I'm sure you'll find a way to balance everything, you probably need some time to adjust. Personally, I've taken the opposite step, going from full-time employment to… well, unemployment for now. But I can say I feel much more relaxed and inspired so I know for sure working full-time doesn't do it for me and reduces my motivation and creativity drastically. The only reason I was doing it was because of the money and now I need to find other ways to pay the rent while being happy with what I do.
In answer to your question "Does working full- time affect you physically and socially? Do you find yourself achy, exhausted, and disconnected like me?"
Yes! Especially when I'm doing work that makes me feel utterly unfulfilled!
Thankfully I now work in a field that I love so many times "work" feels more like a hobby (even though some projects make me want to shoot myself). That said, the (indie) film business can be a very exhausting with long hours on set or begging people money so I try to find a work/life balance by regularly engaging in other activities I genuinely enjoy. Not just work, work, work. Sometimes that's hard to do here in Norway for a number of reasons, but I try to find small ways to keep myself happy, for eg taking a few minutes each day to read my favourite blogs, listening to music that makes me feel uplifted etc. And when I'm on a holiday, even if its just a small one, I totally disconnect. I don't accept work calls or read (work) emails. Sometimes it's inevitable, but I also try to limit the amount of work I take home.
The first week or two at a new job are always so exhausting – all that learning new routines and finding your footing definitely takes its toll. I'm sure you'll get there though, and in the meantime, have a WONDERFUL trip to Dubai!
Have super fun in Dubai!!! Be sure to check out the mall of the emirates its AMAZING I went there in 2007 and I still dream about the place, its a paradise for shopaholics like myself!!
SO MUCH YES. I've written on my blog about this recently. I'm very introverted and need to recharge from social situations (like any people interactions) with LONG hours of alone time. working full time (or in my case four days a week) is a HUGE shock to the system.
I love hearing about your teaching though 🙂
Have fun in Dubai!!!!!! I would love to visit some day!! It's hard to get used to new routines! you will find the time for everything. Some days are slower than others and will give you time to catch up on email/FB/blog. And maybe we just have to live with fewer blog post from you :'( I find it hard to see my friends/family during the week. They complain about my absence but I'm always exhausted at the end of the day. I would only make an exception for a birthday or something important.
oh, I can relate. i have a full and part time job and sometimes i am too tired on the weekends to move. i hate it! Since moving i havent had time to make friends bc i work too much. yuck!
ok, now Dubai. I cannot wait for this. have fun girl. should be just the break you need.
first of all, how did you get time off knowing you just started working FT. or is the school on a spring break? Your body will get used to it. You just need time to reschedule your time. And if you need any "push" just look into your bank account and list of places to go and things to do. Then your body won't ache anymore 🙂 Have fun in Dubai, definitely one of my "must visit" city.
After a long period of unemployment, I finally started back to work full-time some weeks ago. When I was unemployed I had a decent amount of free time but no money to live life, and now that I'm back to work I'm making money again but find I barely have the time to have fun and relax. It really is about balance, and if anyone figures it out they need to share the secret with us!
Have fun in Ireland. Good luck finding balance, I'm pretty sure it's elusive!
Your past 8 months sound amazing, and congratulations on your new gig. From the way you talk about it, I can tell you're a great teacher. I have to make rules about when I blog and when I read blogs in order to fit it into my full-time work/family/creative outlets schedule. It's not always easy! And Dubai! Wow!
If only we could all be rich and/or find ways to make tons of money doing things that we absolutely love and/or are not fatiguing.. 😉 So glad that you decided that your job wasnt doing it for you! That's really brave!
Disconnecting while on holiday is so so important! I try to do it but fail miserably, but this is probably because I am a travel blogger, so it's kind of necessary.. :-0
I'm sure I'll be able to do all this molding/shaping young minds stuff with my eyes closed by the end of the year.. 😉
For sure! I'm actually staying in a hotel in the Mall of the Emirates!!
haha I am the same! When I get home I'm not in the mood to talk to anybody… I'm burned out from talking so much at work!
I'm going to try really hard to be consistent with my blogs!! And good for you that you realize that for your physical health you need to say no sometimes!
Looking forward to unwinding!
School is on spring break… 🙂 Thanks!
Sometimes it's good to be working too much to spend any money though! haha.
Ireland?! More like Dubai.. 🙂 Thanks chica!
Awww thanks! I get bored easily so I really try to make things interesting for my students!!
I echo many of the sentiments of those before me. Congrats on your new gig and if you're in Dubai right now, I hope you're enjoying it.
Hi Oneika,
Great blog post. Me reading at this moment in my life is timely to say the least. It's been a year working full-time for 40 hours a week and I'm going crazy. I don't mind for the most part but lately I'm extremely bored and am upset that each time my friends ask me out I say I can't. I have work. I didn't foresee the bondage that a work opportunity would bring. I need to find a way to make my shifts more flexible or cut them down SOMEHOW! Maybe you do too.
As a graduate from a Pedagogical university, I know what you mean. I worked full time at school for a year and then I quit. You can imagine why. I tried college work but wasn’t happy either. For 5 years now I have been freelancing as a teacher of English for adults and I am forever happy. I can set up my own timetable, choose my own materials, take my own holidays. The pay is OK but teaching has never been a goldmine, has it?
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