Mindful Monday: Whatever It Takes

The business of teaching is not for the faint of heart. This is a tough profession that requires a lot from us. 

During the school year, we often spend more time with our school family than our own family. Teaching often tugs at us to give more and more. The need to "do whatever it takes" to meet the needs of the students that so quickly find a special place in our hearts is not uncommon. 

However, I would beg of you to reframe the phrase "whatever it takes". 

As this school year gets underway and we start to dig in, please know that "whatever it takes" does NOT need to mean that you stay late, take work home and work on the weekends. "Whatever it takes" does NOT need to mean that you spend more and more of your own money. "Whatever it takes" does NOT need to mean working through your lunch and finding yourself underhydrated by the end of the day. 

I would argue that "whatever it takes" should in fact mean setting boundaries. We should be doing whatever it takes to make ourselves a priority so that we can give the best of ourselves to both our students and our own families. We should be doing whatever it takes to ensure that our needs are met and not just our students. 

Here's to a school year where we do whatever it takes to ensure we are the best versions of ourselves!