Since I started teaching, I’ve used up a lot of brainpower with thoughts of how I’m going to master that “work-life balance” thing that a lot of teachers struggle with.

Immediately after graduation, I was thrown into a 12-hour work day. I worked most weekends. I spent so much time thinking of my kids – the lessons I was going to prepare for them, the accommodations that’d be most appropriate for them.

And that work-life balance thing continued to take a backseat.

My apartment was always a little cluttered with school supplies and paperwork.  I mostly lived out of the trunk of my car. I checked my work e-mail the minute I woke up and right before I went to sleep.

It was a problem.

…or so I thought. 

Today, I reflect on that person I was a few years ago and I notice that not much has changed.

The one difference between then and now is that I’ve embraced that girl. Since I started working at Rocketship, I’ve fallen deeper and deeper in love with my job.

The lines between my personal life and professional life have blurred. I no longer view my day-to-day as a percentage I dedicate to work and a percentage I get to have for my self.

I am “working” all the time.

I am available for students and parents 24/7. I spend a lot of time after work WITH co-workers discussing our students and our unit plans. I am unable to disconnect myself.

And, for the first time since I started teaching, I can genuinely say that I don’t want to.

When I was chasing after this “work-life balance” idea, I thought I would gain some level of happiness as a result. That once I was able to get X, Y, and Z squared away, I would find happiness.

But I’ve realized that it’s not balance that I need. What I needed was to embrace that girl. To be able to recognize that what I’m doing is something I care about so much. Something that I WANT to be dedicating all my time, my energy, and my love to.

 

So balance can continue taking a backseat.

Me? I’m focusing on happiness.