PEN Mondays - Reclaiming your time

4 min read

Let’s paint a picture: it’s lunch. You have exactly 27 minutes before your next class. In that time, you’re trying to microwave leftovers, respond to three parent emails, print tomorrow’s worksheets, meet with a student who missed a quiz, and — let’s not forget — inhale a meal. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. For K–12 teachers, time is not just money — it’s a vanishing resource, disappearing faster than dry-erase markers in a middle school classroom. But what if you could reclaim just a sliver of that time? Not by adding another to-do list app or color-coding your entire life (unless that brings you joy), but by rethinking the way we approach time management — with grace, practicality, and a bit of humor.

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You Are Not a Robot — Stop Scheduling Like One

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that every minute of the day must be optimized. But teachers aren’t machines — you can’t run on a minute-by-minute schedule forever without eventually overheating. Traditional productivity hacks often fall flat in schools because, well, the classroom isn’t a cubicle. Bells ring. Kids forget their lunch. Fire drills happen. Rather than aiming for hyper-efficiency, try building buffer zones into your schedule. Think of them as little cushions of sanity — moments for a breath, a coffee, a regrouping of your scattered thoughts. These aren’t wasted minutes; they’re investments in your ability to roll with the chaos without losing your mind.

Grading Smarter, Not Harder

Grading can feel like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon. But before you lose another weekend to red ink and rubrics, let’s get real about what actually needs detailed feedback — and how much of it. Structured rubrics can streamline your comments, and swapping out some lengthy assignments for quick formative assessments can still offer meaningful insights without burying you in paperwork. Peer and self-assessments? Surprisingly effective when framed clearly and supported with simple checklists. And yes, AI tools like ChatGPT can help you write sample responses or generate feedback — just keep an eye on ethics and fairness. The point isn’t to shirk responsibility; it’s to work smarter so you can focus your time and energy where it really counts.

Meetings, Multitasking, and Other Myths

Meetings: the great time thief. If your calendar is cluttered with them, start advocating for clear agendas, firm end times, or — radical idea — asynchronous updates via shared documents. Meanwhile, multitasking is the myth we all want to believe. But the science is clear: doing five things at once usually means doing none of them well. Instead of juggling during recess duty, try time-blocking: 25-minute Pomodoro sprints, or protected 45-minute planning sessions where interruptions are off-limits. You’ll finish more, stress less, and still have enough brainpower left at 3 p.m. to remember where you parked your car.

Your Free Time Should Actually Be… Free

This one’s tough. Teachers are natural caregivers — it’s second nature to say yes, stay late, and go the extra mile. But healthy boundaries are a professional development goal, too. Guard your prep time like a dragon guards treasure. Don’t let it become a dumping ground for impromptu meetings or missed tests. And if you’re constantly replying to work emails at 9 p.m., consider setting a clear "off the clock" time. Recharging doesn’t mean you’re lazy — it means you’re human. A well-rested teacher is a more effective teacher. Plus, your hobbies, your people, your Netflix queue — they matter. You matter.

Time Well Spent

Reclaiming your time isn’t about cramming productivity into every second. It’s about creating a schedule that lets you teach with clarity, rest without guilt, and live outside of school. The world won’t stop spinning if your grading waits until tomorrow. Your students will learn just fine if your bulletin board isn’t Pinterest-perfect. And you — yes, you — deserve joy, rest, and moments that belong only to you. So here’s your official permission slip: take your time back. One buffer block, one boundary, one deep breath at a time.

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