“In addition, passengers should be advised to don their own oxygen masks before assisting children with their masks.” —Federal Aviation Administration (August 29, 2024)

Have you heard some version of this quote before? I think most of us have heard it multiple times in several variations, certainly while flying, and perhaps as an internet meme. When I am flying, I usually have my noise-cancelling headphones on with music playing during the entire safety briefing so sometimes I hear this part and other times I don’t. [The actual FAA document is available online.]

In 1996 (well before I had noise-cancelling headphones) I had just completed my second year of teaching high school science. As May ended, I was ready for summer break. I was also excited that the Olympics were taking place in metro Atlanta, my home. I was still paying off a student loan for graduate school so in March I had secured a summer job caddying at a plush golf course to earn extra money. I caddied on the weekends starting in April and continued that until school ended when I added Fridays and additional afternoons each week, throughout the summer.

Moreover, I also committed to teaching a morning class and an afternoon class during summer school. My high school was a host school for the 5-week summer program and the opportunity was just too convenient. I could teach in my normal classroom and use all my own equipment and supplies (and the copy machine). And I would earn several extra thousand dollars which I did need.

I taught first semester physical science in the morning (8:00 to 11:00) and second semester physical science after a lunch break (11:45 to 2:45) for 22 summer school days. [There were several students in both courses which might suggest a different conversation altogether.] I did this for five weeks; while caddying at the golf course during the week and on Saturdays and then Sunday afternoons all summer; while also trying to attend numerous Olympic events. It all seemed like a good idea at the time.

I bet you can anticipate the outcome…

By mid-to-late July, when the “Welcome Back to School” letter arrived in my mailbox, I was completely exhausted: physically, emotionally, and mentally. I had experienced a long hot summer, but no break. I worked multiple jobs to earn as much extra money as possible while trying to not miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Olympics to be held where I lived. My body was tired; my mind was tired; my heart was tired; and I was two weeks from pre-planning while still caddying 4-5 days each 7-day week.

I did make it to and through that next school year and, actually, it was a good year; I did not volunteer to teach summer school the following summer! However, I did return to graduate school to add another degree…a much better use of my time and one that paid for itself every year that followed graduation.

We all have physical limits, and these vary from person to person. More importantly, we all have mental and emotional limits. Our bodies need rest. Our minds need rest. Our spirit needs rest.

We also need to re-fuel in a variety of ways. This might involve pouring into our own growth and development in areas directly related to our educator assignments. This might also involve growing in ancillary ways as people, humans, family members, neighbors, friends, or professionals in ways that might serve us well in the future or in a future role.

The summer of 1996 taught me to plan better, rest intentionally, make choices of what to do, make choices of what not to do, and to acknowledge that saying ‘yes’ to one thing probably means saying ‘no’ to one or more other things. The summer of 1996 taught me to choose wisely with my time and energy, both of which are fixed in quantity (even for young people).

What professional time allocations are you choosing on a regular basis? Are you chasing too many things? Or are you focused on a few, strategic priorities? If you are an executive or aspiring school leader seeking to hone your decision-making skills, let us partner with you. We are equipped to ask the questions that you need to consider in a way that will facilitate your strategic success.