Work/Life Balance

At some stage in every teacher's career, they experience snow. Some will have little flurries of it around reports time. Some will have an ever-growing ball of it looming down on them as one deadline is missed and it runs into another. Some will have an avalanche of it fall on them that incapacitates them to the point where they can't get out without help. Sorry, did I say snow? I meant stress.

Did someone say stress?

If you are currently dreading tomorrow, are anxious and on the verge of tears and can't see a way out, (feelings I have known), know this:

God is good all the time

God is not just at the beginning and the end - He is the beginning and the end. (Revelation 21:6, 22:13)

He promises to live with us all the time and be with us all the time until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20b)

He works for good for us all the time. (Romans 8:28)

God is sovereign all the time

God doesn't have a line manager. His power doesn't have to go through a sub-committee for approval and His words and love have power that can't compare with any power on earth or in heaven. (Romans 8:31-39, Isaiah 55:10-11)

What you are feeling now is temporary

There was a time when you didn't feel like this. There will be a time when you no longer feel like this. There will be a glorious time when feelings like this won't even be allowed through the door (Revelation 21:4). The fact is: what you are feeling now - it's time is running out. What you are feeling is real. God is more real - now and forever. Speak to him. Cling to him. Depend on him (1 Corinthians 8:6, Philippians 1:21, Psalm 147:3).

Let's get one thing straight. These feelings of stress are not unique to teaching. Whatever context we live and work in, we can be prone to stress. Teaching should not be synonymous with stress, but often is because of the effort it takes to get to grips with the varied, complex, unpredictable, 'people intense' task of educating others. Teaching takes time and effort, but gives back character and high-level skills in spades. And that's only the impact on you... lives are literally having different outcomes because of the job you do. When you get a glimpse of that happening (because much of it happens away from your attentive gaze) 'job satisfaction' doesn't quite cover it.

However, teachers still get stressed. Looking at the 'Skills and attitudes needed for teaching' will give you an idea of all that is expected of teachers - and can be a source of pressure for them.

Managing Stress

The best way to manage stress in your teaching life is to know your ABCs...

A is for Accept

• Accept that God is God. Accept that you are not. (Isaiah 55:8,9)
• Accept that time and effort are involved in becoming an effective teacher.
• Accept that days will continue to be supplied in 24 hour length packages only. (Psalm 136:3-9)
• Accept that some things will have to take priority over others. Accept that some of those things are sleeping, eating and playing. (Exodus 34:21, Psalm 127:2, Psalm 3:5)
• Accept that working with others can be more complicated than working by yourself. Accept help from others rather than working by yourself. (Hebrews 10:25, 1Thessalonians 5:11)

B is for Believe

• Believe that God made you. Believe that He likes and loves what He has made and that He doesn't regard you as a mistake. (John 3:16, Psalm 8:3-9, Ephesians 1:3-10)
• Believe that God made work as part of our purpose. Believe that shirking it or idolising it are not. (Exodus 20:9-11, Proverbs 18:9, Psalm 127:1-2)
• Believe that God is with you in all circumstances. Believe that, because of this truth, you can rejoice in all circumstances - not for all circumstances! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• Believe that God guides today. Believe that God's Holy Spirit and God's Word are instrumental in this. (John 16:12-15, Ephesians 1:17-19b)

C is for Commit

• Commit each day to God. It is His anyway. (Psalm 74:16)
• Commit each child and member of staff to God. He made them, loves them and desires to pour out His Spirit on them. (Joel 2:28)
• Commit your attitude to God each morning. You can choose it each day. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
• Commit to making positive changes to your beliefs, habits, attitudes and behaviours in response to God's grace. Resolve to live these changes out in all parts of life - not just work. (Hebrews 12:1, 1 Peter 1:13)

As part of resolving to live these changes there are very practical things we can do:

Be a better steward of our bodies

Eat well, sleep well and put your body through its paces several times a week.

Be a better steward of our relationships

Say no to extra work, catch up with friends or family by making a call or making a meal.

Be a better steward of our resources - Talents

Pick up that guitar, that paint brush, that saw, that spanner or that camera and use them!

Be a better steward of our resources - Time

Have a plan, decide how long and how hard you're going to work for - this hour, this day, this month, this year, this post. School doesn't just happen to you.
Plan the priorities - for example . . . (1) Bits of paper for other people (2) Lesson planning and resources (3) Marking (4) Other initiatives.
Plan the fun things too and stick to them.

Be a better steward of our resources - Money

Don't buy things to feel better, try to become less dependent on your wage, give more - either as money or practical gifts.

And lastly, remember: pray for change, plan for change and act for change. 'The one who called you is faithful and will do it.' 1 Thessalonians 5:24.