Last week, my sister sent me the above video, and I've been considering it ever since.
What struck me most about the message was the concept of habits and time and intentional actions. We're all busy - very busy - and none of us struggle with having too much time on our hands. What we do struggle with is how to cram everything that needs to get done into the limited time allotted. How do we find more time to do creative things in our classrooms? How do we create time to call parents, chat with students, and laugh with colleagues? Where do we make time to do the things that bring us joy, like reading, exercising, sitting with family, listening to podcasts, or teach engaging lessons?
The answer, I think, is through intentionality. (My secretary said I should write, "through being intentional" but that would be a habitually written and grammatically correct way to say it, therefore making it boring, and I don't wanna do that. I'M ALIVE, DANGIT!)
We see and understand intentional living on smaller scales, when deadlines loom and our Procrastination Monkey is dutifully frightened off by the Panic Monster (for a great and insightful tour of how we procrastinate, check out this TEDTalk). Then, all habits of sleep, eating, dressing, living - whatever - is thrown out the window and we get. stuff. done!
Afterward, though, life goes back to normal and fall back into our routines and habits, believing once again that we're too busy for this or that, lamenting and wishing we could start or accomplish this or that.
The video High Five accurately reminds us that we can make time for those things, that we have time, and that if only we look at our actions and habits and intentionally do or delete them from our lives, we can create a new normal.
So what habits do you have that have always been but truly don't serve the greater, bigger, purpose of your life, your dreams, your ambitions?
What routines do you engage in, without thinking, that could be better spent doing something else? Is there something you can delete from your routine that will help refuel or regain moments of your life? You teaching? That will give you the time to finally get after that thing, that idea, that goal that has been collecting dust on the shelf of "someday"?
If you have one, I'd love to hear it. If for no other reason than once we've verbalized our desires and goals and have shared it with someone else we're more prone to complete them because we are now accountable.
Here's mine: I've somewhat subconsciously been getting into a bad routine. You may not know, but I'm currently pursuing my doctorate, which means I have classes and assignments which are due every Monday. Lately, I have been submitting them (and working on them) up to the very last minute. I've been sleeping in more than normal and not working on class or reading at night (don't even ask me about exercising!). And I need to change this - consciously, until it because part of my unconscious.
What about you?