I'm still working toward these goals and have made changes on the fly to force students to dig a bit deeper and really think about things. However, it's not just my classroom planning I had to prioritize. I had to realign my professional life as well. How many committees can one be on before reaching committee comatose? How many pots can my hands touch without really delving into them? How much extra work did I want to take on?
Most teachers are lifelong learners and willing to take on anything that is beneficial to their students. That's why in August, when a fellow teacher turned to me at an edcamp-like event and wondered aloud why we couldn't' do something edcampesque-like for students, I replied we could. And we are (more about the conference in later posts).
That simple little conversation has launched me into prioritizing my life in spades. And for me, that's a good thing. Because of this endeavor, I have limited time for other things. What's important to me professionally? We can't do everything, despite our best efforts. So maybe it's time to prioritize.
What does that look like for you? Can you bow out of some organizations or committees or meetings? What energizes and motivates you? Those are the things to keep. Going to "have-to" meetings benefit no one--not the other members of the committee and not you.

The result? I'm not less busy. If you ask my husband, he'd probably say I'm busier than ever. But I'm not drained by what I'm doing. It's not laborious to go to my ELA book study meeting. I enjoy the activities I'm involved in and the challenge they hold for me professionally. I'm not run down or tapped out because of the passion I have for everything I'm doing.
So take a step forward, be bold, and graciously decline involvement in something that doesn't fit with your professional priorities. The first "no" may be tough to say, but it gets easier after the first few times. Go ahead, practice saying it. Then use that word in real life. You'll be glad you did. In spades.
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