Simple Steps to Organize Your Workday

One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is organizing our time and eliminating some of the stress that often comes with each new day. I call it, pressing the reset button. Today is done. Start over tomorrow with a plan. 

I always try to take a few minutes to prepare for the next day at the end of each workday. I make a list and prioritize the things that I hope to accomplish tomorrow. I find that if I have a focused plan, I can get things done without feeling anxious. 

I leave myself notes and place sticky notes on folders and books that I plan to use. Pressing the reset button can work for you, too. No matter how tired you are, take a few minutes before you leave your office or classroom to clean off your desk and tidy up your work area. Be sure that when you return, you will find a neat, organized space. 

This system will help you at home too. Take time each evening to prepare for the following day. The few extra minutes you take to prepare will save you so much stress and tension in the morning when you are pressed for time. 

Before you go to sleep each night, be sure you have planned for the following day. 

• Decide what you will have for breakfast and put out the dishes and flatware you will use. 
• If there won't be time for breakfast, take along an energy bar, a piece of fruit, or a yogurt. 
• Prepare your lunch for the following day or decide where you will eat lunch. 
• Choose what you will wear and lay out your clothes and your shoes. (Don't wait until the next morning to discover that one of your shoes is nowhere to be found. Been there! Done that!) 
• Place your keys and work materials near the door. If there is something you might forget to take along, write yourself a sticky note and put it with your keys. 
• Be sure the kitchen and bathroom are neat and tidy. 

Press the reset button each day before you leave work.

• Tidy up and organize your desk and work areas at the end of each day. 
• Prioritize a "to do" list or leave yourself sticky notes to help you get started the following day. 
• Leave work at work whenever possible. It will be there tomorrow. (I am a writing teacher, and I know doing so is not realistic much of the time, but do it if you can.) 

It may take you a few moments at the end of each day to press the reset button, but the following morning you will be so happy you did. Then, you can start your day with far less stress and worry. 

It works for me! 

Why not try it, or use a similar system that you devise?

Here’s a link to a FREE printable daily planner and to-do list. Enjoy!

While you are in my store take a look at some of my resources that involve taking simple steps to success for your students. Sign up for my newsletter for more freebies and tips.

Below are blog posts from my teacher friends at The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. I always learn something from reading their blog posts. Thanks for reading mine.

Best regards,
Charlene

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Getting to Know You Activities

The first few days of school at a secondary campus are exciting, fast-paced, and often chaotic. As counselors balance class loads, and students adjust schedules to include elective classes, students are frequently added to classes and dropped from classes. At my high school, we had at least two fire drills during the first week of school, and the senior class had a class meeting. In additions to those interruptions, teachers have many administrative duties, including organizing equipment, books, notebooks, and the list goes on.

I developed a unit that I used every year with every class. The students enjoyed it, and after the introduction, it required minimal involvement from me for several of the days. I was free to prepare seating charts, get my groups outlined in my mind, label and organize equipment, and again the list goes on.

This unit will help you with activities for the first day of school to get your students seated and accustomed to your classroom.

It includes a series of activities that will help students get to know each other and introduce them to you. The activities included in this unit are:

• filling out an information card for the teacher’s use.
• learning to prepare the heading on papers due to the teacher's wishes
• learning interview techniques.
• writing a series of interview questions. interviewing a classmate.
• writing a personality sketch.
• learning to use a rubric.
• introducing a classmate to the teacher and the other students in an oral presentation. After completing all of the activities, students will have received three grades, and they will know a little bit more about the other students in their class. I hope you will find this unit helpful. You can find it here.

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