#2 - Commitments ... or lack therefore

Idea #2 Evaluate your commitments. Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing. Which of these are in line with the 4-5 most important things you listed above? Drop those that aren’t in line with those things. Article here.

After using the guide to outline my overall commitments, I've determined that my problem is that I actually lack commitments.

[covers head from various thrown objects]

Hear me out.

I used to be the queen of "there are twenty-four usable hours in everyday." Or maybe that was Corey Mason? (Holler to all y'all who picked up that reference.) At any rate, throughout high school and college, I did it all. Now, I'm not going to go completely off the deep end and suggest that this habit kept me entirely healthy, but it did keep me motivated....

Meg's College Life To-Do List

• maintain an average of 18 credits a semester and show up for every class (resulting in a 4.0, naturally)
• participate in a minimum of two shows (theatrical) at a time, one at school and a stage managing gig in Baltimore
• multitask by seeing live music at an establishment that serves alcohol and has a dance floor - minimum two nights a week
• work thirty hours a week at a fairly enjoyable job that I rock at in order to pay for the aforementioned extracurriculars and transportation to said activities

Fast Forward to 2010

In my second year of teaching, I've decided to forgo anything outside of my actual job description (see above theatrical participation, live music, dancing) as my job itself is a composite of a thousand individual commitments. Sure, it's just one job - be a good teacher (to include lesson planning, instruction, management, grading, rinse and repeat.) But, wake up call, this also comes along with the commitment - or rather, expectation - to...

• know everything there is to know about every individual child
• communicate professionally at any given time with parents, other teachers, kids, administrators
• take part (with spirit) in any activity regardless of day or time
• implement the newest theories (changing on average, every other month) effectively
  
• always be in a good mood
• like everyone under the age of 18
• love what you are teaching at all times

Don't get me wrong, this is in fact what a good teacher needs to do.  The question is, how does a good teacher maintain this practice, while still having the physical and emotional energy to live his or her life outside of work? 

So in one sense I'm over-committed, because my job requires so much. And yet, while I am wearing my teacher costume overtime, my Meg suit is left feeling bored and unfulfilled.

I suppose it isn't an issue of being over-committed, but rather committed in the wrong way.
Quality, not quantity, "they say."

Conclusion: Since I cannot eliminate the work commitments (while also keeping my job), I need to be sure to say "no" to any extras at work.  Any "extras" I do take on, should fall under a non-work category (i.e. relationship, friends, physical health, hobbies...) In the meantime, I must determine how I can be satisfied and fulfilled by my job itself...