How do you balance work and life when teaching online?
How I balance work and life looks very different now versus when I first starting teaching online. I was ALWAYS logged in when I first started teaching online. I was on a fast track to burnout until I started taking online management classes.
I have a weekly schedule regarding specific tasks that I want to complete throughout the week. For example, I spend time in the discussions/forums on specific days and time within the Dropboxes on the opposite days. I check my email two times per day (morning and late afternoon).
I am very regimented as to how much time I spend within my classes on a daily basis. Otherwise, I can work all day. By “clocking out†at a specific time I am able spend time on personal activities.
Eleanor,
Excellent. If you can work during the day and have family time at night, you're ahead of many online instructor. Flexibility is a huge advantage. Thanks!
This is one the most challenging aspects of being an online instructor and yet also one the greatest advantages. It is important for me to schedule my "teaching online" tasks during the day so that by evening, my time is devoted to family and personal time. I also try to accomplish my work during the week so that Saturday or Sunday is reserved for periodically checking myy school email account.
Being able to teach online also offers me flexibility with my schedule, for example if I have an doctor's appointment during the day that I wouldn't be able to keep if my schedule involved a more traditional, in-classroom teaching position.
Natasha,
Sounds like you've got a system. So many online instructors do not. If you can share more about your schedule and how you set it up, please do. Others would definitely be interested. Take care.
I balance work and life while teaching online by keeping to a schedule. My schedule allows consistency for me with my family and work life.
Jennifer,
;-) You are not alone. Can you NOT accept late work? I don't accept late work and students learn quickly to turn work on time.
Also, state in your syllabus when you will check email and your LMS. You do not have to check email every day. Keep working on your balance. We all need it.
lisa,
Sticking to it can be the hard part. It takes time to set up that schedule, but keep doing that and keep sticking to it. That's good advice. Thanks!
I have to have a schedule and stick to it. I can't spend all my time checking e-mails and doing work. I manage my time by letting the students know when I check my e-mails (twice a day) and when I grade their papers.
I've actually found that this is something I don't always do well (I need this course!). I find that my biggest challenge is letting students get their way with my grading timeline, especially when it comes to late work. Often, students email me minutes after making a submission asking if I can grade it right away. I already try hard to get grades back to students within 24-48 hours, and I know that I have to set boundaries and work within a reasonable time frame instead of jumping right into a classroom to grade simply because the student requests it.
Aside from that challenge, though, I do try to set aside time specifically for my online classes. I get up two hours before the rest of my family so that I can work in peace. That helps a lot because I am able to get a lot of work done before I get sidetracked with the family.
I also try to check my email four times a day only: once in the early morning, once late morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening.
Balance is hard, but I'm working on it!
William,
We learn as we go and we can have some flexibility when we build it into our schedule. Make sure you build it in and let students know when you will be checking email and your LMS. Keep working toward finding your balance. Thanks!
I am FT online, so I make my chats, office hours, and grading during mostly M-W from 9 -5 when my wife is working away from home. Then we go to LA Fitness M-W to exercise together. On Th-Sun I limit my online activities to answering emails, faculty meetings, and grading some assignments submitted early. I try to do 3 1/2 days as FT and 3 1/2 days PT online. I still travel to see family and take my laptop with me. Last summer I posted Final graded from Camen Brac while scuba diving two times in the mornings. When I was an adjunct it wasn't so easy. I had to work FT from 7-330 then work online every evening for about 2 hrs. but I only taught one class as comopared to FT where I teach two classes and supervise three FT and 20 Adjuncts.
Stephen,
Take time for yourself and your family. It's OK to take a day and not be a 24-7 instructor. The structure and balance will come. Let students know when you will NOT be checking email and take the time.
Rafael,
Don't become that 24-7 online instructor. You have to take at least a day for yourself Try FAQ discussion boards in which students can answer peers' questions to alleviate some email overload. Try some tips you find in these forums. Thanks!
I have to confess that this is THE most difficult part of online teaching for me. Being a single father, it is very difficult to balance the wants of my children with what we all need. There is always some request coming from one of them to be taken somewhere, etc. It takes an iron will to not cave in and leave my work while I shuttle someone to Target or school! It has taken a lot of getting structured about it when it comes to home and work-life balance.
Cheers,
Steve
I've never quite shaken my routine as a grad student. I wait until everyone at home is asleep to grade papers and do other coursework. Emails are typically answered throughout the day in spurts. Saturdays and Sundays are "email only" days. Mondays are, typically enough, the most hectic days. That's when I face all the weekend work. As long as I don't panic, I seem to get to my students with time to spare.
Jocelyn,
Sounds like you have learned a lot about managing your time since you began teaching. Your tips will help others. Thanks!
When I first started instructing online I was obsessive.I checked, and rechecked and checked again. I am a bit better today.
I work consistently 5 days a week. For the weekends I only check email and respond on discussion boards. Unless there is an urgent need, I do not schedule meetings or chats on the weekends. Also, while I do provide a line for students to call me 7 days a week, I only take calls during specific hours each day, which I share with students.
At the end of the day I turn off the computer and put the phone away. I have learned to do this and I am more relaxed as a result.
Jocelyn Williamson
Victoria,
We do have to take time to face this challenge. We all find it hard to do many times. But, you have started the process. Keeping a schedule/calendar and working hard not to get distracted is essential. Keep working at it!
What a wonderful question to ask as I have currently been trying to implement a better way to balance the two. I think for me, it is hard sometimes to separate work and personal life since my office and home are not physically separated. I have to mute my office line over the weekend and close my office door to avoid work over the weekend.
I have also found that I have to close my outlook when trying to accomplish important time sensitive tasks as I am easily distracted by incoming emails. More obvious, is a checklist I create myself every week or so.
Faryl and Donna,
Distractions can take us far away from what we should be doing and we lose valuable time. Many times when we get distracted, we also lose focus and it takes us longer to get focused again on the task as hand. Thanks!
