As educators, a lot of demands are placed on our time: teaching, administrative duties, committees, meetings, student groups, professional development expectations, requests for field specific freebies (e.g., people often try to get free writing and editorial services from composition faculty), community projects, etc. The list is nearly endless.
Perhaps this is a byproduct of history: In antiquity, teachers often were slaves or former slaves and in the fairly recent past in the U.S., teachers were expected to be pure virgins who lived near or even in the school house. Maybe there’s even a bit of a martyr mentality when it comes to teachers as there is also a long history of teachers giving their lives for learning.
However, before anyone else chooses, like Socrates, to drink the offered hemlock, there is a simple way to handle this. Follow Nancy Reagan’s famous mantra and “just say no!”
Proceed Guilt Free
Already the educators reading this blog are horrified. As a group, we tend to be caring people who speak of the joys involved in the artistry that teaching truly is. There’s no better feeling than getting students (and perhaps others) engaged in learning and in bettering themselves along with their surroundings. How could we possibly say no, right?
I confess that I used to be like that, the educator/martyr. Then a friend gave me a bunch of Superman stuff as a gift one Christmas along with a drawing from cartoonist Mike Twohy showing Superman in a lounge chair by a pool, holding a drink as he said into a cell phone: “Listen pal, they’re all emergencies.” Her message was simple: “You’re not Superman. Take a break.” I realized at that point there really are only so many hours in a day and that what was often presented to me as an emergency that needed my attention right away, was probably actually not that pressing.
More importantly, educators model behavior for their students, even adult students. Which example is preferable: Playing the patsy who will say yes to anything even if that means falling on our swords, or a strong, independent leader? If we truly want students to become self-sufficient and confident, we need to set a better example of that for them. Why not also model how to say no reasonably?
Guidelines Are Helpful
Setting some guidelines for how and when we are available is helpful. From the student perspective, especially in an online course available 24/7, it can be a bit unsettling to be able to email a question or post it in a course Q & A forum and not know when the instructor will reply. Some students treat this like instant messaging, getting upset if the faculty member doesn’t reply in real time. Students and others around campus will often feel free to barge into an office or call anytime, even if there’s someone else already there. Why not help by clarifying the hours you will answer emails and return calls, hold specific office hours (virtually or face-to-face), participate in meetings, committees, and other professional activities? And dare I suggest actually closing your office door at times you are working and not holding office hours? A sign on your door clearly denoting when you are available for various responsibilities like helping students and advising can be helpful if you hold visitors to it.
Likewise, model effective email and voicemail communication. Insist that students and others, as applicable, check available resources before contacting you with general questions. Email subject lines should be accurate, forwarding and attachments should be avoided when they’re not absolutely necessary, and content should be clear about why they are contacting you. Using subject line labels can help clarify if the message is an “FYI/NNTR” (For Your Information/No Need to Reply), an action item, or something urgent. Voicemails should be clear and articulated in a similar way. It’s helpful to model this in your communication with students as well.
Another tip often shared is to schedule time for yourself and your family. It sounds a bit odd; however, we place work related duties on a calendar because they’re important. Aren’t we ourselves and our families important, too? Perhaps even more important? Saying no to some professional pressures in order to devote time to personal needs and family is valuable, too.
Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Boundaries Are Healthy
Keep in mind, too, that setting boundaries is not only helpful, it’s healthy. Positions in education take a lot of energy and dedication. It’s natural for educators to want to overextend themselves or to do so without realizing it. Taking some time out for other activities, to rest and recharge, will make you more effective when it comes time to teach or to participate in those professional activities. You can’t set a strong example for your students if you are tired or sick.
The tough part is realizing some courage is needed to make others aware of your needs and to even “just say no” to some requests. The surprising thing is that often others understand and will either work with you or without you. This can also be done in a positive way. Once I asked a dean if I could speak to her about how we could all communicate a bit more efficiently and effectively in our school as I had thirty hours of meetings that week. She expressed the same concern with her schedule, and we were able to work with our colleagues to reduce the hours spent in meetings going forward. Also, there’s a value in letting a colleague take our place in an activity, to bring their uniqueness to a position on a committee or student group; this also helps educators avoid being typecast in a position.
Kimberly Guay of Network for Productivity Excellence suggests setting boundaries before you start a job. Prior to applying for a job, check to see what the values of a company are. She cites CEO of Symantec, John Thompson, as one such example:
He does not take his Blackberry with him when he goes on vacation. Neither is he compelled to check his e-mail at night or on the weekend. John says, “You ought to be able to find some balance, somewhere in your life…I believe we all need to be refreshed and we should have hobbies that allow us some form of mental escape.” (2012)
To this I would add that it’s helpful in the interview to ask about boundaries and to establish that you work productively and efficiently, but you value the time to energize and recharge, too. Educators have a tendency to gush in interviews that they will do whatever it takes to meet the needs of their students and to make themselves available 24/7. As one who has hired educational staff and faculty, I see this as a red flag versus someone who sets reasonable boundaries.
Overall, the message here is that educators are professionals who need to set specific guidelines for communication and boundaries on their time. If necessary, the best advice is to politely, “just say no.”
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