"Busy" ... A False Badge of Honour

As of late I find myself reflecting on my ability to time manage 

• myself
• my family 
• and my career
• my community involvement

In doing so I have made the conscience effort to not use the term "busy" as I found that it truly is a false badge of honour.  We as teachers, parents, coaches, managers and partners truly wear many different hats and I find we try to quantify someone's "busyness" as a reflection of how well they wear those different hats.  

How often do you find yourself saying  "busy" when someone asks you how you are? When did this become an acceptable answer?  

I know I have done it.  I believe we do this because we are leery of authentic conversation.  It is our scape goat, when you say busy, people aren't sure whether they should ask for more details so the conversation stops.  Never mind the competitive nature in all of us where we feel we have to out do each other.

Let's Challenge Ourselves!

When someone asks you how you are, I want you to respond genuinely and not use the term busy because in reality all this does is make the person asking feel guilty because you are in part telling them that you are busier than they are. An almost wake up call for them to do more.   Here is the kicker, when you are constantly telling yourself how busy you are, do you get anything accomplished?  Also the more we say it - the more we feel it - it is a self fulfilling prophecy.  We never work effectively because we are trying to rush on to the next task. 

I hope by challenging myself in this regard I will become a more effective "hat changer"   because we all know that being busy is not synonymous with being productive.  

Here's hoping that we can all get some authenticity back to our conversations and stop hiding behind "busy".  Let's accomplish more by not feeling busy but realizing that more gets accomplished when you work productively one step at a time.  

....A Further Challenge.....if your up for it.....

The next time someone responds with "busy" when you ask them how they are ...why don't you try asking "how can I help" ...perhaps that will turn the tide of the conversation.  

Pick Them Up When They Fall

I am inspired to write this post after I watched the following video by P&G

I thought this video could serve as a reminder to all of us, that yes every child that sits in their desks and stares back at us looking for direction has a parent / caregiver that had them leave the house that morning with the best intentions for their day.  I know there are times as a teacher when I have been looking for the key to make a child spark, something to light the ignition of their creativity to have what I have taught them come alive with their input......and it's just not coming.  I have to dig further and further and yet for some reason it fizzles.  I become deflated as an idea fizzles and hits the metaphorical recycle bin.  This video reminds me to dig even deeper, every kid that sits in front of you is begging for someone to light that spark, to have their creative juices come alive.... to PICK THEM UP WHEN THEY FALL.  Let us all remember this when we are having one of those days where we have to dig deep.

This time it's Real!

I rarely make New Year's Resolutions, in fact I can't remember the last time I made one, however this year I have finally thrown my hat in the ring!  My goal is to follow 

#mbedchat 's  Blog Challenge

Please visit http://mbedchat.wordpress.com/about/ to find out more about this fantastic challenge that has gotten me inspired.  As well,  a lovely Manitoba Educator that I follow @ZBettess sent along a fantastic video to get me jump started.  The combination of the two have provided me with the confidence to go ahead and get creative.

Here is the video that fellow tweep @ZBettess recommended, let's see if it inspires some creativity in more.  Sara Bareilles "Brave".  

I have a few goals this year that I will share

1. Maintain a bi-weekly blog in the hopes to organize my thoughts,  as well creating a repository to "sift" the technology ideas that I have for teachers into relevant  subject based categories.  I have learned so much from my fantastic PLN the past two years and have so much to share, however I need to find a convenient way to get this information out.  My blog and website are my "after the kids go to bed" evening priority, or if I can multitask really well, they will be my morning priority during my son's breakfast hockey skates :) 
2. Time:  I am tired of saying .....I would love to do this or that but I just don't have enough TIME , in regards to implementing something different in my classroom, or helping another teacher do the same....so my second goal is to get rid of those words from my vocabulary.  I know everyone has their limits, and my family is also my priority, however just that sentence "if I only had time"....I am going to use the zipper lips that I ask of my own children and use that on myself.  If I spent less time worrying about the little time that I had and just got down to business my time would be better spent.
3. My twitter PLN has been a savior to me as an educator.  After I had my children and went back to work I admit I was a little lost.  My PLN has refocused my love for teaching students fantastic technology and having them be engaged in their learning.  I am a firm believer in we need to teach the way students learn, hook them through technology and their world will open up.  My goal with my twitter PLN is to maintain it, become involved and participate.  

If you would like to follow my thoughts  on twitter please feel free to follow 

@teachermikey

I encourage you to join twitter to find the inspiration that I needed.  Please join fabulous educators on Wednesday nights for #mbedchat at 9:00 p.m.  I am usually late to the table that evening as I am at another commitment, however you can read the archives at your leisure http://mbedchat.wordpress.com/category/archives/ ...and join in late...I always do :)

Please feel free to leave me comments.