I pride myself on being such an efficient and fast worker (favorite compliment? “YOU ARE A MACHINE!”). I used to maximize every 45 minutes of my editing time like a champ. But I’m not going to lie—some of my teacher planning days weren’t exactly the productivity boost I needed, and I know I’m not alone. Many teachers find it difficult to use their planning time due to the variety of classroom and administrative demands that are incompatible with effective work. In addition, the added burden of changing your brain from “working” in teaching to “planning” as a future teacher is a difficult transition to make! But don’t worry, TikToker @strategicclassroom promises four top productivity hacks to reclaim your time and improve efficiency in planning sessions.
This teacher organizes her planning time with four daily productivity hacks.
Let’s face it: The structure of a typical teaching day rarely supports high productivity. You are expected to switch jobs frequently—jumping between creative, analytical, and planning tasks without breathing room. Often, what little planning time you have is eaten up by ineffective meetings or unexpected class placements.
Here are four productivity hacks from @strategicclassroom that you can start implementing during your next planning session.
1. Take 1-3 minutes to write down exactly what you want to achieve.
@strategicclassroom recommends focusing on activities that have the highest impact and are closely aligned with your daily and weekly goals. Don’t overcommit! Remember, if you only have 45 minutes, commit to 45 minutes of activities—no more.
2. Use the Pomodoro technique to stay focused.
This time management approach involves working in focused sprints. Work for 25 minutes, then allow yourself a 5-minute break—unplugged and away from your workplace. Repeat this cycle to maintain focus and prevent burnout. And which leads to his next point, stay focused on one task at a time!
3. One job instead of many jobs.
Despite the temptation to multitask, sticking to one task at a time can greatly improve your efficiency. Use a visual board or prioritized list to move tasks from “to do” to “to do” to “done.” This can help keep your focus sharp and your priorities clear.
4. Create an environment that promotes concentration.
Have a playlist ready to help you focus. @strategicclassroom recommends Spotify’s “Energizing Focus” mix, which has smaller lyrics and can help maintain momentum with its upbeat rhythm. (Note to my fellow Millennials: When I really needed the mental juices flowing, I would play an Eminem playlist that my third period editing teachers would hear and “know I was working hard.” Haha!)
These strategies are not just for school hours; they can also change the way you work outside of school. Stick to your contracted hours by using these same methods to effectively manage and maximize your time.
If you want more structured support, consider downloading the Teacher Timesavers Bundle from @strategicclassroom’s bio.
By incorporating these productivity hacks into your schedule, you can start to see a real change in how much you accomplish during your planning time. Not only does this make your days less stressful, but it also leaves you prepared and possibly even more excited about your teaching! And remember—this is a great way to schedule your daily planning sessions, but it’s OK to give yourself a favor on days when you really need to mentally disconnect for 45 minutes. 🙂 We are in this together!