FINDING WORK-LIFE BALANCE

BY: JENNIFER GILBREATH AUBREY HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE SCIENCE TEACHER

If we have been in this profession for any significant time, we may have stopped asking ourselves how to achieve a work-life balance as an ag teacher. We all got into education because there was a draw to teaching, not for the summers off or the pay and benefits. We got into this profession because of our love for students, our drive to succeed, and the opportunities we will afford the next generation.

A good ag teacher will put in much more than a typical 40-hour work week, and there is no "off-season." We pour our blood, sweat, and tears into scripts, livestock in the barns, officer teams, lesson plans, greenhouses, multiple fundraisers, alumni and community events, and county fairs; the list never ends. But at what cost?

For many of us, it can be our sanity, our relationships, our marriages, and our very own chil- dren. When do we say, "I'm going home," "it will be here tomorrow," or the infamous "No?" I realize many of you are reading this article laughing because you know me and my inability to do most of these. However, we are all guilty of it. At what point do we care for ourselves? It needs to start now.

As Texas ag teachers, we are a special breed! Our hearts are bigger than the state, and we would do anything for anyone, especially our students. It's impossible to sit here and say everyone should have the same work-life balance and that burnout isn't a thing. Everyone has to find their sweet spot, which can, and probably will, change and evolve. With this article, I hope to provide some guidance that might help you along the way.

Respect Your Time

It is too easy to respond to every text message or email that comes our way, and I am 100% guilty of it too. However, you must set li- mits for yourself. Maybe it's not responding after 8 p.m. or only working a few hours on the weekends. We are not on a 24/7 contract, and we, too, need downtime.

Parents all too often expect us to be on call day and night, but if you set your expectations early and are consistent, you will build a program with limits. I sometimes have to remind my ag parents that they are not working their job 24/7, so why are we? Spend time with your family and friends and do something that is not work-related, even if it's a night on the town.

As a mom of three, I am learning to find a healthy balance with my kids at the livestock barn or show. Some days I feel like I don't get to be just their mom, but being their ag teacher is also a great experience. A wise ag teacher/dad told me to take time for my kids, walk them to and from the gate, and wait for them. A good mom and ag teacher gets to do that. Those words have stuck with me through the last few show seasons. I even tell my show parents, "I'm going to be a mom for 20 minutes," and they absolutely respect it. It's just an expectation I have set.

KNOW WHEN TO SAY "NO"

The first word all of my children learned to say was "no." We thought it was so cute then, but now as a grown professional, I find it almost impossible to mutter. As a young ag teacher, I thought I would be hated or looked down upon if I told a kid, parent, administrator, or another ag teacher no. However, there is a time and place for everything.

Whether you are in a single-teacher or a multi-teacher department doesn't matter. We all have our limits. I hope everyone is dividing and conquering. Make a plan and stick to it. We have a calendar between our teacher team, but we also limit ourselves to activities that will benefit our students. We might miss a jackpot or CDE contest because we've been working on record books or have a family obligation. It's ok to say "no."

As a floral teacher, I have had to turn down events because I have livestock responsibilities. As Texas ag teachers, we have put more into our local, district, and area calendars than anyone can imagine. We then look at the state calendar and are expected to do all those events too. We have to set limits for ourselves; we are human!

Prioritize Your Health

Prioritizing your health is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves or our families. As a teacher, I find myself at school with a touch of the stock show crud or the "I'm so tired that I can't see straight" feeling because so much more work is involved in being absent.

A mental health day is as important as a good Sunday afternoon nap. Many of us have some days to spare and need to take one or two. If a day off is outside your wheelhouse, make sure you are seeing your doctor regularly. The reality is we must take care of ourselves.

If you see a fellow ag teacher struggling, help them find the balance that will work for them. We have to do something to keep Texas ag teachers strong.

TO THE TEXAS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION FAMILY