A few years ago, about ten years into teaching, I realized that there is simply way too much data coming my way in a single day to process it in the moment and stay true and open to new data (student questions/needs, requests from administrators, parents etc..) Given the complete lack of time between classes, my desk and mind would pile up with a million “to do’s”. I tried to remember it all.
The tangible stuff (papers, memos, permission slips, notes, documents, requisitions, curricular materials, etc) would pile up in various arrangements that completely transformed my desk into a terrifying mountain of “what hasn’t been done”. Of course, when I finally had time (after teaching all day) to attend to it I was way too tired to deal with it and I had to plan for tomorrow’s teaching.
And so it went until I hit a breaking point. It was during a time that I was even busier than usual-in the final year of my Master’s degree and I was writing my thesis. I knew I wouldn’t be able to process anything after school because I had to run off to school myself to study, research and write. In a moment of frustration, I grabbed a plastic tub that I had lying around, slapped a label on it called THE IN BOX and put everything on my desk into it. All the loose papers and stuff to be done were thrown in there. The to do’s in my head also got written down and thrown in there. This process gave me “permission to forget”
The effect of doing this was transformative. Suddenly my desk was clean and looked tidy. It looked like someone was actually in charge and organized and I had the peace of mind knowing that the stuff that needs to be done is in ONE place. I was free to stop trying to organize, file and otherwise process information until I had time to.
That very simple system–one IN BOX serves me to this day. Nothing is ever lost, I know where everything is. Of course, it is necessary for me to “tackle” the IN BOX every few days but it is at a time when I am relaxed and able to organize, file and act on what needs to be done.
If you teach, you know the maddening feeling of not having time to process anything because of the million interruptions in your day. Having ONE IN BOX allows you not to (process) until later. You are free to “forget” what needs to be done as long as you write it down and throw it into your one IN BOX. This leaves you much more open the students before you and you are more likely to have more energy and peace of mind.
Just this year I became interested in David Allen and his work. Much to my surprise and pleasure he is a strong advocate of One IN Box. His book Ready For Anything is absolutely perfect for anyone looking to become free of mental clutter.
Congratulations on finding a system that allows you to focus on your students when it is right and your action items when the time is right. Bravo! You also mention a very important point. You have to go through that box every few days and take action. If you don’t, the box will fill up and important activities will get lost in the abyss.
Believing in you,
Stephanie