How to Finish What You Start While Working Flexibly in Education
Struggling with how to finish what you start while working flexibly in education? Overcoming perfectionism as a teacher can feel daunting, but you probably built that skill in the classroom without even realizing it.
As an educator, you’ve likely spent hours planning a lesson from start to finish only to realize while teaching that it’s not really going quite like you thought it would. Instead, you shift gears and pull the parts from the lesson that are developmentally appropriate and engaging for students.
Although you were unable to implement the lesson flawlessly, you met your students where they were instead of painstakingly doing what you had written down (just because it was written down on paper!) or throwing it out altogether.
When you branch out into the world of flexible jobs for educators beyond the classroom, you’ll encounter times when the job application, new curriculum project, consulting package, or resume you are working on is just not going as planned.
Instead of stopping in your tracks, we encourage you to embrace the same mindset you had in the classroom: move beyond perfectionism, shift gears, and do the thing!
If you’re having trouble finishing what you start while working remotely in education, these four tips can help you move past creative barriers and reframe the problems that arise through a growth mindset lens.
4 Strategies to Finish What You Start in Alternative Careers for Teachers
Leaving the classroom is a huge change. If you’re struggling to stick with your new work as a curriculum developer, education writer, or any other flexible education career, these tips can help.
Disrupt perfectionism
When I first started working flexibly, I took on three to five projects at a time to stay afloat with my family’s financial needs. I noticed quickly that once I landed a job, the new project piqued my curiosity and passion, but as months went by, my interest faded.
As a multi-passionate person, it’s no surprise that I’m a lover of beginnings. But instead of allowing procrastination to rule my life (and cause me to work WAY too many hours) I had to be okay with putting down my computer once I felt I had done my best work.
As you dive into new roles in curriculum development, coaching, education writing, consulting, or even creating your own education business, it’s imperative that you acknowledge you’ll have a steep learning curve. But just as we tell our students, diving headfirst into challenges is the only way to make progress and accomplish the goals we set for ourselves.
Prioritize and plan
Working remotely comes with incredible benefits and new challenges. If you’re struggling with how to finish what you start in your new work environment, you’re not alone.
But whether you decide to land a full-time job with an educational company as a coach or consultant or take on multiple contracts in curriculum development, it’s important to recognize the power of prioritizing your tasks to boost productivity.
At the beginning of the work week, it’s important to do a pulse check of the tasks you have. Create a list with paper and pen, or use an online task management system like Trello or Asana to plan ahead.
Alternatively, some of us create a simple Google document planner that includes meetings, appointments, and writing tasks for that day. Something important to note is that not all projects need equal attention.
For example, when I need to tap into my creativity to design an innovative unit or education article, it’s imperative that I nurture my mindset before sitting down in front of the computer. This involves moving my body, drinking enough water, and lighting a candle.
Seek accountability
Working in a remote environment can feel isolating at times. You no longer have access to a hallway full of your fellow teachers, and it can be challenging to find community online. Because of this, you might have times when you want to just give up when things get hard.
But it’s important to share your goals, challenges, and seek advice from other innovative education professionals who are reimagining what it means to be an educator. Our Educator Forever Network is a supportive community of teachers like you who are passionate about expanding their impact in education.
When you join our amazing community, you gain instant access to our signature Beyond the Classroom course that empowers you to reflect on what a sustainable and joy-filled life in education means to you - and how to create the path to get there.
Our network is filled with incredible education professionals with a multitude of expertise and different realities. Because of this, we offer coaching sessions related to wellness, space to accomplish your goals during our coworking sessions, and creativity sessions that will teach you design tricks and tips.
Notice your self talk
During your first months of finding work beyond the classroom, you may notice your mind machine spiraling into negative self-talk. Phrases like, “I can’t do this” or “Maybe I’m not right for this role” might show up.
We’re here to encourage you to notice what’s going on in the beautiful brain of yours, and if imposter syndrome gets you down, pause and partake in self-care activities. Some of our favorites include mindful movement, meditation, spiritual/grounding practices, and spending time developing community connections and spending time with folks who fill your cup.
Most importantly, remember that what you have to share with the world truly matters and that your ideas are valuable and can make a significant difference in the world.
Get Support While Working Flexibly
Are you ready to figure out how to finish what you start once and for all? If you’re craving more connection, accountability, and inspiration while working flexibly in education, Educator Forever is here to support and guide you!
Through the Educator Forever Network, and our programs in curriculum and business development, we’ve helped thousands of teachers move past imposter syndrome to step into their brilliance and create sustainable lives in education.
Sign up now to empower yourself and take your education career to the next level!
Have questions? Contact Educator Forever any time!
April Brown (M.Ed) is Educator Forever’s Learning and Development Manager and a curriculum coach for the Curriculum Development Foundations and Advanced Curriculum certification programs. In 2015, April began designing curriculum and writing articles for an EdTech company as a side gig while she was teaching in Placencia, Belize. After having her daughter in 2016, April was eager to use her unique experience teaching and leading in mainstream and alternative settings in the United States and internationally to work remotely while still making a difference in education.
The Beyond the Classroom course empowered April to leverage her skills as a compassionate disruptor and out-of-the-box thinker to excel as an instructional/well-being coach, adjunct instructor of Trauma Supportive Schools and Mindfulness courses, curriculum developer, and writer for publications such as PBS SoCal, Education.com, and Britannica for Parents. April is an advocate for teachers and students – inside and outside of the classroom. You can find April in rural Vermont spending time with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and charming rottweilers.