Summer Sunshine

• Kristen Burgner
• Posted 7/22/21
• 0 comments

Finding a Better Work/Life Balance

Reflection from the school year  

It is imperative to my professional life and mental health to take a moment and reflect over the school year from start to finish.  For me, this means jotting down the high and low points of the year that have stuck in my memory. If you journal, you might consider reviewing what you have written throughout the year. Since I don’t have the energy to journal, I’ll share some of my thoughts below.  

• Wow, it’s crazy getting hired for a position less than a week before the ‘pandemic school year.’  
• I am very proud of myself for organizing my books, lessons, and information to teach almost 800 students from Kindergarten to 5th grade effectively.  
• The Covid-19 restrictions put a wrench in my curriculum, but I found ways to work within those restrictions in a meaningful way.  
• Maybe I should learn more about this philosophy or that website to serve my students better.  
• There were many personal milestones in my life, and I am proud of myself for keeping a good work/ life balance.  

 
Being Better  

In my career as a student and educator, I find joy in looking at course catalogs, searching the internet, and getting lost in a make-believe world where I attend classes, seminars and earn three additional advanced degrees by a pre-determined date.  

That’s not realistic, though. Life gets in the way, and it’s essential to have a balance. So, the prioritizing game starts. What courses fit my objectives as an educator, my budget, and time available?  

• Look for scholarships and grants. Financial assistance for academic advancements is available at any age.  
• Locate music educators in your area who have similar teaching philosophies and create a learning cohort. 

Still Enjoying My Time  

In my Teacher Feature, I mentioned a few things that bring joy and calmness to my life. Strangely, I even make sure that my relaxation time is productive in a way that betters my mental health and accomplishes goals outside of my teaching career.  

• Quite obviously, I enjoy writing. At the moment, that includes writing for Music ConstructED, publishing my first children’s book, and assisting my mother (who is also an educator) in writing and editing an education book. (All projects that I will keep you updated on)  
• My crafting obsession ranges from knitting, Cricut projects, sewing, embroidery, painting, drawing, and more. I make sure to incorporate the two or three projects I have going into my daily life to show consistent progress and an opportunity actually to finish them. 
• I am scheduling time to enjoy the company of family and friends. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with, and I never want to get so caught up in my day-to-day life that I don’t make time for the people that mean the most to me.  

Conclusion

There is no perfect formula to determine what teachers should spend time on during the summer months. People outside the teaching field do not typically understand this problem. Therefore, we must be our own cheerleaders, therapists, tour guide, and academic advisors to achieve our personal and professional goals.  

Some years you will feel motivated to take two or three weeks of classes. Other summers, you will have personal obligations or celebrations that take center stage. The most important takeaway is that you continue to grow both as an educator and a person year after year.

Contributor

Kristen Burgner

Kristen Rose Burgner has been a music educator on Long Island, New York, for seven years. She has worked with students from K-12 in general music, band, and chorus. Her Master of Arts in Teaching for Music Education and…

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