Balance and Focus

Our 'Focus' this year at our school is Balance. This is intended for us to find balance in our lives. I of course think this is essential but often ignored in this modern day. Personally, this is something I need to find in my life this year more than ever.

I have found in my job this year there is so much more to do, set up, organise and think about. Most of this is supplementary to the teaching and pedagogical discussions I have with my team as department head. There are so many other non-teaching aspects of my job which also require my time and energy.

One of the biggest obligations I have has been scheduling facilities. The elementary, middle and high school PE teachers all share the same facilities but have different timetables and lesson lengths. I have the responsibility of managing the allocation of PE facilities which include scheduling facilities for classes as well as requests from other teachers to use our facilities. As a department we share and all realise that we can only have what is available at certain times. This is all dependent on the units we teach and the facilities we need. It can be hard at times when there are many classes scheduled at the same time and we all need facilities. Then there are times when only a few classes have been scheduled and only a few facilities are needed. This whole process needs to looked at and put into balance.

As a department head I also have the responsibility of dealing with broken equipment, ordering new equipment, making sure storerooms are organised as well as the equipment in them and dealing with the budget. There are also many other things which crop up that has to be dealt with. Of course I realise that being able to delegate is an important characteristic of someone who leads but I find it is also important to realise what needs to be delegated and when.

How to create a balanced life. Some useful ways of organising yourself and thought and meaningful way of thinking in this article I read recently.

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I think it is important in life to do things you enjoy without bringing too much stress into your life. This way, even though you may be working a lot as long as you enjoy what you are doing it should be less stressful.

​It is also important in your lives to find some time to relax during your leisure time. As a physical educator, I enjoy participating in sporting activities. I organise and play in an eleven a side football team which participates in an expat league in and around Seoul. This is my escape from school life and work and something I really enjoy. ​Organising something else and that focus I have when on the pitch takes me away from the working world and allows me to escape.

Being physically active as well is really important to me and should be for all people. Keeping physically fit also keeps you mentally fit and prepared for daily living.

​How much time to you focus on what really matters in your life? What could you do in your life that brings about a more balanced lifestyle?
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What truly matters? After reading this article, which was written a few years ago, I have found that I am already 'scheduling' my leisure time to make sure things happen like family night. Make things happen in your life now before you realise how much time you have missed.