Kia ora tātou
Summary to 27 March 2020
Instead of my normal summary (which would be two weeks worth!) I encourage you to actually take a break from your computer. Instead I’ve got some hopefully helpful advice.
For the last 2 years I’ve predominantly worked from home office, and here are a few tips I have found helpful, which could apply to those of you teaching online.
- Get outside each day
- Chunk your tasks into short 30mins sections. This includes answering emails. (Set a timer on your phone).
- Doing lots of tasks simultaneously reduces your overall effectiveness. Multitasking just slows you down and your brain can take up to 10mins to refocus after an interruption. (eg text, kid, email)
- Make a to-do list so you aren’t constantly thinking about what you need to do at all hours of the day and night.
- During the day, practice the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eyestrain. Every 20 mins spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 metres away.
- Turn your phone onto flight mode if you find yourself getting constantly interrupted.
- Turn off social media/news feeds
- Divide your goals into ‘must do’ and ‘stretch’. The stretch goals are the nice to get done, but not vital today.
I’ve seen a number of posts by friends who are teachers trying to juggle teaching and their home situation this week. Just don’t try and do it. Lower your expectations, (and those of your SLT).
For the coming weeks:
- Take a break this weekend away from your screen, and do it every weekend.
- Only answer school emails during the school day.
- Enjoy the probably rare opportunity to take a lunch-break away from your ‘desk’ when you are doing online teaching.
You can still go back through the archives of what’s happened over the last two weeks on Musicnet here. Login in the top right corner with your email and password, which if you can’t remember, there is a forgot my email link.
I do hope you are all safe and inside your bubbles.
Ngā mihi
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Martin Emo
TKI Arts Online Community Facilitator