Time Management Tips for Online Teachers: Balancing Workload and Personal Life
The Virtual Vibe: Success and Sanity for the Online Teacher
April 14, 2025
As an online teacher, managing your time feels like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces—frustrating, unpredictable, and often leaving you wondering how it all fits together. Your to-do list never seems to end, and your “workday” is constantly spilling into the next. But don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with a few strategic tips to balance your workload and sanity.
Step 1: Set Boundaries (For Your Time, and Your Family)
The key to staying sane is scheduling time for specific tasks. Set aside chunks of your day for lesson planning, grading, meetings, and—yes—family time. Don’t let all your tasks bleed into one another. Block off time for each, and stick to it. When it’s time for a task, focus only on that. You can’t plan a lesson and do laundry at the same time. Who am I kidding? Yes, you can—but it will take three times as long!
Pro Tip: Use a timer to keep yourself on track. No one’s going to finish grading that stack of papers in 30 minutes, but you can definitely get through a couple of them before the timer goes off.
Step 2: Shut Down and Walk Away
This is a big one: when you’re done with work, be done. It’s easy to get trapped in the “I’ll just finish this one thing” cycle, but we don’t want your family to eventually forget what you look like. Close that laptop, brush the Oreo cookie crumbs off of your desktop, and leave your workspace. Your friends and family would like to see you as more than just a glowing face in the corner of the living room.
Pro Tip: Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when your “workday” is over. Your brain (and your loved ones) will thank you.
Step 3: Don’t Get Distracted by the “Must-Dos”
You know that pile of laundry that’s staring at you like it’s got something important to say? Or the sink full of dishes that seems to scream, “You’ll never leave this house!” It’s easy to get sidetracked by all the little things that demand your attention. But guess what? They can wait.
Pro Tip: Create a designated workspace and make it work-only. Stay away from distractions like laundry, dishes, or anything else that isn’t part of your teaching routine.
Final Thought: Balance is Key
As an online teacher, time management is essential to keeping both your professional and personal life in check. Set boundaries, shut down when needed, and don’t let distractions take over. You’ve got this—now go enjoy your free time, even if it’s just for a 10-minute Netflix break.
Pause, Ponder & Progress
How do I currently set boundaries between my work and personal life, and what changes can I implement to strengthen these boundaries?
What specific tasks tend to bleed into one another in my daily schedule, and how can I better allocate time for each task to ensure I’m fully present in both my work and personal life?
What are some of my personal “must-dos” that I often prioritize over my teaching responsibilities, and how can I better manage these tasks to maintain a healthy balance?
How do I plan to implement better time management strategies to avoid feeling overwhelmed by both teaching and personal life?
