Yes Day

By. Teresa Marchant

Imagine if today were a “Yes Day”! What would happen if you said yes to everything that was asked of you for an ENTIRE day?  Yes, I’ll take on extra duties at school. Yes, I’ll make the copies for the grade level. Yes, I’ll stay late. Yes, I’ll be the ticket taker at the game.  Yes, I will … fill in the blank because the list goes on and on. For most educators, this is a reality and it’s exhausting. This will go on for years if not corrected because they said yes once. Most of us are continually being asked to do extra things and we simply say yes for a variety of reasons.

If you say yes, it should be because you are in complete agreement. If you were coerced into-this is basically what some say is “being volun-told”. There is power in being able to make a choice. Saying no, can be difficult but it is an important skill to develop.

You have the power and choice to say no.  No, to checking emails on the weekends. You may have other obligations and can only stay until a certain time every day. (Disclaimer-please stay to fulfill your contract hours to avoid disciplinary actions). This does not make you a bad teacher. By saying no, you are setting boundaries and prioritizing things in your life. You have the power to decide what will fit into your life and what will not. Start today by deciding what you will and won’t agree to. Remember, you do not need to feel guilty for saying no and you shouldn’t need to explain yourself either.

My hope is that we will all start enjoying life and it begins with saying.. this is my job and not who I am. We have a life outside of teaching, and we need to start living it! Remember, ALL teachers have the power to make choices and set boundaries in their personal and professional lives. Don’t be afraid to say YES to yourself sometimes.