Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Are you a teacher who spends a little too much time at school or even a little too much time working at home? Then this is the episode for you.   I want to challenge the idea that the only way that you can be a good teacher is if you work really long hours, and that only the teachers who work really long hours are doing a great job.    News flash: your value is not tied to the number of hours you work. Your value is what you do with those hours.   I’m going to share a little of my own story as well as some strategies that I used to take back my life while still being a great teacher. It doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive.    Episode 85 Takeaways:  + Your value is not tied to the number of hours you work.  + It’s okay if being a mom isn’t your only calling.  + You don’t have to give up your personal life to be a good teacher.  + Taking back time for yourself will actually make you a better teacher.  + Use your calendar wisely.  + Decide on your work hours and put them in your calendar.  + Batch your lesson planning to save time.  + Protect your planning time.  + Use routines.  + Grade smarter.    Here’s what I want you to take away from this episode: your value as a teacher is not determined by the number of hours that you work, but rather what you do with your time when you are working.   You were meant to be a teacher. Your students need you, but they need the very best version of you. So rediscover who that is by spending less time at work and more time with friends and family, on hobbies, and just being alone and taking care of yourself.    The teacher who has boundaries and balance will have the most energy to teach and make a difference in the classroom.   I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram @notsowimpyteacher to share those with me!    Resources Mentioned:  Episode 33: Save Time Lesson Planning With Batching    Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at www.notsowimpyteacher.com and follow me on Instagram @notsowimpyteacher where I share daily!