HAPPY 200 EPISODES!!! 🎉 We are officially at 200 episodes and it blows our minds that we have had this opportunity to talk about all things time management, organization and productivity with all of you! Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting us during this adventure. We are so grateful for all of you.  We hope that you all will celebrate with us as we play a fun game of 20 questions.  SUBMIT YOUR TIME SUCKING HURDLE! We want to know what is sucking up all of your time either as a...

Consistency is a word that we hear on a daily basis. We need consistency in our routines, in the habits that we want to build, and with the projects we are working on. It seems like everything around us requires consistency. But this idea of being consistent is a lot harder than it sounds. We often struggle with staying consistent even for the smallest things. WHY?  In this episode we want to tackle this question: Why is it so hard to stick to habits and be consistent? We dig deep into the...

New series… who dis!? One of our favorite times we had while in the classroom was recess. It was a time to decompress, relax, and get chatty with our coworkers. In this new series of Recess Digress, we want to chat about three topics that we’ve seen pop up around social media, in schools, and in our own lives. So grab your coffee (or beverage of choice) and let’s chat! In this episode of Recess Digress we talk about: Back to School Shopping Professional Development Must-Watch Shows SUBMIT...

How many times have you started to work on a project, or even considered a new project, and quickly felt that self-doubt that you are not the right person to be doing this? Yup, we’ve all experienced this in some form or another. The thing is, we are often our worst enemy when it comes to trying something new or accepting a new position.  In this episode we want to talk about self-sabotage and how you can stop getting in your own way. You’ll hear what self-sabotage is and some strategies that...

We made it to the end of the month and we are wrapping up our series on systems with what we think will be your favorite episode from the series. In this episode we break down our individual favorite systems that we have used in our classrooms. We each share three favorites that cover everything from your library, paper flow, note taking and material prepping.  LINKS: 193. Systems 101: How to Increase Your Efficiency Through Step-By-Step Processes 194. 3 Must-Have Student Systems for an...

“I’m stressed.” “I can’t get it all done.” “I don’t know how other teachers do it all.” Are these sentences that you may have said or even thought? Chances are that one big reason you are thinking these things is because you lack the systems that will help you be efficient in your daily tasks. Systems are those routines, templates and step-by-step processes that help you make your daily life efficient. When you’ve taken the time to create these systems AND you have worked on implementing...

Teachers are not the ONLY ones who need systems! Helping your students learn 21st century skills that will help them throughout their time in school and beyond (Buzz Lightyear moment), should always be something we strive to incorporate into our lessons. Teach your students to efficient and follow systems that will also help you out *wink, wink*.  In this episode we are sharing three overarching systems that you should help your students with developing. These big ideas...

If you’re someone who has started a new position, teaching a new grade level, or even was introduced to something “new '' that you are required to implement into your classroom, this episode is just the thing to help you increase your efficiency and decrease your stress.  We mention systems a lot on this podcast and that is because a system will help you develop routines and templates that make you more efficient in various tasks. Even though we talk a lot about creating these systems, we’ve...

For many, motivation can come in waves. There are days when you feel like you’re getting everything on your list done and there are other days when you can barely manage to open up your to-do list. But why does this happen? How can we increase motivation? For starters, we have to look at how motivation is sustained and built. When we have a deeper understanding around motivation we are more likely to leverage this knowledge when we need it the most.  The basis of this podcast is all around...

Starting a new position can be overwhelming. It means change and bumpy times as you learn to how to navigate new waters. In this episode join Bridget as she shares her new position and the steps she is taking to reduce the overwhelm.  SUBMIT YOUR TIME SUCKING HURDLE! We want to know what is sucking up all of your time either as a teacher or just a person. Head over to our website and submit your TSH so that you can have a chance to be featured on the podcast! SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW Are you...

It’s back-to-school season and that means that it is time to break open your planners and start planning! Setting up your planners can not only give you the nostalgia of going back to school as a kid, but also set you up for success for the upcoming year. The time you take to prep and prepare will help you in being proactive and reducing stress. In this episode we are giving you a step-by-step process for setting up your planner.  Now, we are obviously going to be a bit biased and recommend...

The beginning of the year has a mixture of emotions that come along with it. You can feel excited to build a routine, sad to be losing your summer time, and anxious because you have a lot to do in a short amount of time. To help with this transition into a new season, we want to offer a checklist that can center your thoughts and spend some time focusing on other areas.  Procedures play a BIG role in ensuring that your year starts off right. As you start thinking about all the things on your...

Bridget is in Austin! In this week in the life, Michelle shares how she gets some things check off her list while prepping for Bridget to come to stay in Austin. Join her as she shares the shenanigans that are done and the memories that are made.  SUBMIT YOUR TIME SUCKING HURDLE! We want to know what is sucking up all of your time either as a teacher or just a person. Head over to our website and submit your TSH so that you can have a chance to be featured on the podcast! SUBSCRIBE &...

This episode is definitely one that is geared towards our menstruating friends, but it can also serve those who live with, work with women who menstruate. We totally understand this might be an uncomfortable topic but the truth is that your menstruation cycle can really affect your productivity.  So in this episode we break down menstrual cycles and discuss the impact it has on your productivity, mental wellness, and give you some strategies for overcoming these low times each month. As a...

We talk a lot about setting goals on this podcast, and it’s because creating goals (both personally or professionally) act as a lesson plan for your year. You’re able to focus on the things that matter the most to you and it keeps you from veering off the path too far.  At the start of this year, we sat down and shared some of our goals with you all. We’ve done quarterly check-ins and we are at the next check-in point of our journey! In this episode we are sharing some of our successes and...

Taking theory and putting it into practice is a lot harder than it looks. Oftentimes we are left with the big question… but where do we go next? We recently read the book Deep Work by Cal Newport and we learned that many of us struggle to focus deeply enough where we are producing our very best content. Cal gives strategies to help you when it comes to work deeply. If you want to hear more about our thoughts on this book, check out episode 184. BOOK REVIEW: Deep Work (Our Honest Thoughts)...

How much are you able to truly focus on the task at hand? Do you feeling like your attention is constantly being pulled in a million directions? We all experience what it is like to "multi-task" (although this has been proven to be inaccurate as our brains are just task switching) on so many projects that we are barely working to achieve the goals and deadlines we have on our plates.  In this episode we share a book review on Deep Work by Cal Newport. We talk about what resonated with us the...

Summer is the time of the year when we get to catch up on all the books we were not able to read during the school year. And this year, we’ve been enjoying reading more than ever before. From leisure fictional stories, to books on education, we want to share the books that we’ve been reading and the ones we are looking forward to reading this upcoming year.  We are also excited to announce that we are doing another book review this summer! In the next episode, we will be diving into the book...

We’ve got a new episode on a topic that we have never covered before on Teaching on the Double, but we recognize that many of our TOP Teachers are also moms. While we love spending time with our kids over the summer, there comes a time when we need a little bit of down time to do the things we love. So in this episode we wanted to share our TOP 5 tips for structuring time with your kids this summer.  We give you our best tips that will keep you sane this summer season, allow you to work on...

We often talk about the seasons in life that we experience. These can be BIG events like having a baby, moving to a new state, or even experiencing a loss. Then again, seasons can have a slight change. For example, renovating a part of your home, taking on a new role at work, or saving towards a new car or vacation.  The point is that these seasons cause us to make some changes in our daily routines. As we get into summer, chances are your daily routines are going to change. And one of our...

We’ve been collecting Time Sucking Hurdles for 3 years now! For those of you that are new to our podcast, a time sucking hurdle are the tasks or distractions that suck up all of our time from what we really should be doing. Sometimes these hurdles are our own faults and sometimes these come at the faults of others.  And while we would love to share them all we don’t have the time or the number of episodes. In this episode we are sharing 10 recent Time Sucking Hurdles in the hope that it can...

Every year we take some time at the start of summer to share the things we are doing. Think of this as a little goal setting moment between friends.  This year, is no different, but we do have some very exciting things we are up to! We hope you all have an amazing summer.  SUBMIT YOUR TIME SUCKING HURDLE! We want to know what is sucking up all of your time either as a teacher or just a person. Head over to our website and submit your TSH so that you can have a chance to be featured on the...

As the school year approaches, you're busy cleaning up your classroom, managing students, and submitting all your final paperwork. This time of the year can be stressful, but we want you to pause and think for a moment. What about next year? Are you going to thank your current self for cramming everything in a drawer, or are you going to thinking, "I really wish I spent the time to do it right." Listen, we completely understand what it is like at the end of the year. YOU ARE EXHAUSTED. But if...

It's that time of the year where exhaustion is setting in. We are getting to the final few weeks of school and it might seem more and more challenging to do even the smallest of tasks.  In this episode we are breaking down some strategies for letting things go so that you can finish the year strong. The reality is we can not do it all and so you have to make some hard choices on what to keep and what to let go.  SUBMIT YOUR TIME SUCKING HURDLE! We want to know what is sucking up all of your...

Right now it's either the end of the school year and you have about 2 weeks left or you still have a month + left with students before they head off for summer break.  Either way, this time of the year has a way of sucking all the energy right out of your body. You start waking up late, your dropping the ball on your routine, and you've really started to look for simpler ways to keep kids entertained for the last 10 days of school.  But let's be honest! You can't help yourself.... why?...