Today, I Confess: Sometimes I Focus on the Wrong Things...
Oh, the irony...
This week on the podcast, I kicked off a series examining things that distract us from doing our best work.
I've compiled quite the list of shiny objects that cause teachers to lose their way. I'm excited to share more with you in the weeks to come.
Here's what I didn't see coming: This week, I became a victim of my own distraction.
My studio year kicked off on Monday, which is a relatively big deal around here. There are several studio traditions students have come to expect at the start of the school year:
- I unveil the new Studio Mantra
- Personalized binder covers get redesigned
- The Studio Group Photo gets changed for the new year
- We take Studio Roster photos
- New goals/focuses are set
...and of course, they get ALL KINDS of new repertoire. 🤩
I typically spend the first few weeks of August choosing "core" repertoire for my students: my projections for what they will play in big spring events, what supplemental collections they'll use along the way, etc. I talk more about this in Episode 038.
Well, friends. This year was different.
Somewhere in my Summer Idealist brain, I'd become fixated on having my entire house de-cluttered and organized before my students returned. I decided I could not start this new school year feeling like I was drowning in stuff.
I've been working at it for weeks, but let's be honest: setting my sights on every drawer and every closet was a tall order. Especially with kids; one of whom crafts like there is no tomorrow. 😂
(Remember: when your goals are too big, you're setting yourself up for discouragement)
My first student was arriving at 1:00 on Monday afternoon. I worked feverishly on my house until the moment he arrived, all because I'd allowed myself to get fixated on something that didn't really matter.
I realized it as soon as his lesson got started. While I had done all the annual studio updates (mantra, binder cover, photos, etc.), I really hadn't spent much time on repertoire plans.
As the week wore on, I found myself scrambling to assign new books to my students with little rhyme or reason.
(For the record, this is a key benefit to keeping my studio well-stocked with great repertoire. Nothing I assigned this week is less-than-fantastic; the planning was just not up to my personal standard).
In hindsight, even though a clutter-free environment WILL help my teacher brain, allowing that to take priority over my lesson planning was a total red herring.
I was chasing peace of mind in my home, but I sacrificed something even more important to me: calm preparation for my best work.
(besides, no one else cares about the state of my linen closet)
Luckily, a new week is on the horizon and I'm re-focused and ready to go.
Consider this your reminder to take note of where your mental energy is going today: is it truly the best use of your time? Only you can decide...
🥂May we avoid trading fixations on that which is GOOD for that which could be GREAT. 🥂