Recently I was sitting with my principal and KG AP. We were having lunch before Parent conferences in my principal’s office. I had left my phone in my office. It was the last 45 minutes of the day. What could possibly go wrong? What emergency could take place?!
We were chit chatting about the days event and catching up. I looked at both ladies and said, “I feel naked without my phone.” My principal looked at me in shock and couldn’t believe the words that just came out of my mouth and that I really didn’t have my phone on me. She finally replied “WHAT? You don’t? You’re addicted to that phone!” I replied back and said “It’s the 21st century, everyone is addicted to their phones, don’t just say it is me. I need it in school because there are so many staff members messaging me asking for me to come really quickly to their class or to tell me something that has happened with a parent.” My staff know they can count on me.
Two days ago, I went to the bathroom and got stopped 3 times and didn’t get back to my office till 30 minutes later and I had 3 missed calls and 10 messages. This time round I purposefully left it because I needed a 15-minute break. She replied back, “You are addicted. I know I can message you at any given time of day when you are awake, and you will answer within a few minutes.” I paused and knew she was right. But does that mean I am addicted? Is it only me? There are so many weekends especially on a Friday I do disconnect and do not answer my phone messages or emails. A 15-minute break turned out to be a 30-minute break. I went back to my office and I kid you not, I had 3 missed calls and 20 messages. Only 1 was an emergency and the rest could wait. Yes, I might be on my phone BUT it’s definitely not for fun or chit chatting with my friends. It is all work related and being there for my staff and helping them out. Is that wrong?
In today’s world I have yet to see someone that is not on their phones nor not answering back. We do need time to switch off and disconnect. Otherwise work will eat us up alive. After this Inclusive and Wellness conference I attended, I am definitely switching off more during the weekends and taking a 20-minute break from my phone during the school day. As they said, self-care and wellbeing is very important. I need to take care of MYSELF and wellbeing before being able to take care of my staff.