How to Make the Most of Your Planning Period
I’ve talked before about how I stepped away from teaching more than once due to burnout. And when I finally made my way back to the classroom after a four-year break, I promised myself one thing:
No more late nights. No more bringing work home. (With the exception of the first week of school, of course. I’m not a magician. 🙃)
When I left teaching the first time, I made a list of everything that drained me. And one of the biggest culprits? Not making the most of my planning period.
For years, I spent my few FREE conference periods that didn’t involve meetings (IYKYK 😅) chatting with coworkers, scrolling my phone, or just sitting in the dark disassociating. Sound familiar?
This time, I knew I had to do things differently. So I created a simple, actionable routine for my planning time… and within a year, it became second nature.
Now? I haven’t stayed late or brought work home in TWO years.
If you’re tired of feeling like your planning period disappears into thin air, here’s how to take back your time, get more done, and actually relax at home.
1. Batch Your Work
(No more bouncing between 12 different tasks!)
One of the biggest mistakes teachers make during their planning period? Trying to do ALL the things.
Instead of writing your lesson plans, grading, answering emails, running back and forth to the copier, and tidying up your classroom all in one day, pick ONE focus per day.
For example:
- Monday = Lesson Planning 📚
- Tuesday = Copies & Prepping Materials 📑
- Wednesday = Emails & Parent Communication 📩
- Thursday = Grading & Data Tracking ✏️
- Friday = Classroom Organization & Reset 🗂️
This way, you’re not jumping between unfinished tasks every day. You get to start and finish what you need to do without feeling scattered.
2. Set a Timer for Each Task
(Because small tasks can eat up your entire planning period if you’re not careful!)
Ever started answering an email and looked up 30 minutes later, realizing you’ve done nothing else? Same.
Setting a timer for each task keeps you focused and efficient. Here’s how it works:
- ✅ Give yourself 15 minutes for grading and stop when the timer goes off.
- ✅ 10 minutes for emails (No overthinking those replies!)
- ✅ 5 minutes to organize your desk (Your future self will thank you.)
When time is up, move on. Having a deadline creates urgency and stops small tasks from taking over your entire planning period.
3. Protect Your Planning period
(It’s okay to say no to interruptions!)
We’ve all been there. You sit down to get things done, and suddenly:
- A coworker stops by and “just needs a minute” (which turns into 20).
- You step into the hall to run to the copier and another teacher asks you to watch their class “real quick.”
- You end up doom-scrolling on your phone (oops 😅).
While some interruptions are unavoidable, others can wait.
👉 Close your door. Block out the window if necessary. (Yes, really!)
👉 Put on headphones or play soft music.
👉 Politely set boundaries with chatty coworkers. (Try: “I’d love to catch up after school, but I really need to knock this out right now.”)
Your planning period is YOUR time. (Say it louder for the ones in the back 📣.) Protect it like your sanity depends on it… because it does! 😉
4. Create a Weekly Planning Schedule
(Less decision fatigue = more productivity!)
Ever sit down during your planning period and think, “Where do I even begin?”
Having a set weekly routine eliminates that mental energy drain. Decide ahead of time what you’ll work on each day.
Using the example I gave earlier:
- Monday = Lesson Planning 📚
- Tuesday = Copies & Prepping Materials 📑
- Wednesday = Emails & Parent Communication 📩
- Thursday = Grading & Data Tracking ✏️
- Friday = Classroom Organization & Reset 🗂️
When you know exactly what you’re doing each day, you waste less time deciding and more time getting it done.
5. Give Yourself Grace
(Some days, you really DO just need to sit in the dark and breathe. And that’s okay!)
There will be days when you have zero energy. Days when you need a break.
And guess what? That’s okay.
If you need to take one planning period to sit in silence, go for it. Just don’t let it become an every day thing.
Remember: You deserve to go home on time. You deserve to rest.
Take back your planning time, and take back your evenings. You’ve got this! 💕
Final Thoughts: Take the Challenge!
Try this system for one week.
- ✨ Batch your tasks.
- ✨ Use a timer.
- ✨ Set boundaries.
- ✨ Follow a schedule.
- ✨ Give yourself grace.
Then? Enjoy your free evenings. ☕💛
Need more ideas for teacher organization? Check out this post on organizing your classroom. 🚀
Have any teacher planning hacks that work for you? Drop them in the comments! Let’s help each other leave school at contract time. 🚀
Looking for ready-to-use resources to streamline your planning? Visit my Classroom Organization section on TPT for easy-to-implement solutions! 🏫✨
