Still thinking about how I will increase my blogging about professional issues.
For me, I think it will help if I do more of two things:
- I can read more. (A variation of the “if you want to write, read” theme)
- But when all is said and done, reading is well and good – I’ll need to reflect more.
Jeff Utecht talks about giving yourself the permission to reflect in his ebook, Reach: Building Communities and Networks for Professional Development. He suggests that it’s a good idea for teachers to schedule time to stop and think, reflect – time to let what you’re learning “soak in”. It’s a good point that applies to us in libraries too, I think.
(I downloaded the ebook yesterday – I can’t remember who shared the link on Twitter but thank you! I put the ebook on my Kobo and started reading it on the train. So far it has been a good introduction to building a PLN.)
Work can be a non-stop ride at times, with things happening daily that throw all one’s best made plans out the window. It can be very easy to just react to things as they happen. Sometimes it can feel like my workdays are dictated to by a neverending To Do list. Taking time to reflect, it seems to me, is a good idea. It means I have to stop, even if only for 15 minutes during the day, to think about what’s happening and what I need to do, why, and how.
I am feeling exhausted and frazzled at the moment, which seems to be usual for me at this time of year. I have a long weekend this weekend, thankfully. Apart from napping and doing all the things I know help me recharge, I might also use some of the time to reflect over what’s been a busy six months for me.
Do you take time to reflect, have time out?
4 Comments
that’s exactly what I’m finding. I’m reading a lot about professional issues even more so now with the blogs I’m reading too and because of this, I find I don’t have enough time to reflect and write down my opinions and understanding. It can be frustrating. I say that I want to take time out but I cannot remember the last time I did. Maybe when the kids are a little older and both at school full time.
I would like to and I need to but like you just right now it’s a busy, frazzling time. I’m having 2 weeks leave in July though.
I usually find that an idea catches my attention and as I plan to blog about it, I start thinking about it – when I am travelling to and from work, on my lunch and sometimes even whilst I am working (doing process type stuff).
So my reflection usually happens as a precursor to my blogging. The plan to blog actually helps to make the reflection happen.
Although I must admit, sometimes the reflection happens whilst I am blogging the topic too.
For years I gave this advice to my staff whilst clocking up hours myself. No setting an example. This year I have actually taken time to reflect on things. It’s 2 years after I left a service desk position, so maybe that’s how I found the space? It feels more like I just got too tired! I had no work/life balance and now I do.
The pluses aren’t as simple as less work or everything being more comfortable. I’m still really frustrated a lot, however I have less regrets about my choices and am able to calm down more quickly after disappointments. I don’t necessarily get more done each day, but I do get things done that mean I fix an issue for the long term, rather than just for that day, to have it reappear again and again.