How to Work Less in 2025: 5 Things I Did to Get My Weekends Back

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Show Notes:

This Christmas, I’m offering you a gift that won’t cost a dime but could give you back something even more valuable—your time. If you’re tuning in, it’s clear you’re committed to becoming a better teacher and finding strategies that help your students thrive. But along with that passion, you likely crave ways to streamline your planning and carve out more time for yourself outside the classroom.

That’s exactly what we’re diving into in today’s episode: how to achieve work-life balance as a teacher. It’s a question I hear all the time. Teachers dedicate countless hours to planning lessons, grading assignments, and crafting engaging activities—on top of managing a classroom and meeting a million other demands. It’s no wonder finding time for yourself feels impossible. But I’m here to tell you—it is possible.

In this episode, I’ll share five game-changing shifts that will help you be more productive during your workday and reclaim your time after school. A quick heads-up: these shifts might feel challenging at first! But I’ve implemented them myself and saw a profound impact on how I managed my classroom, ultimately allowing me to achieve true work-life balance.

We’ll explore strategies to rethink your planning process, set boundaries, and shift your mindset to make room for life beyond teaching. After listening, I encourage you to take it one step at a time—try implementing one strategy each week and see the transformation for yourself.

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of balance. With intention and small, consistent changes, you can create a sustainable work-life balance that lasts. Let’s make it happen!

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• 5 mindset shifts that you need to make in order to achieve a work life balance.
• Why these shifts might be challenging at first, but trying them leads to self love and growth as an educator.
• How you can develop effective planning practices and streamline your grading, resulting in working smarter not harder.
• Ways to reevaluate what’s essential in managing a classroom and how to focus on only what needs to get done.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Free Masterclass - Your 5-Step Classroom Management Reset
• Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• 5 Planning Tips to Help You Achieve Work-Life Balance
• Achieving Work-Life Balance
• Can We Just Take a Breath? Proof that Mindset Matters

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