Monday, April 15, 2013

Spring Break is no longer Spring Broken by Christa Allan




For the past twenty-five years, Spring Break—a week off before or after Easter—was determined by the school calendar.  It meant five days of sleeping past 4:30 in the morning, having more than twenty-three minutes to eat lunch, and going to bathroom on my bladder’s and not the bell schedule. It also meant grading over one hundred research papers. . . with “Works Sighted” pages and internal citations like: (Wikipedia) or (Google).  The week was more like Spring Broken.

This year, Spring Break arrived early. January 18 to be exact; the day I retired as a high school English teacher.  For the past three months, every day has been Spring Break minus the research papers.  I still don’t think, though, that I’ve fully internalized this is my new life. It’s wonderfully discombobulating, but frightfully disorienting.

But, in the past week, I’ve come to realize that a pre-retirement workshop on transitioning to a life not ordered by eight ringing bells a day might have been helpful. Some days I feel like a human slug because all I’ve managed was to exchange my jammies for sweats and make lists of all the things I need/want to accomplish. Other days, I’m in the Indy 500 making pit stops to laundry to vacuum to dust to cook to grocery to weed gardens. Then there are days I read, I write, I internet.

The truth is, while it's glorious to have every day spread before me like a banquet, I find myself overdosing on desserts or too full from appetizers to taste more than a bite of anything else. I don't want hours divided my bells again, but I don't want days gobbled up by distractions.  

Since my first novel was published in 2010, I've dreamed about the time I could devote my days to writing and to learning my craft. 

It's time now to learn how to use the time.

Suggestions?

P.S.This is the retirement video my students gifted me with the last day of school. I am so proud of what they did for me, and I wanted to share it with you.

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Christa Allan is the author of  Threads of Hope. Her other novels are Walking on Broken GlassThe Edge of Grace, and Love Finds You in New Orleans. You can find her at www.christaallan.comFacebook, and Twitter




12 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Christina. As a fellow teacher and writer, I can relate. Next year I'll be on a leave of absence, hoping to write. I, too, worry about binging on the buffet! Wishing you a wonderful balance and all best.

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    1. Thanks, Lori. I don't know if you watched the video in my bio, but those are the kids my heart truly misses. But, the freedom is such a gift. You'll find yourself so busy next year, you'll wonder how you accomplished all that and teaching.

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  2. Oh, wow, Christa! So interesting. I, too, dream about writing all day. Hmmmm.....

    Have you tried to give yourself mini tasks throughout the day? Like if you say that you'll write for 90 minutes, and then go take a walk? Then it's time for shower and lunch and then you write again in the afternoon for, say, two hours?

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    1. Well, I thought I'd replied...but it seems to have disappeared. I like the idea of mini-tasks. They seem much better suited to my brain. Thanks for the suggestions!

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  3. Christa,

    Congratulations on your retirement from teaching!

    I struggled with my time management when I wasn't practicing law--because I had so much time to write. Now I am back to the original struggle of dicing up my week between Writing, Working, and Mommying. I wish I had the magic bullet to share, but I don't. For me it's about forcing my But Into Chair (even on those days I don't want to write), setting a timer (so I stay honest), and actually writing whatever falls out of my brain that day (even when it is really ugly).
    xoMaggie

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  4. That honesty thing is the killer! I have started to use that Pomodoro technique of working for twenty minutes, five minutes off, working twenty and five off....It does help because it's bite-sized pieces. I sometimes feel like such a brat complaining when women with full-time jobs outside and inside the home plus kids are whipping out novels.

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  5. Christa,
    Congrats!!! I used to be a teacher, too, so I know what a big change it is when the week isn't structured by the school day anymore.
    As for productively using the time available, well, that's a skill I need to learn better, too. I tried (and liked!) the Pomodoro technique after Karin G. mentioned it on GBC. When I do it, I usually accomplish more than I expect. The trick is just getting started. A writer in motion...

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    1. Thanks, Marilyn. The trick is getting started. It's like I tell people the hardest part of exercising is putting my shoes on because it signals the rest of my body that it's time to get going.

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  6. I Don't Have Any Profound Advice For You. But I Miss Having You At School Every Day. Why Is It So Hard To Find Time To Get Together With Friends? I Hope You Find Your New Schedule And It Includes A Date With Me!

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  7. I Don't Have Any Profound Advice For You. But I Miss Having You At School Every Day. Why Is It So Hard To Find Time To Get Together With Friends? I Hope You Find Your New Schedule And It Includes A Date With Me!

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  8. We're on for the 24th, right? I miss our chats too!

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  9. Christa, just watched the video and want to ask ... how could you retire after seeing how much they love you?! It made me cry.

    Hope you're having fun, that you've mastered time management and that you're writing up a storm.

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