When There Are Not Enough Hours In The Day, Do This One Thing.

The most important thing I am doing every day is this.

Hi Gang.

As some of you will know, I recently started working two jobs. One is my dog behaviour 121s (same as always) and two is that I have started teaching English to speakers of other languages.

by Substack AI.

I wanted to even out the feast/famine cycle that dog 121 consultations pay in. Dogs are my passion, but they do not pay the bills like a “proper” job unless you are lucky enough to have a big following, a nice facility to train regular groups and classes in, a big advertising budget or all three. People simply do not have the money they used to have in England before Brexit and COVID came along, and luxury services (like learning not to get bitten and making your dog happy) come way down the list of priorities when it comes to stretching the monthly finances.

So, I learned to teach English.

Both jobs are going well. Too well, in fact, and now I barely have time to breathe, let alone do much else other than work. I’m shattered and do not want to burn out. So this week, I’ve decided that although being busy is great, you can have too much of a good thing.

Boundaries.

I’ve decided to set boundaries.

So many students book slots of my time and then don’t show up. No more.

• No, I can’t rearrange your session for free because you’ll be late, Steven. All my other students make it on time; if you don’t, that is your problem. I still expect to get paid as I did my part.

• No, Julie, I couldn’t give a stuff if you had no internet - there is such thing as mobile data or a local cafe or library where you could get internet and show up.

• Lou, if you feel ill after being on the lash with your mate last night and can’t turn up, I still expect to get paid. After all, if I didn’t show up, I’m sure you would have something to say about me wasting your time.

Unless someone has died or something serious has happened (I’m not a monster), I will value my time a bit more, and so will my students. If they do not, then they can’t be my students. Simple.

One day and two evenings off a week: It doesn’t seem like much, but as I have been doing up to 12-hour days and working 7 days a week, I need to get some balance back in my work-life shenanigans.

Prices: I also raised my English teaching prices. If I’m going to work until stupid o’clock at night, I’m damn well getting paid for it.

One thing.

And this is the most important thing that I’m doing:

Taking lunch and dinner breaks. Not just a quick 10 minutes, but a full hour for lunch and at least two hours at tea-time between jobs. EVERY DAY.

I tried working right through, and believe me, it doesn’t work. I was exhausted.

I get just as much done when I have breaks as I do when I don’t have breaks. But my days are far more enjoyable and manageable. And no, I am not able to go to the shop, do the housework, play Mum’s taxi service, or reschedule a session for those times. Those times are for me alone to eat, drink coffee, and chill out.

My dog clients have their own set of rules and slots on my calendar and have always been very good at respecting me and our time together. Now, it’s time to get that same respect in my English lessons.

I’m getting very good at saying “no.”

You need to learn to take time for yourself EVERY day without fail too. I promise it will help.

How do you set boundaries in your working life/home life?

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Today’s Sub Stats:

What a real Substack looks like. Bearing in mind, I have not done any notes promo for weeks as I’ve been too busy working at my other jobs!