A new school year is quickly approaching, and I’m already feeling that familiar mix of excitement and stress that comes with August. Thoughts of lesson plans, classroom setup, and open house preparation are just as prevalent now as they were when I first started teaching 15 years ago. This year, however, there’s another transition waiting for me outside of the classroom: becoming an empty nester.

As my daughter heads off to college, I’m realizing that the boundaries I’ve relied upon to balance work and home will need to look different this time around. I don’t want to fall into the habit of filling every extra hour with work simply because it’s easier than sitting with change.

A healthy work-life balance is integral to maintaining a sense of peace and mental health. In figuring out what that may potentially look like for me in the upcoming months, I decided to ask some other busy women how they create balance in their own lives. I spoke with educators at different stages of their careers and someone just beginning her college journey. Their perspectives reminded me that while “calm” looks different for everyone, it almost always starts with intentional choices and healthy boundaries.

The New(ish) Teacher

“I balance [work, school, and my personal life] by going into work about an hour early each day to plan, do homework, and then when 4:00 hits, I go home. I don’t stay late for stuff if I don’t have to. When I have hours [for her doctoral program], I make sure to grab dinner with Riley (her husband) before or watch a movie with him after. I basically make sure. That my free time is spent pouring into the relationships that are outside of school and work.” -Arika

The New(ish) Mom

“I personally don’t take work home. If I do take work, it’s very minimal. I also don’t overdo it or worry about the small stuff. I focus on the essentials, such as building strong relationships with my students and creating classroom structures that shift responsibility from me to them. I don’t spend too much time on superficial things like decorating my room.” -Alexis

The Veteran

“I am still trying to figure [balance] out daily. I think I really try to be intentional with everything and everyone. My students, friends, family, etc. I am also learning to give myself grace when things aren’t perfect. That’s really hard for me.” -Kristina

The Recent High School Grad

“As a high school student who has taken honors courses and participated in various after school programs, I’ve learned the importance of keeping strict boundaries for when I do school work and when I have time for myself and my social life. My goal is always to maximize the amount of work I get done in class to give myself more free time to explore hobbies or to relax after a full day of work. When I do have homework, I set strict limits for myself in order to give my brain a break. Keeping a to-do list for the week also allows me to keep track of everything I need to do.” -Brooklyn

My Takeaways

As I listened to each of these women, I noticed that none of them claimed to have found the perfect formula for balance. Each individual has found ways to prioritize what matters most in this season of life: be it leaving work at work, protecting time for loved ones, embracing “good enough,” or simply setting boundaries around responsibilities.

My daughter leaving for college doesn’t mean I have to fill the quiet with more tasks. It means I have the chance to rediscover what restores me. It is an opportunity to invest in relationships that support both my career and my well-being.

The classroom will always need something, but so will the people we love. This year, I’m choosing to believe that being a better teacher starts with being a healthier, more balanced person. It may not look perfect every day, but I think it’s a goal worth pursuing.