Ever hear someone say - at least next week is a short one? Loving the three day weekend? Don't get me wrong, I do LOVE the three day weekend. That glorious feeling on Sunday afternoon when you realise that you don't have to start bracing your self for the next day. But...yes I know, But....there is something about the four day week that is rather brutal.
I look back on the last 5 terms of my short teaching career and I seem to have a rather traumatic memories about four day weeks. I have been musing on why this might be. There are a few reasons.
* The Curse of the Perfectionist: I consciously or subconsciously seem to prepare myself to solve many work problems that have been on the top of the priority list for weeks on that third day of the weekend. When, really, when you think about it, you just have more lounging around in slippers and watch movies on that third day....or something similar. I don't seem to recall a work list that had URGENT: lounge around in slippers and watch a movie! So when I get to work on the Tuesday, I feel extra panicked because I seem to feel extra behind based on the unattainable to-do list that I set myself for the three day weekend.
* The what day is it again: "Miss - I forgot my PE gear today, I thought it was Monday". My reaction though I think it rather than actually verbalize it "That's ok - I haven't planned a lesson for you today....I too thought it was Monday" Everyone seems to be slightly out of kilta at the beginning of a short week and they reach out to others to try and orientate themselves and realise that others are just as confused.
* The - we have lost one whole work day, the world may definately end, you must therefore meet ALL OF THESE DEADLINES, yesterday! Ok - a little over dramatic I admit (But hey, I am a Drama teacher). But I do find that the pressure to squeeze 5 days of work into 4 is a real thing and often not overly necessary. It's Wednesday today (Yesterday being the first day of this short week) and I got way more emails than usual demanding all sorts of things. I felt a little overwhelmed.
Where am I going with this. Well I feel more calm having articulated all of this. Having some awareness about how I, and therefore some others may be feeling in a short week makes me realize that: we will all get to the other end ok, and then we can relax as we welcome a normal 5 day week.
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