Balancing Work and Home While Being A Room Leader

[kjq]

I am new to being a room leader, I have been doing it for 5 weeks now and it is not permanent but could be. I find that if I don't keep busy all the time then I feel like I am not doing a good job but then I exhaust myself and won’t go to the gym or eat healthy which decreases my energy anyway, it’s a cycle. I am also working full time and studying. My personal life suffers but I like being good at what I do. There’s so many extra hours of doing things outside of work especially because I don’t like to put things off and if someone comes up with a good idea I’ll try and make it happen. I have been told I am doing a really good job. But I don’t know if it is worth being a room leader. Does anyone else feel like their personal life suffers due to being a room leader?

[linsaa fdc]

Hi kjq,
I am not a room leader but as a Family Day Care Educator everything is up to us, documentation, portfolio's, fees, timesheets so I have an idea of what you are talking about. It is all new to you just being 5 weeks and I think once you find your rhythm you will be ok. You sound very dedicated and don't forget once your study is done you will have more time. When I was studying they used to say to allow time for personal life but if I did that I would never have finished studying. A bit of advise I could give you is to do things once and delegate. Use what you have like your phone, ipad to take pictures or little videos etc then write it out once. Maybe try doing your gym in the morning before work....it might make a difference. There is a lot of really good articles on this website, have a look through when you get a chance. The templates already have the learning outcomes etc written so you only have to tick boxes and saves time writing.
Hang in there,
Linsaa fdc

[Lorina]

Being a first time room leader has it's challenges. You want to make a good impression, you want to make sure you get everything just right, you want to try and do everything yourself... You're running here and there and everywhere! I'm sure we've been though this at the beginning. First and foremost you need to balance work and your personal life. I know you may want to take things home to get it complete but you need to try and separate your work from home. Once you walk through that door to go home from work, you switch off your work mode... In the morning when you arrive and walk through the centre, you switch your work mode back on. It's hard to do especially when you got alot of ideas and not enough time during the day to get it done but it seems like you and your personal life is suffering. So, you really need to refrain from doing work at home, otherwise it's going to effect you.

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

Here is some more information that may help:

Duties Of A Room Leader
Managing Paperwork

,
Lorina

[fchaudari76]

The key to being a good leader sometimes is delegation. I am the same I feel the need to do everything myself as I have high standards and know if I do it it gets done right ...well...the way I want it done haha

You have to learn to trust those working with you to do certain duties ...eg if you have an assistant get her to e.g. print out photos for day books / obs and cut and stick (or however you do it) where you want. Share cleaning duties. Get her to think and set up play areas in the room or craft stations so that she understands the program and has an input into it.

I am a firm believer of leaving work at work and keeping home at home. Once you get used to routine at work and organise duties you should find that you will be less stressed and will not be worrying about not doing a good job.

You are also relatively new at being in this position so it is understandable to feel how you do so be kind to yourself. I also worked FT and was studying and it is hard, but do the best you can and don't worry about it, give it time, it takes about 2 months to get into a smooth work routine when you are new to the role, even with over 10 years experience it takes me about a month to settle into a position and feel like I am in control.

[kjq]

Thanks so much for the replies. It sounds like you have all been there. I have been taking your advice, leaving work at work and I feel so much better not racing around trying to do everything. The role doesn't seem so bad anymore when I don't put it first at home.

[Lorina]

Hi kjq,

I'm so happy and relieved that you're keeping your work and personal life separate! It does make such a big difference and by the sounds of it you are doing much better, calmer and more relaxed!

,
Lorina