Day 4: So tired

I'm exhausted.  Being a tele-teacher is a LOT more exhausting than being an in-person teacher.  I'm having to juggle a LOT more because of all the meetings, timelines, etc.

I AM TIRED.

But I got to have a teleconference with a bunch of students today, and it did my soul good to see them and hear them and laugh with them.  I love my 9th graders so much.  They are good people.

And while I know that having three preps means I have to do 3x as much, it's more so now than in-person.

So now I have a new routine. One that allows me to get my work done and be "home" at a consistent time.

Wake up - 8:30: Work out, shower, eat breakfast, whatever.
8:30-noon:  I'm on duty.  I'll answer discussion board questions, grade assessments, put in my daily updates.  All online.
Noon-1: Lunch.  I will unplug, eat something healthy, try to walk around for a bit since I'll be sitting all morning.
1-4:15: Skype/teacher meetings and student/class conferences
4:15-4:30ish: Check the daily discussion boards one last time.


Then, I close my work computer.

Working from home is a new challenge.  Managing time, finding motivation, etc. But I thrive on routine, once I actually get one down.  And I think this one is the best. But that means I stare at a computer screen all day.  So now I may set reminders to get up, to walk around for a few minutes, to let my eyes adjust to sunshine.

In other news, nothing IS new.  A few school districts are closing for the year, but we're not.  I hope we don't.  I can't imagine not seeing my students anymore this year - especially my seniors (whereas I'll see my 9th graders again next year in the hallway).

More cases as the testing becomes easier.  China hasn't reported and new cases (odd) and Italy's death toll surpassed China.  Perhaps most disturbing to me is the story of a 35-year old man with a history of asthma and bronchitis died from COVID in California.  My husband has been annoying nonchalant about it, but I told him that this worries me a bit.  My dad died of asthma, my mom died of lung cancer.  Lung issues thrive in my genes.  I'm not worried about catching it, but I hope that my husband takes the "social distancing" idea a bit more seriously.  He scoffed it yesterday and said, "Well, it's in God's hands."  With the story today, I said, "But if you go out and catch it, then bring it home to me and I get sick and maybe die because my lungs suck, will you say THEN that it's God's will?  Or YOUR fault since you CHOSE to go socialize?"  That sobered him up a bit.

I haven't been to the grocery store in 2 days.  I'm trying not to go.  I'm REALLY trying not to go anywhere (except my workout boot camp, but we spread out so much that I don't get near anyone, and we also use our own equipment).  We have enough food for a couple of weeks (although our meals might look quite interesting towards the end).  We have enough toilet paper to last us 5 months (because that's how long a Costco pack lasts for us).  I'm hoping that by the time I need to restock our pantry that the grocery stores will be less crazy.  Fingers crossed.

Nothing else.  I'm having a hard time focusing and sleeping because my brain can't shut down.  It's as if there's a pinball game going inside my head, or whack-a-mole (when I squash one thought, another one pops up).  I think, though, that as things settle, so will my brain.

Later!