Category: Planning

Just like our lesson plans, travel takes planning.

Exercise Prep

We know that routines are important. We teach our students routines so that our classes run more smoothly and efficiently. Routines are just as important when we are trying to develop new habits. You probably have some routines that you perform without thinking. Some of them are healthy and some probably not so much. One routine that saves me time in the morning is my before bed routine.

Now that the winter break is over, I’m going to tweak my before bed routine to support my new exercise habit. There are a number of simple tasks that seem to take twice as long if done first thing in the morning. For example, I can pick out an outfit in the evening in a matter of seconds. However, if I try to do this in the morning as I’m getting ready for school, it takes me 3 or 4 minutes of staring, pulling things off the rack, and changing my mind several times. I bought a plastic valet hook to hang on my closet door for my bathrobe. It performs double-duty and holds my work outfit. I also purchased a cheap soap dish that matches my bathroom decor to put the earrings I wear most often.

Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash

New Routine

Prep coffee pot and set timer
Set out workout clothes, shoes, etc. in bathroom
Pick out tomorrow’s work outfit, shoes, jewelry
Make lunch for work
Prepare healthy to-go breakfast
Fill water bottle
Check alarms for the morning

My goal is to be more fit for my cruise this summer. I want to be able to walk anywhere I want to for as long as I want to. Fitting into a smaller size would be nice as well. This new routine will help me to be prepared for daily exercise which will help me to reach my goal. What is your goal? Decide today to create your own routine to help you achieve your goal.

Planning Travel

When will you travel?

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

You have decided why you are traveling, the next step is to determine when you will be going on vacation. For us, our travel is determined by the school calendar. If you are traveling with your family, this is the first thing to check when planning your vacation. As a teacher, it is next to impossible to plan any travel during the school days. First of all, I don’t want to use up my precious personal days for planned travel. Secondly, planning for a substitute takes almost as long as being out on a school day. Although the prices are higher when school is out, it is worth it for me to plan ahead around the school breaks.

Every year I have at least one or two students miss a week of school because of a cruise. As a parent, you must outweigh the costs of taking a cruise during school days. Your student will most likely have these days count against him/her as unexcused absences. He/she will be responsible for any missed work while you are on your cruise. Some assignments are simple to do ahead of time or upon your return. However, there are some that will require direct teaching to complete. Depending on the number of classes your student has, it could take weeks for him/her to get caught up on lessons missed, assignments, and tests. As a teacher, I ask you to please keep this in mind as you are planning when to cruise.

If you are planning a cruise vacation, the rates are lowest when the sailings are first announced. This means you may be booking 12-18 months before you actually embark on your ship. If your school calendar for the next year has not been published yet, it may be safer to book a week or so after you are sure school will be out for the summer. Many cruise lines run sales periodically that can make booking closer in more affordable. However, the cabin types may be more limited. Some cruise lines will even allow you to re-price your cruise during these sales. We were fortunate enough to book during one of these sales, so our cruise price was similar to an off-peak cruise sailing. Bottom line, book your cruise as early as possible, ask about the ability to re-price at a later date, and get busy planning!

Destinations Planning Travel

Travel Planning

Photo by Sean O. on Unsplash

Why are you traveling?

Personally, I have wanted to go on a cruise over the past twenty years. Convincing my husband was the biggest obstacle I faced. I didn’t want to travel on my first cruise without my best friend. Sure, I’ve taken vacations without him with my children and my mother-in-law. We’ve traveled to Galveston several times for beach vacations. However, I wanted my first international trip to be with my husband.

I wish that I could say that I finally convinced him to take a cruise with me, but his employer takes the credit on this one. He was forced to go on a cruise for work. Of course, he felt guilty that I didn’t get to travel with him, so he booked a cruise for the two of us when he returned. I’m totally ok with my first cruise being a “guilt trip”. I’m just glad that he relaxed enough to realize that he could do it again.

I’ve had co-workers, friends, and family tell me about their cruises. Over the years, I have heard enough to know that I want to travel this way too.

Teaching is a stressful profession. I have found that sometimes just having a vacation planned is enough to keep me going when the stress gets to be too much.

Why are you traveling? Please share in the comments below.