Half-Term Break. What Break?

I have just had one of the most intense half-terms in my career. I won’t bore you with the details but safe to say, I am ready for a break. But will I really get one?
 
As the half-term holiday approached, I started to make plans for a short break (unfortunately on my own as the wife and children are on a different half-term). I decided to try to combine my couple of nights away with a visit to a school.  This didn’t work out so I am going to meet up with one of the primary rocks team for lunch in Bournemouth instead.  On the day I set off, I am planning to visit a local school where a former colleague now teaches. I like visiting other schools although I am not sure it really constitutes having a break!
 
As part of the primary rocks team, I am also heavily involved in the preparation for this year’s live event.  It seems to have come round again very quickly and we have lots to do so I’m not going to get a break from that.
 
Having used Twitter professionally for quite a while now, every time I look at my phone, I see tweets/blog posts about education. I am also a member of some Facebook groups so am exposed to posts and ideas shared there.  It’s pretty difficult to get a break from all of that unless I hide in a cave.
 
Tomorrow I am going into school to tidy my classroom, mark a few piles of books, plan with my year group partner and maybe put up a display or two. No break for me tomorrow.
 
I have been pondering the phrase ‘work/life balance’.  Reading the above, you would think that I have got it horribly wrong. However, there are two reasons why I don’t think this.
 
The first is that I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. When I am working, I am still living and sometimes even enjoying it and being fulfilled by it.  My non-work life can sometimes be more stressful than my working life so for me it is a bit of an inaccurate phrase.
 
Secondly, I love being part of the primary rocks team. It is the best thing I have ever done professionally.  Also, I love meeting up with colleagues and sharing ideas or seeing how they work. It all helps me to become better at what I do. Similarly with the people I connect with on Twitter. They offer me so much and teach me so much. I have never been better informed about the current issues in education. Many of the people I have connected with, I would now consider friends. That has got to be good, right?
 
I guess what I am saying is that having a break means different things to different people.  I have spent today ironing while watching a film. It has helped me to clear my head.  I am now looking forward to my wife and kids returning home from work/school so I can spend some time with them.

Blog by Bryn Goodman @bryngoodman