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40 Hour Workweek

Uncategorized   |   Oct 23, 2013

Stepping back

By Angela Watson

Founder and Writer

Stepping back

By Angela Watson

Somehow I like that phrase better than ‘taking a break’. But that’s exactly what I’m planning to do for awhile.

My husband and I just finished the rather exhausting process of buying a home (which, yay!) and are now in the process of moving (which, ugh.) That’s been taking up a lot of my time and energy the last few months. Additionally, I’ve been experiencing some health problems–the doctors aren’t sure exactly what’s happening, and I’ve got more tests scheduled for the next two weeks. I have faith that things will turn around soon and end up not being that serious, but it’s been a big distraction in my mind and it’s made my energy levels really low.

The two circumstances combined have drained my creative energy to the point where I don’t feel like I have a lot to share or say, and it takes ten times the amount of effort to produce anything worthwhile. I’ve been trying to create new stuff for TeachersPayTeachers, write my fourth book, and keep up with the blog and social media, and think my body and my spirit are telling me to take a break for a while.

It could be a week, or two, or a month. I can’t imagine it being much longer than that. I love what I do and I’m really looking forward to having my focus and energy back so I can keep creating. But for now, I want to limit my workload to only the most essential tasks, and that means blogging and social media and most content creation needs to take a back seat. I may post something on Facebook or wherever if the mood hits me, but I’m not pressuring myself to keep up with any of that stuff. This blog is only a small part of what matters in my life, and I know it’s an even smaller part of what matters in YOUR lives. The world will keep turning without Angela tweeting and pinning and sharing funny eCards on Facebook.

My number one job right now is supposed to be lying down and drinking lots of water and green smoothies. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks for the prayers, positive thoughts, and encouragement so many of you have sent over the years. They are much appreciated, especially now.

Angela Watson

Founder and Writer

Angela created the first version of this site in 2003, when she was a classroom teacher herself. With 11 years of teaching experience and more than a decade of experience as an instructional coach, Angela oversees and contributes regularly to...
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Discussion


  1. It is hard to slow down and take care of oneself in our zoomy world… Good for you for doing it. Best wishes for health and balance.

  2. Angela, you’re so right about having the faith that things will get better! I too share that belief! I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 🙂

  3. My dearest Angela,
    You are such a bright light in the world that simply cannot be dimmed. When I reached out for prayers the other day and you answered, I had no idea you were also struggling with a health issue. You will now be added to my list of morning prayers and I will add you to the prayer warriors list at my church.
    I too am working to heal my eye, via macula vitamins, green smoothies, prayers from friends, family, my church, but most importantly my faith in God that he will heal me. As a christian, and deeply spiritual person, this experience has caused me to begin to do what I had not been making time to do regularly, which was to “be still” in spiritual connection, everyday. I now do this every morning… fix my smoothie, read scriptures that I found that speaks of healing, pray, all while listening to a praise cd called Spiritual Refrain. Prior to doing this, outside of morning prayer with my hubby, I was much too focused on getting my work done. Never again will I place that ahead of what my friend Courtney Carver calls “A Meaningful Morning Routine” http://bemorewithless.com/artofslow/
    I pray that this journey will strengthen you to develop a morning routine, and thereby seek, find and nurture your spiritual self.
    Blessings to you. Love, Lisa

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