When You’re Wearing All the Hats: Teacher, Instructional Designer, and Human Being
Hello again, dear readers!
Yes… it’s been a while. I know. My blog has been a little quiet lately, but not for lack of passion — just an overflow of projects, teaching, and life!
For those who don’t know, I’ve been juggling a few exciting (and exhausting) hats recently:
- I’ve been deep in work as both an ESL teacher and instructional designer.
- I’ve been quietly building an ESL website packed with tools and resources for teachers — a labor of love that I can’t wait to share more about soon!
- From May to June 2025, I worked as a resource teacher in Pre-K and Kindergarten. It was both beautiful and BUSY. And yes, it sparked a ton of new ideas for age-appropriate, inclusive, and playful learning materials (which I’ve been developing ever since).
With so much going on, I realized I had gone a bit MIA here. So today’s post isn’t just a life update — it’s also a gentle reminder for fellow educators, designers, and creative minds who may be in the same whirlwind: it’s okay to pause. It’s okay to breathe. And it’s okay to come back when you’re ready.
Thank you for sticking around during the quiet season. I hope this post reminds you to be kind to yourself — you’re doing more than enough.
With appreciation,
Ariella
Educator. Designer. Real human being.
💡 Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s a Gentle Guide to Recalibrating as a Teacher or Instructional Designer
If you're like me — balancing lesson planning, creative projects, curriculum mapping, and maybe even parenting or grad school — here's a little checklist I use to stay grounded:
- Write it ALL down. Brain-dump style.
Let your brain breathe by getting everything out on paper (or a notes app). Don’t worry about order — just list it all. You’ll sort it later.
- Prioritize with purpose.
Not everything needs to be done now. Label items as urgent, important, or it can wait. Give yourself permission to focus.
- Batch your work.
Group similar tasks together. Create on one day, edit another. Design one week, schedule the next. It’s a game-changer for clarity and energy.
- Set boundaries with time.
Even 15–30 minute blocks can move things forward. Set a timer, close your inbox, and commit to that time like you would for a meeting.
- Celebrate small wins.
Finished a worksheet? Uploaded a lesson to your site? That counts. Acknowledge your progress instead of always chasing the next task.
- Make space for you.
Walk. Dance. Nap. Draw. Breathe. You're not a machine — and your creativity depends on you protecting your energy.
- Reconnect when you're ready — not when you’re guilty.
I used to feel bad when I didn't post regularly or respond immediately. Now I remind myself: rest is not a break from productivity — it’s part of it.
Let your brain breathe by getting everything out on paper (or a notes app). Don’t worry about order — just list it all. You’ll sort it later.
Not everything needs to be done now. Label items as urgent, important, or it can wait. Give yourself permission to focus.
Group similar tasks together. Create on one day, edit another. Design one week, schedule the next. It’s a game-changer for clarity and energy.
Even 15–30 minute blocks can move things forward. Set a timer, close your inbox, and commit to that time like you would for a meeting.
Finished a worksheet? Uploaded a lesson to your site? That counts. Acknowledge your progress instead of always chasing the next task.
Walk. Dance. Nap. Draw. Breathe. You're not a machine — and your creativity depends on you protecting your energy.
I used to feel bad when I didn't post regularly or respond immediately. Now I remind myself: rest is not a break from productivity — it’s part of it.
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