How to get past the "I don't have time" challenge

Personal Professional Development (PPD) is not always easy to initiate and even more challenging to maintain. Overcoming some limiting thought-habits might be a good way of getting into the habit of taking on the added load of ensuring that your lifelong- learning becomes more than just a buzz phrase.

Authentic Personal Professional Development requires reflection and self-knowledge. You need to be brave enough to identify those areas where you want to improve. You have to face the possibility of change becoming part of your daily routine and you need to find a way to get comfortable in that changing environment.

Some interesting things I have learned on my 21 year journey in education:

• Teachers tend to learn best from other teachers, so do not always assume that you need to go outside your school or department to find it. Ask a colleague, who has the skill sets you are looking to improve on, to observe a class and to observe your classes. Afterwards, reflect and chat about ways in which you could adjust your focus.

• Not all free online courses are great but some are truly transformational. I have found three platforms that I enjoy and you can complete the course without paying (in some cases the certificate will cost you a few dollars). Examples of these online learning platforms:

1. National Geographic Certified Educator Programme (and other online courses provided by NatGeo)

2. Coursera hosts a remarkable array of courses for example the acclaimed Science of Wellbeing by Dr Laurie Santos.

3. Modern Classroom where you learn how to create instructional videos and how to approach teaching in the 21st Century.

How to find the time, though?

Most of these options do not require an inordinate amount of time and can be managed quite effectively if you intentionally set time aside. I have made my PPD part of my me-time routine over weekends or on afternoons at school where I am not officially involved in any formal activities. It becomes easy to find 30 minutes every now and then to complete a portion of the work.

Alternatively you can choose courses that are self-paced and do not require due dates to be met. This will take away the added stress and anxiety of having to complete assignments and submissions on due dates.

In my experience the best adjustment to make is an attitudinal one - become excited about learning more. I have found that sharing my PPD with my students models lifelong learnership and encourages them to do the same. They can see I do my school work and my courses and I often get asked to help them with their time management.

The best part of having a PPD plan is that you get to revitalise your career and you feel genuinely confident and in control of where your focus is.

Go ahead, take that course - enrol and reap the benefits!

Celri