Mastering Time Management with Digital Planning

"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we explore actionable strategies to empower educators, inspire parents, and create impactful learning experiences. I’m your host, Don Fessenden.

Today, we’re diving deep into a game-changing tool for teachers: the digital planner. If you’ve ever felt like you’re racing against the clock, drowning in deadlines, or juggling lesson plans with personal obligations, this episode is for you."

TeachingwithValor.com

DJFessenden.com 

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!

Transcript

Don: 0:09

"Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast, where we explore actionable strategies to empower educators, inspire parents, and create impactful learning experiences. I’m your host, Don Fessenden. Today, we’re diving deep into a game-changing tool for teachers: the digital planner. If you’ve ever felt like you’re racing against the clock, drowning in deadlines, or juggling lesson plans with personal obligations, this episode is for you.""Time management is one of the biggest challenges educators face. It’s no secret that the demands on teachers’ time seem to grow every year. Between planning lessons, grading, meeting with parents, and tackling a mountain of administrative tasks, finding time to breathe—let alone focus on your personal life—can feel like an impossible dream. But what if I told you that one simple tool could revolutionize how you manage your time and even help you regain a sense of balance? That tool is a digital planner. It’s not just about putting your tasks on a screen; it’s about creating a system that works for you, so you can prioritize, streamline, and stay ahead of the curve.""Let’s take a moment to reflect on the old-fashioned paper planner. It’s a staple for many teachers, and don’t get me wrong, there’s a certain satisfaction in putting pen to paper. But paper planners have limitations. You can’t set automatic reminders, you can’t share them easily with colleagues, and if your schedule changes—which, let’s face it, happens all the time—you’re left erasing or scratching out notes. It can quickly become more of a hassle than a help. A digital planner eliminates these issues. It offers flexibility, accessibility, and automation. You can make changes on the fly, share your calendar with others, and even sync it across multiple devices. It’s not just a tool; it’s a strategy.""Imagine this: It’s Sunday evening. Instead of flipping through a paper planner to schedule your week, you open your favorite digital planning app—maybe Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, or an app designed specifically for educators like Planboard. You start by entering your weekly schedule. First, you block out your class periods, meetings, and any after-school commitments. Then, you add in your personal responsibilities—things like doctor’s appointments, family dinners, or gym time. Next, you prioritize your tasks. Perhaps you need to finalize a lesson plan for Monday’s algebra class, grade essays from your high school seniors, and prepare for a parent-teacher meeting. In your digital planner, you assign each task a specific time slot. You can even color-code by priority or category—red for urgent tasks, green for personal time, blue for meetings. What makes this system so powerful is that it’s dynamic. Need to move a meeting? Drag and drop it to a new time. Got a last-minute event? Add it in without disrupting your flow. And if you’re prone to forgetting, set reminders that ping you on your phone or laptop. A digital planner ensures nothing falls through the cracks.""But the benefits go deeper than just having a tidy calendar. Using a digital planner can actually improve your productivity and mental health. When your schedule is organized, you feel less overwhelmed. You can see your entire week at a glance, which makes it easier to plan ahead and avoid the stress of last-minute scrambles. Digital planners also encourage better work-life balance. Many of us are guilty of letting school tasks spill over into our evenings and weekends. By scheduling specific times for work and personal activities, you create boundaries. These boundaries aren’t just good for you—they’re good for your family and, ultimately, your students. A well-rested, balanced teacher is a more effective teacher.""So how do you start using a digital planner effectively? First, choose a platform that suits your needs. If you’re new to digital planning, keep it simple. Google Calendar is free, user-friendly, and integrates seamlessly with other tools. If you’re ready for something more advanced, explore options like Notion or Todoist, which combine scheduling with task management. Next, make it a habit. Set aside time each week to update your planner. Treat it like a non-negotiable appointment with yourself. And don’t forget to review your plan daily. A quick five-minute check each morning can set the tone for your entire day. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. Maybe you prefer a minimalist approach with only your most important tasks. Or maybe you love diving into the details, mapping out every minute. The beauty of a digital planner is that it adapts to you, not the other way around.""I want to share a quick story from one of my teaching colleagues. She’s a middle school science teacher and a mom of three. For years, she struggled with time management. Her paper planner was always crammed with sticky notes and scribbled reminders, and she constantly felt like she was playing catch-up. Then, she switched to a digital planner. At first, she was hesitant—she wasn’t tech-savvy and worried it would be too complicated. But within a few weeks, she was hooked. She loved being able to sync her school and personal calendars, set automatic reminders for grading deadlines, and even share her schedule with her husband so they could coordinate family plans. She told me it felt like she’d reclaimed her time and her sanity." Your takeaways!"As teachers, our most valuable resource isn’t money or materials—it’s time. A digital planner helps you protect that resource. It’s a tool that empowers you to take control of your schedule, focus on what matters most, and build a healthier balance between your professional and personal lives. So, here’s my challenge for you: Try it. If you’re not already using a digital planner, download one today. Spend an hour setting it up, and see how it transforms your week. And if you’re already a digital planning pro, share your tips and tricks with a colleague. Let’s work together to make teaching a little less chaotic and a lot more fulfilling.""Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast. Remember, great teaching isn’t just about mastering the content—it’s about mastering the balance. If you found today’s episode helpful, share it with a fellow teacher and leave us a review. And as always, keep teaching with valor."