Less Is More: A Busy Teacher Mom’s Reminder to Myself

This week, I had one of those moments where life gave me a gentle (okay, maybe not-so-gentle) nudge to slow down. You know that feeling where you’re moving a million miles a minute but still somehow falling behind? That was me—juggling my teacher to-do list, mom duties, and all the extras I thought I should be doing.

I finally sat down and wrote everything out on a piece of paper…….

Looking at it in black and white, I laughed (and maybe cried a little). There’s no universe where all of that could be squeezed into one week—especially not when you’re also grading papers, planning lessons, and trying to keep little humans alive.

That’s when I remembered a piece of advice I once gave someone else: Less is more.

Doing more doesn’t mean I’m doing better. In fact, doing too much often means I’m doing none of it well—and I’m left feeling like I’ve failed. Instead of living in constant chaos, I gave myself permission to cross things off that list before they ever left the page. The garage can wait. The living room doesn’t need a fresh coat of paint right this second. And walking the dogs around the block counts as enough movement for the day (sorry, workout video).

This week, I leaned into the idea that being present is better than being busy. My kids don’t need me to do everything. They just need me. My students don’t need a Pinterest-perfect teacher; they need someone patient and prepared. And I don’t need to “earn” rest by completing every possible task—I just need to let myself rest.

So here’s your reminder, and mine too: Doing less isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a choice to protect your time, your energy, and your joy. Because sometimes less really is more.