For online independent teachers, finding the right balance between work and personal life is super important. It´s very easy to say “yes” to everything and work long hours every day. But sooner or later, you will feel overwhelmed and stressed, and you may lose your enthusiasm.
Deciding how many hours you work each day can be a bit tricky. It's not just about putting in a lot of hours; it's also about working efficiently. For instance, if you have five lessons in a day, it doesn't mean you work only five hours. You need time to prepare for lessons and often do tasks like sending homework after lessons. So, it's essential to set a limit on how many lessons you can handle per day. I've personally experimented with up to seven lessons in the past, but I found that to be too much. Currently, I stick to a maximum of five lessons.
Another challenge arises when you have three or more lessons in a row. If you want to be consistently on time, you barely have time for anything else. You can't even make a cup of coffee or take a quick restroom break. I recommend switching to 45-minute lessons instead of 60 minutes; they work much better. And if that's not possible or you prefer longer lessons, at least consider 55-minute lessons. This way, you can squeeze in short breaks between classes to relax and get ready for the next one. It significantly improves your focus and overall performance.
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Lesson Length Dilemma: 45 or 60 Minutes?
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For online independent teachers, finding the right balance between work and personal life is super important. It´s very easy to say “yes” to everything and work long hours every day. But sooner or later, you will feel overwhelmed and stressed, and you may lose your enthusiasm.
Deciding how many hours you work each day can be a bit tricky. It's not just about putting in a lot of hours; it's also about working efficiently. For instance, if you have five lessons in a day, it doesn't mean you work only five hours. You need time to prepare for lessons and often do tasks like sending homework after lessons. So, it's essential to set a limit on how many lessons you can handle per day. I've personally experimented with up to seven lessons in the past, but I found that to be too much. Currently, I stick to a maximum of five lessons.
Another challenge arises when you have three or more lessons in a row. If you want to be consistently on time, you barely have time for anything else. You can't even make a cup of coffee or take a quick restroom break. I recommend switching to 45-minute lessons instead of 60 minutes; they work much better. And if that's not possible or you prefer longer lessons, at least consider 55-minute lessons. This way, you can squeeze in short breaks between classes to relax and get ready for the next one. It significantly improves your focus and overall performance.