To-Do List Mentality

This weekend, I made a vlog about my Saturday. I didn’t cover the whole day—the idea struck me after 10 a.m.—but I filmed much of the afternoon leading up to supper and a Halloween party with friends. So, in reality, it captures about six hours.

At the top of my notebook, I wrote “Opportunities” instead of “To-Do List.” It wasn’t an accident. I wanted to shift my mindset. Rather than listing things I had to do, I reframed them as things I got to do. It sounds simple, but that word choice changed how I approached the day. Even with ordinary tasks (laundry, dishes, all the less-than-exciting bits), there was a sense of ability rather than obligation. I sprinkled in more enjoyable items like filming and exercising, and the list suddenly felt alive.

The vlog will go live on my YouTube channel soon.

Maybe that small change helped me be more productive. Or maybe it was the camera following me from task to task, holding me accountable. This coming weekend, I’ll test it properly: one weekend using only the Opportunity List, the next with the camera. We’ll see which one wins for productivity.

Today’s Opportunity List

Today, the focus is on creative work. Top priority goes to this blog post. Normally, I like to have it written and scheduled days ahead, but lately I’ve been more reactive than proactive. Today gives me a chance to jump ahead again. Next up is the Second Pass newsletter, due Sunday. Usually, I’m polishing by this point. So these are my two main opportunities for the afternoon.

Beyond writing, the winter trimester starts Monday. New kids are arriving. I’m on duty Sunday morning. It’s a full reset: new classes, new units, and a heavier teaching load. One of those new units, Time and Calendars for World Cultures, has me especially excited. We’ll explore questions like “What is a calendar?” and “How do different societies value time?”

Since many students will be traveling soon, I plan to create short videos so they can follow along online. That’ll take some planning, filming, and editing. I’m halfway through building the lessons, but the filming hasn’t started yet. On top of that, I’m reworking my Five Paragraph Essay unit to collaborate with a colleague. I think joining forces will make the experience richer for both English and science students.

Lastly, I still need to edit the vlog I filmed this past weekend. I doubt I’ll finish everything on this list, but I’m prioritizing personal opportunities first. As I mentioned in my post on teacher burnout, I have to make time for what I enjoy most. Tomorrow, if there’s energy left, I’ll do a little extra school work. But today, the time is mine.