Others have posted extensively, so I’ll add something that may not be popular but is crucial to remember:

Teachers, and the best ones at that, do and should draw boundaries. And a good public would endorse and s even support these boundaries. Because most know what it is like to labour under the yoke of an oppressive master, or an oppressive regime. And they know that even though it is normalised and widespread, it’s not right. Though there may be periods of excess, ongoing unsustainable workload is a sign either of uneven distribution or unnecessary additions (you all know what I’m talking about).

We know that if we all do our part, every aspect of life, not just our children’s education, would thrive.

God, because He’s always with me.

The only way I think is to adopt as organic a routine as possible. ‘Unplug’ suggests the main problems lies in the connectivity brought on by digital technology. Before this, it would have been much more straightforward. Now, it is not, however is it still very much possible with some intentionality. You know what is a ‘must’ (e.g. work) and what is a ‘non-necessity’ (e.g. checking what’s new on Instagram), and even what is in between must and non-necessity (e.g. a work email that can wait till tomorrow). Part of your problem, as you know, is that you spend a lot of your already limited time doing things that fall into the non-necessity category. And that leaves less time for the things that truly matter – your spiritual devotion, your husband or wife, your children, your true friends.

So, you know the problem…and you know the solution. Now, will you act on it?

Daily writing prompt

Do you remember life before the internet?

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Yes. I remember brick phones and getting our first DVD player, when printing even in black and white was a big deal, and computers used to take much longer to boot (I’m not that old, though). I do think there is a distinct ‘character’ (not necessarily moral) when you’ve seen both sides of the curtain, because the pre-Internet days had subtly different values and ways. Having seen both, I feel I am not merely at the mercy of this new ‘digital’ age, but can temper that with a more organic approach to life.

Reading most of the responses on this, though, I wonder why we put so much into inventing something that everyone now complains endlessly about 😄. Lack of foresight, maybe?