I’ve kind of hit a strange lull as of late. After months of sharing tutoring tips and lesson ideas in these reflection blogs, I’ve run out of fresh topics. And since I don’t believe resharing the same points I’ve drawn out before will help, forcing new content and such, I’ve turned inward. I’m now writing about how I’m (trying) to balance my life with study and mental health during a pretty sinister time of political unrest and uncertainty.

First, I accepted my limits. Incessant brain-fog has hit an all-time high, so sometimes the brain can not be a nonstop idea machine. I’ve been trying to become more okay with that, and simply readjusting goals and deadlines I set for myself has lowered my general anxiety and improved the quality of what I do complete. I scheduled deliberate downtime: tech-free walks, brief daily journaling, and a weekly “no-tutor” evening to reconnect with friends and hobbies. The idea of walking for 20 minutes without your phone on your body sounds like a cry for help, but I promise it was a notably memorable activity in the past few months.

For study balance, I prioritise with a simple rule: high-impact, low-effort first. Short, focused sessions (I finally tried the Pomodoro-style, and although it was the most coordinated I’ve ever been for study, it definitely did make a difference) replaced marathon workdays. I batch tasks now; lesson prep in one block, grading in another, so switching costs don’t eat my energy. I’ve also been trying to set clearer boundaries for students and parents about availability this year; protecting my evenings made a noticeable difference to my stamina.

And on a more general note, I tried limiting news consumption to two short checks daily and curated sources to avoid sensationalism, but the events of the world have always been important to me, even though they can be mentally taxing. So I’ve been trying to lean more on community, peers and therapists. I practise grounding techniques (breath-work, five-sense checks) before tutoring sessions so I can be present for learners.

I don’t have any grand revelations, just small, steady practices that keep me afloat. If you’re stuck for content or ideas, consider diarising reflections like these. Authenticity resonates more than a constant stream of “perfection.”

Toby Bower