December is such an intense month for elementary classroom teachers. Between the holiday program rehearsals, activities, classroom parties, and possible snow days (depending on where you live!), it’s not always the most wonderful time of the year.
It’s the best of times, but as an educator, it can also be the worst of times for our mental health.
Like, how do you actually “juggle” all the “balls” of your responsibilities without one of them falling?
Here is my first piece of advice – the parts in your normal routine that you’re tempted to let go of, like sleep, eating well, and getting in movement daily, those are the parts you need the most right now.
In crazy seasons like this, do your best not to go two days in a row where they fall off.
Sleep.
Make time for nourishing meals.
Don’t put off moving your body for the new year.
Even a 10-minute walking YouTube workout video with @GrowWithJo (this is one of my favorite workout channels right now!) will change your day.
Ok, but you ask, “How, Vimbo?! How do I make time for movement and meals and my mental health?!”
I’m glad you asked!
Your Lifeline: A Good Ol' Brain Dump
If you feel like you’re currently drowning, and your to-do list keeps getting longer, but your time keeps getting shorter, let me offer you a little tool I use often. It’s called: The Brain Dump.
I did not invent this, and I’ve seen a lot of different ways to do it, but I want to share what works for me, when I’m overwhelmed and there are more things to do than there are hours in the day.
Step 1 – Unload
Write it all down.
Set a 5 or 10-minute timer, sit in a quiet place, and write down everything you have to do this month. All of it. Everything that you have to and want to accomplish between now January 1st.
Make a list. Put it on paper.
I prefer writing this down, but if you prefer typing, do whatever works for you.
Here’s the kicker – you have to put it all down. There are some things you might be tempted to skip, but include them all! Here’s an example of part of a list, in no particular order:
- shop for Christmas gifts
- decorate our classroom
- pull out holiday read-aloud books
- buy white elephant gift for teacher/staff gift exchange
- lesson plan & grade
- get supplies for special holiday classroom crafts
- do my laundry
- buy a new winter coat
- move my body 5x a week for 30-minutes
- visit the local holiday market
- put up Christmas decorations at home
- buy small gifts for students
- watch Christmas movies with family
- get nails done before big holiday party
- email the PTA leader or classroom parents about classroom holiday party
- decide on what to bring for a holiday potluck
- get Christmas pajamas out of storage
The list could go on and on and on. The point is, write it all down. Just do it.
Get it out of your mind and on paper. Because the stress of keeping it all in your head is also compounding the stress of everything in general.
Step 2 – Ruthlessly Sort
This is a really great step. Perhaps the most important step. This is the part where you name what the priorities are, and sort and schedule them accordingly.
Enter: The Eisenhower Decision Matrix.
Once again, I did not invent this. But I LOVE this. I personally use it every week, sometimes multiple times a week, even when everything is just regular. It helps me prioritize what’s most important.
Here’s how to sort what things go in which category:
DO: this is urgent (due today/this week), and there are dire consequences if they don’t get done. Think: will it put your job, your physical or mental health, or safety at risk if you don’t take care of this? Paying bills due today or the lights will turn off, doing job duties, etc. fall in this category.
DECIDE: these are things that are important, but you have more time to do them, and you won’t be penalized for not doing them today. For example, paying a bill due on January 1st, or submitting something for work that isn’t due for a couple months. It’s important but not urgent.
DELEGATE: these are things that are time sensitive (like a sale at a store that ends soon) but not important (you don’t necessarily need to go shopping). Lean on the people closests to you to help with these.
DELETE: these are things that are not urgent, not important, and if you’re at capacity, you can just delete these off your list.
Watch me sort some of the example list items into these categories!
DO:
- lesson plan & grade
- move my body 5x a week for 30-minutes
DECIDE:
- email the PTA leader or classroom parents about classroom holiday party – schedule a time to do this sometime in the next week
- shop for Christmas gifts – schedule a time to go shopping, or an hour at home to make your shopping list and shop online
DELEGATE:
- get Christmas pajamas out of storage – ask your spouse or kids to grab these out of the shed or garage
DELETE:
- visit the local holiday market – if you have time, great! If you don’t make it this year, don’t beat yourself up!
Once you’ve brain-dumped and sorted, schedule what you can schedule. Delegate what you can delegate. Delete what you can delete.
And take care of yourself.
Because you deserve it – even during busy seasons.
Your Friend,
Vimbo
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Vimbo Watson, M.Ed. is a speaker, professional development provider, education expert, former school principal, and national speaker on school culture, burnout recovery, and transformational leadership. She is also an active Navy spouse, named the AFI 2025 Washington Navy Yard Spouse of the Year. She helps educators, companies, and organizations build better systems where people don’t just survive—they thrive. Email hello@vimbowatson.com to connect!
