“Just going through the motions” is a phrase that has such a negative connotation to it: it reeks of apathy, discontent, and (at its most extreme interpretation) a wasted life. It is safely the antithesis of every motivational speaker and inspirational quote you can google!
…And yet, I want to challenge your thinking on this one today.
We all aspire to “live our best lives,” and are often surrounded by well-intentioned encouragement to do just that. But is it really possible to live your best life ALL of the time? No.
It is an incredible feeling to be “in the zone” where everything flows and you are enjoying the high of peak creativity, inspiration, and motivation on the projects that bring you joy. Been there! 😀 I hope you have, too! Those moments are fantastic, and you should enjoy them! But to expect your life (and especially your work life) to be nothing but those moments? Unrealistic. In any job (not just teaching) there are the boring parts, the annoying parts, the tedious and difficult parts; the things that you will yourself to do because you have to, not because you love to.
So sometimes, “going through the motions” can refer to those parts: the ones that are necessary, but maybe not enjoyable. That’s ok.
It doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong career, or that you’re wasting your life.
Other times, “going through the motions” can be used in reference to a much needed pause of effort. I’d say that American culture is wired to go, go, go all of the time–that competitive mindset that says if you’re not hustling to be on top all the time, you’re failing. No gray in between.
But that’s so unhealthy…and again, unrealistic. No one can be full-on effort all the time; that leads quickly to burnout (as you may already know for yourself). Maybe it’s the reason you’re here–because you are trying to go full-out 100% of the time, exhausted, and wondering what you’re doing wrong when you feel like you’re still behind or buried in work…
We need to learn the art of distributing our finite resources of time and energy in a balanced way: no one has limitless supplies of either. Think of it like budgeting your money: if you get into the habit of spending without reserve, you’ll find yourself financially upside down in no time. Well, the same principle applies to your time and energy. If you’ve been overspending, time to reign it in a bit. Is it forever? Probably not, but just until things even out a bit more again.
So, if your personal life has something happening that is taking a considerable amount of mental/physical/emotional resources, it’s ok to not go full-out-teacher-of-the-year at work for a season. (Hey, perfectionist teacher…do you need to hear that one again?) Inevitably, things will settle in the personal realm and then you can put more energy back into work. But for now, just do the things adequately. And don’t feel guilty about it.
I’m not advocating for settling into a life of mediocrity, either personally or professionally. I truly believe that excellence is a wonderful standard to hold yourself to. The difference lies in recognizing the difference between excellence (achievable) and perfection (impossible), and in giving yourself permission to ebb and flow with the rhythms and seasons of your life.
Remind yourself to do what you can with what you have, instead of beating yourself up for what you’re not doing with what you don’t have.
Ultimately, that will result in less stress, more contentment, intentional attention to the nuances of your life, and feeling more present.
To me, that’s anything BUT “a wasted life.”