Here it is, the time of year that feels like “no man’s land”, when the school year advances at a snail’s pace and the trek toward June seems like the impossible journey. The long, dark dreary days of winter do nothing to help the situation. This is the time of year when it’s easy to forget how important the work you’re doing is, when the importance of the work is over shadowed by the need to just get the work done. And, let’s face it, when the need to just get it done becomes the overriding motivation, one thing’s for sure, it’s not going to be your best work. You need to get after it.

How do you stay focused on being your best self and bringing that to your day-to-day, your classroom and Link Crew/WEB?  Sadly, there’s no answer, no magic formula…unless, of course, you consult Facebook. There’s constantly an abundance of answers, formulas and pop-culture wisdom circulating on Facebook in the form of quotes, posters, pictures and lists. One recent day a particular post was going around and, for whatever reason, it struck a cord…maybe because this time of year calls for inspiration of this nature. Or maybe it was the title, which was brief, too the point and probably not suitable for publication here. But to paraphrase, it was along the lines of, “How to Get After It”.  C’mon, who doesn’t want to know how to do that?

The fact is, there is no better time than now, in the depths of winter, when the freshness of the New Year begins to wane, and the focus we had back in the fall diminishes, to double down, re-focus and get out there and get after it.  Your program, your students and your school need it. And, it just feels good. Check out these 11 rules of Getting After It, see how they can be applied to pump up your program now as well as get you primed to prep for next year. No, it’s not rocket science and chances are, on some level, you already know this stuff. Nonetheless, it’s a good reminder, a solid list and something to shoot for every day:

HOW TO GET AFTER IT

1.      Make it about others.

2.      Be human and approachable.

3.      Stay curious, stay interested.

4.      Pick your projects well, choose ones that give you more joy.

5.      Have courage.

6.      Be grateful.

7.      Practice.

8.      Give credit.

9.      Leave your comfort zone occasionally.

10.  Put skin in the game.

11.  Accept what happens with grace.