Mid-Year Reality Check: Say No to Perfection

It's cold out here. But sometimes the best reflections happen when you're moving.

This past week, I sent out a newsletter about saying no to perfection. Because perfection? It's unattainable. Don't even try it.

And this time of year hits different for teachers.

You look back at August. All those great ideas. All those systems you were going to implement. All the ways this year was going to be different.

Then you look at where you actually are right now. And you realize: it's just not happening.

And I'm here to tell you that's okay.

It's okay.

Say no to it.

You made it this far. That alone is worth acknowledging.

What Now?

Here's what you do for the second half of the year:

Re-evaluate. What actually matters? Not what you thought would matter in August. What matters now, based on what you've learned about this group of students, this schedule, this reality.

Reassess. What's working? What's not? Be honest. No shame. Just data.

Pick. You don't have to do everything. Pick the one or two things that will actually move the needle. Let the rest go.

Get after it. Do the best you can with what you chose. That's it. That's the standard.

The Real Standard

Set your standards. Stick to them.

But make sure those standards are grounded in reality—not some idealized version of teaching that only exists in your head or on Pinterest.

You don't have to be perfect. You just have to show up and do the work that matters.

And right now? That's enough.

This reflection works better when you're not doing it alone. Join The STRONG Teacher's Lounge and start building sustainable practices with teachers who get it.