The Weekly Energy Rollercoaster

Every teacher knows the pattern:

Monday: You're fresh from the weekend, ready to conquer the world.
Tuesday: Still going strong, momentum carrying you forward.
Wednesday: The wall hits. You're only halfway through.
Thursday: Running on fumes and caffeine.
Friday: Survival mode. Just make it to 3pm.

Sound familiar?

The teaching week is a marathon, not a sprint. But most of us run it like a series of sprints, burning out by Wednesday and limping to the finish line.

There's a better way.

Understanding Your Energy, Not Just Your Time

Time management is important, but energy management is crucial. You can have all the time in the world, but if you have no energy, you can't use it effectively.

The Four Types of Energy

1. Physical Energy

  • Your body's capacity to perform tasks
  • Affected by sleep, nutrition, exercise, and health
  • Most depleted by: standing all day, lack of breaks, poor sleep

2. Mental Energy

  • Your brain's ability to focus and make decisions
  • Affected by cognitive load and decision fatigue
  • Most depleted by: lesson planning, grading, problem-solving

3. Emotional Energy

  • Your capacity to manage feelings and relationships
  • Affected by stress, conflict, and emotional labor
  • Most depleted by: behavior management, difficult conversations, supporting struggling students

4. Creative Energy

  • Your ability to innovate and engage
  • Affected by inspiration, autonomy, and mental space
  • Most depleted by: rigid schedules, administrative tasks, lack of control

The Day-by-Day Energy Strategy

Monday: Front-Load the Heavy Lifting

Why Monday Works: You're rested from the weekend. Your energy reserves are full. Use this to your advantage.

Do on Monday:

  • Plan the week's lessons (or review AI-generated plans)
  • Tackle the most cognitively demanding tasks
  • Have difficult conversations that require emotional energy
  • Set up materials and resources for the week
  • Make decisions that will reduce decision fatigue later

Avoid on Monday:

  • Winging it because you "have all week"
  • Saving planning for later when you're tired
  • Starting the week without a clear roadmap

Monday Mantra: "I'm investing energy now to save it later."

Tuesday: Maintain Momentum

Why Tuesday Works: You're still energized, and Monday's planning is paying off. Ride the wave.

Do on Tuesday:

  • Deliver your most engaging, interactive lessons
  • Tackle grading or feedback (while you still have mental energy)
  • Connect with students who need extra support
  • Collaborate with colleagues
  • Handle any urgent parent communications

Avoid on Tuesday:

  • Coasting because Monday went well
  • Letting small tasks pile up for later
  • Skipping lunch or breaks

Tuesday Mantra: "I'm building on yesterday's success."

Wednesday: The Midweek Slump (Plan for It!)

Why Wednesday is Hard: You're halfway through, but the weekend still feels far away. Energy dips naturally.

Do on Wednesday:

  • Use low-prep, high-engagement lessons (videos, discussions, group work)
  • Let students do more of the work (student-led activities, peer teaching)
  • Take a real lunch break (leave your classroom!)
  • Do something that recharges you (walk, chat with a friend, listen to music)
  • Rely on routines and structures you've already established

Avoid on Wednesday:

  • Trying to deliver your most demanding lessons
  • Starting new, complex projects
  • Scheduling difficult meetings or conversations
  • Working through lunch to "catch up"

Wednesday Mantra: "I'm pacing myself for the long game."

Thursday: Strategic Conservation

Why Thursday Matters: You're tired, but you're almost there. Conserve energy for Friday and the weekend.

Do on Thursday:

  • Use pre-planned lessons and materials
  • Incorporate student choice and autonomy
  • Do formative assessments (less grading than summative)
  • Prep Friday's materials so you're not scrambling
  • Say no to non-essential tasks

Avoid on Thursday:

  • Staying late to plan Friday's lessons
  • Taking on extra responsibilities
  • Trying to reinvent the wheel
  • Skipping self-care because you're "almost to Friday"

Thursday Mantra: "I'm protecting my energy for what matters."

Friday: Finish Strong (But Smart)

Why Friday is Tricky: Everyone's tired—you and your students. But you want to end the week well.

Do on Friday:

  • Use engaging, low-stress activities (games, projects, discussions)
  • Review and consolidate the week's learning
  • Celebrate wins with your students
  • Tidy up and organize for Monday (15 minutes makes a huge difference)
  • Leave work at work—protect your weekend

Avoid on Friday:

  • Introducing new, complex content
  • Giving major assessments (unless required)
  • Taking work home "just to get ahead"
  • Scheduling demanding parent meetings

Friday Mantra: "I'm ending the week with intention, not exhaustion."

Energy-Saving Strategies for Every Day

Batch Similar Tasks

Switching between different types of tasks drains energy. Instead:

  • Grade all the same assignment at once
  • Respond to all parent emails in one sitting
  • Plan all your lessons for the week on Monday
  • Make all your copies at the same time

Create Decision-Free Zones

Decision fatigue is real. Reduce decisions by:

  • Using consistent routines (same warm-up structure, same closing routine)
  • Having go-to lesson templates
  • Keeping a "low-energy lesson" bank for tough days
  • Automating what you can (AI lesson planning, anyone?)

Protect Your Breaks

Breaks aren't optional—they're essential:

  • Actually eat lunch (not at your desk)
  • Step outside for fresh air
  • Chat with colleagues about non-work topics
  • Do something that recharges you, even for 5 minutes

Use Your Prep Period Wisely

Prep periods disappear fast. Prioritize:

  • High-impact tasks that save energy later
  • Things that can't be done outside school hours
  • Tasks that require school resources or collaboration

Leverage Student Ownership

Students can do more than you think:

  • Student-led discussions
  • Peer teaching and tutoring
  • Self-assessment and peer feedback
  • Classroom jobs and responsibilities

How AI Preserves Your Energy

This is where technology becomes a game-changer for energy management.

Sunday Night (or Monday Morning)

Instead of spending 3 hours planning:

  • AI generates your week's lesson plans in 15 minutes
  • You review and customize (30 minutes)
  • You have 2+ hours back for rest or family

Energy saved: Mental and creative energy for the week ahead

Wednesday Afternoon

Instead of scrambling to create Thursday's materials:

  • AI adapts Monday's lesson for different learning levels
  • You have differentiated resources in minutes
  • You can actually take a real lunch break

Energy saved: Mental energy during your lowest point of the week

Thursday Evening

Instead of staying late to grade:

  • AI provides initial feedback on student work
  • You review and personalize the feedback
  • You leave school at a reasonable hour

Energy saved: Physical and emotional energy for Friday and the weekend

The Weekend: True Recovery

Weekends aren't for catching up on work. They're for recovery.

Saturday: Decompress

  • Sleep in if you need to
  • Do something completely unrelated to teaching
  • Spend time with people you love
  • Move your body in ways that feel good
  • Don't think about school (seriously)

Sunday: Gentle Preparation

  • Review Monday's plans (already done, just a quick look)
  • Set out clothes and materials
  • Do something that energizes you for the week
  • Get to bed at a reasonable hour
  • Limit Sunday night planning to 30-60 minutes max

The Long Game

Preserving energy through the week isn't about being lazy. It's about being sustainable.

You can't sprint for 40 weeks. You need a pace you can maintain.

When you manage your energy wisely:

  • You're more present with your students
  • You make better instructional decisions
  • You have patience for challenging moments
  • You actually enjoy teaching
  • You don't burn out

Your Energy Matters

You can't give what you don't have. If you're running on empty, your students get an empty version of you.

But when you protect and preserve your energy:

  • Your students get the best version of you
  • You have energy for your own life outside school
  • You can sustain this career for the long haul
  • You remember why you became a teacher

Teaching is a marathon. Pace yourself. Protect your energy. Use tools that help you work smarter, not harder.

You deserve to finish Friday feeling accomplished, not destroyed. And with the right strategies and support, you can.