Meet Rachel Volk | High School Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Volk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first started teaching, I thought work-life balance meant getting through everything on my to-do list and then relaxing. My first year of teaching I found myself grading papers every night and working over the weekends to make sure all my materials were completely ready for the week, while still trying to maintain a workout schedule and meal prepping. I found myself mentally drained and sacrificing sleep to get everything done and felt I was not being the best teacher I could be.

Over time I’ve realized the work is never really “done” and there is always something more you can be doing. Now I’ve realized how important balance is. It is not about perfection and crossing everything off of a to-do list, but rather setting boundaries, and sustainable habits and workflows.

That was one reason I started posting teaching and lifestyle content online- to share tips I do to stay organized and efficient as a teacher, while still being able to enjoy life on the weekends and have some time to myself on school nights. Teaching is a huge part of my life and I truly love what I do, but it is not my whole life anymore.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Professionally, I got to where I am today through a mix of passion, hard work, and learning to give myself grace. When I started teaching, like many new educators, I felt completely overwhelmed. You learn about how to lesson plan and all the different types of teaching methodologies, but nothing really prepares you to be a teaching like spending time in a real classroom in front of real students. You have to learn through a lot of trial and error, and honestly, through burnout.

The turning point for me came when I realized that being a “good teacher” didn’t have to mean sacrificing everything else. That’s when I started building routines, prioritizing meal prep, setting boundaries. I ended up on “teacher quit tok” a few years ago and I know burnout and struggling to take time for yourself is one of the reasons why teachers are leaving the classroom. I wanted to show that it is possible to find work-life balance with teaching which is why I began posting some of my day-to-day on TikTok.

Overall, biggest lesson I’ve learned is that sustainability matters. You can love your job and still need rest. You can be passionate and still protect your peace!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think DFW gets a lot of hate online for being “boring” and has nothing to do but eating and drinking, but I disagree with this! This is probably a crazy opinion, but I actually think there are more options of activities here in DFW than there was when I lived in NYC!

For areas to visit, the Stockyards is obviously a must! Explore the shops, take one of the historic tours or watch the cattle drives, and grab a meal. Grapevine Main Street is one of my favorite places in all of DFW! I love exploring the shops and going to wine tasting in all the tasting rooms. Bishop Arts in Dallas is another cool area with places to explore. I think NorthPark Centre has some of the best shopping options I’ve ever seen. We have so many professional sports teams in the area so going to a Stars/Mavs/Rangers/Cowboys game is a great option- or even see a college game at AT&T in the fall. I also love all of the outdoor activities here. We could take a walk on the Katy Trail or Trinity Trails, or explore any of the hiking trails at Eagle Mountain Lake, or up near Lake Texoma. Another cool spot is Founders Plaza at DFW airport. It’s fun to pick up some food and spend a couple hours watching the planes take off and land.

For food we have so many options! Some of my favorites are Esparzas on Grapevine Main Street, Maria’s in Fort Worth, The Original del Norte in Fort Worth Northside, Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth, sandwiches from Eatzi’s, and ice cream at Braums!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are two groups of people who helped shape me as an educator. First my mom. She was also a teacher and taught me the importance of staying organized, creating healthy lifestyle habits, and the importance of structure and routines, not just in the classroom, but outside as well. She sadly passed away from cancer in 2019 but her legacy is truly in everything I do!

I would also shoutout all my colleagues and administrators at the first school I worked in up in New York City. As a brand new teacher, I was surrounded by people who had had decades of experience in education and who all truly loved their jobs. They challenged me, supported me, and made me want to constantly grow. I definitely contribute my success in the classroom today to the habits and pedagogical practices I learned while working at that school!

Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@busybutbalanced

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busybutbalanced_/

Image Credits
I have taken all of these pictures myself!