Ever sit down during your planning period, determined to tackle your lesson plans, only to end up organizing folders or chatting in the office instead? Been there!

In this episode, I share how I broke my old prep-wasting habits and discovered a simple, practical system for picking one anchor task—so that planning time stops slipping away under a pile of grading and endless decisions.

If you're a secondary teacher juggling multiple preps, on a block schedule, or just drowning in overwhelm, let me show you how to reduce decision fatigue and finally walk out of prep with something real and DONE. Hit play to get actionable strategies for making your planning period actually work for you (and yes, you can lose the crate of work you keep hauling home!).

Too many preps and not enough time? Let’s make your planning period actually work for you.

Need a fast mid-year teaching reset? Try my 10-Minute Teacher Reset Tool — a free AI-powered assistant that helps you simplify one system in 10 minutes or less: https://khristenmassic.com/10minute

Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset

Grab the Warm-Up Wizard--A free Ai Teaching Assistant that will create all your class warm-ups for the week in less than 5 minutes: https://khristenmassic.com/wizard

Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach

Ever feel like your planning period just vanishes—even though you’re hustling the whole time?

You’re not alone!

In this episode, I’m breaking down why your prep time actually feels overloaded, not empty, especially when you’re juggling multiple preps, major assessments, and endless grading cycles as a secondary teacher.

I’ll share the biggest mistake I made for years (hello, unit collisions!) and how a simple shift in your calendar can rescue your sanity, lighten your workload, and help you actually finish something before the bell.

If you’re searching for real strategies around lesson planning, organization, easing overwhelm, and surviving multiple preps as a middle or high school teacher, this episode is packed with tips that work—because you deserve prep time that helps you breathe, not burn out.

Too many preps and not enough time? Let’s make your planning period actually work for you.

Need a fast mid-year teaching reset? Try my 10-Minute Teacher Reset Tool — a free AI-powered assistant that helps you simplify one system in 10 minutes or less: https://khristenmassic.com/10minute

Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset

Grab the Warm-Up Wizard--A free Ai Teaching Assistant that will create all your class warm-ups for the week in less than 5 minutes: https://khristenmassic.com/wizard

Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach

Ever feel like juggling multiple preps as a secondary teacher leaves you spinning your wheels—but never getting ahead?

In this episode, I get real about how trying to do everything just leads to overwhelm, burnout, and never-ending to-do lists. Instead, I’ll show you how choosing just one clear focus can make your planning, grading, and energy feel so much lighter.

If you’re looking for practical strategies, systems, and time-saving tips to finally reduce teacher overwhelm and stop racing against the clock, this episode is for you!

Let’s talk about simplifying your planning period, protecting your time, and finding that one thing that truly moves your students forward. Whether you teach middle school or high school and wrangle multiple preps, I promise—one focus is all you need to start thriving.

Too many preps and not enough time? Let’s make your planning period actually work for you.

Need a fast mid-year teaching reset? Try my 10-Minute Teacher Reset Tool — a free AI-powered assistant that helps you simplify one system in 10 minutes or less: https://khristenmassic.com/10minute

Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset

Grab the Warm-Up Wizard--A free Ai Teaching Assistant that will create all your class warm-ups for the week in less than 5 minutes: https://khristenmassic.com/wizard

Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach