Here’s a little story…
This morning, I woke up early, ready to tackle a full-on day – nine hours of back-to-back teaching. I knew I had one precious 30-minute break, which I planned to use for two things: class planning and actually eating something.
But then, ping! A message from a parent popped up.
“Hey, just a quick question about the showcase…”
A quick question? Oh no. It turned into a million. She needed to know urgently because of childcare, but here’s the thing – she already had the information weeks ago. Instead of sticking to my plan, I got sucked into a back-and-forth conversation, and before I knew it…
Lunch = uneaten. Class planning = unfinished. Break = gone.
The Hard Truth About Productivity as a Dance Teacher
We’re always juggling – teaching, admin, emails, social media, accounts, and answering every single message that comes our way. But if we’re not disciplined with our time, it disappears.
Here’s what I should have done:
- Waited to see if she found the answers herself instead of jumping in.
- Set a dedicated time later in the day for messages.
- Put my phone to one side and focused on my planned tasks.
Sound familiar? If you also struggle with getting things done, here are some tried-and-tested productivity hacks that will help you stay on top of everything without burning out. Shout out to big sister Gemma for sending me these in the past!
Time-Saving Tips for Dance Teachers
1. Time-Block Your Tasks
Ever sat down to work on your studio’s social media, only to get distracted by texts and emails? Instead of jumping between tasks, set clear time blocks for each one.
Example:
- 10:00 – 10:30 → Reply to messages
- 10:30 – 11:00 → Social media scheduling
- 11:00 – 12:00 → Class planning
This keeps you focused and stops tasks from eating into each other.
2. Use the 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle)
Not everything you do moves the needle. The 80/20 rule means that 20% of your work brings 80% of your results.
Tip: Identify the tasks that truly matter (e.g., lesson planning, marketing, and student retention) and cut down on the less productive ones.
3. Stop Multitasking – It’s a Productivity Killer
We think we’re being efficient by answering messages while working on admin, but switching between tasks actually slows us down.
Instead:
- Focus on one thing at a time.
- Batch similar tasks together (e.g., answering all emails at one time).
- Silence notifications while working on something important.
4. Set ‘Do Not Disturb’ Hours
Studio owners and teachers often feel like they have to be available 24/7, but that’s not sustainable.
Set boundaries:
- Choose a time each day to check and reply to messages (e.g., 10 am and 6 pm).
- Let parents know when you’re available so they don’t expect instant replies.
- Use auto-replies for out-of-hours messages (e.g., “Thanks for your message! I’ll get back to you after 6 pm.”).
5. Avoid ‘Just a Quick Scroll’ on Social Media
We’ve all done it. You open Instagram to post a class update and suddenly, 20 minutes later, you’re watching dog videos.
Productivity rule: If you’re working on social media for your studio, stay on task. Post what you need, schedule content, and get out of there.
6. The ‘5-Minute Rule’ for Procrastination
If you’re putting off a task (hello, accounts…), tell yourself you’ll just do 5 minutes.
Most of the time, starting is the hardest part – once you’re in it, you’ll keep going!
7. Learn to Say ‘No’
You don’t need to answer every question immediately or take on every task yourself.
Practice saying:
- “I’ll get back to you later today.”
- “That information was in the email – could you check and let me know if you have any questions?”
- “I can’t take that on right now, but I can recommend someone else.”
Final Thought: Structure is Everything
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Without structure, time disappears.
So, next time you sit down to get something done:
- Set a clear plan
- Stick to it
- Remove distractions
And most importantly – eat your lunch!
