fit2teach

The app fit2teach is a daily tracking tool that encourages teachers to measure and improve upon work-life balance. Creating an account gives teachers access to questions they answer daily about their work habits and day-to-day experiences. The questions take less than a minute to answer and may adjust depending on the responses. Points are awarded for positive behaviors, such as getting a good night's sleep, getting 30 minutes of "me time," and being a positive influence. Points are deducted for negative behaviors such as leaving work late, crying at school, and swearing under your breath. On weekends and holidays, teachers track whether or not they worked at home and determine its overall value. 

At the end of the week, teachers can see their composite score in red, yellow, or green to indicate negative, neutral, or positive overall balance. Teachers can also earn rewards for improving sleep habits, taking time for themselves, and consistently using the tool. The Pro version offers a dashboard, additional rewards, and more detailed data over time, but the free version still lets teachers see their overall progress.

Teacher burnout and attrition are universal problems affecting educators. Even teachers who stick it out are often overwhelmed by the demands of the job and end up unhappy (and, by extension, less effective). This app's focus on self-care and separating work life from home life can go a long way toward alleviating these issues. 

There's some room for improvement. For instance, it would be useful to know how points are calculated for each response and whether categories are weighted differently. This could help teachers prioritize which habits to change. Also, without customizable questions, it might be tough for some educators to see how the tool can help in their particular situation. Some teachers might not know if they made a positive influence on their team; an "N/A" option might be a helpful addition here. Finally, while the rewards and weekly developer feedback may encourage teachers to take action, the tool lacks suggestions for how teachers might achieve a better balance. In-app links to wellness articles, short meditations, or even comedy relief would be an easy way to do this. 

Although fit2teach doesn't solve problems of underfunded initiatives, copious amounts of paperwork, or poor workplace leadership, it does shed light on personal habits. This awareness might encourage teachers to take a step back and evaluate where they can better manage their time, find moments of joy during the day, and decrease the amount of time spent working after the school day ends.