Some people have described living with ADHD as having a constant noise in their heads. Others say it’s like a perpetual feeling of being off-balance. Whatever ADHD feels like to you, you may constantly feel the need to keep moving or bounce around from project to project.
As a teacher, you can maintain your focus during the day as you have a constant stream of children to help you refocus your energy. But what do you do when the bell rings or summer break comes and you need to channel your energy and attention somewhere? One answer: engage in a new (or part-time) career. Here are a few options for teachers.
Tutoring from home.
Career Coaching With Shell has written about working from home before. It’s not always easy for a person who gets distracted easily, but it is possible and can be highly rewarding. As a tutor, you can work from the comfort of home while continuing to instill a love of learning in your students and other children within your community. Further, working remotely means you can extend your skills to young learners anywhere in the world.
Starting your own business.
Teachers are creative and driven, which are two traits crucial to entrepreneurs. If you haven’t considered it before, now’s a great time to think about starting your own business. This could be an area where you have the skills to sell.
Before you start, however, do your research on how you want your business to be structured. Depending on what you choose to do, forming an LLC — which is inexpensive if you use a formation service — is a great way to reduce your tax and financial liability. Keep in mind, however, that it is still a process, so confirm the steps you need to take in your state.
Selling your educational materials.
You have undoubtedly already heard about — and maybe even used — Teachers Pay Teachers or a similar marketplace. If you haven’t considered selling your own lesson plans via these platforms, you should know that this is a great way to earn a side income while helping other educators engage their own students.
Look through your self-created lesson plans or supplemental materials. Think about which were the most effective. One way to determine this is to look back through your grades to see where your entire class had a boost. To sell your digital products, they will likely need to be in PDF format and free of copyright impediments.
Working as a camp counselor.
Camp counselors coordinate events, lead age-appropriate activities, monitor program compliance, etc. If these duties sound familiar, you are right — a camp counselor performs many of the same functions as a classroom teacher. The biggest difference is the environment.
A camp counselor may work in a day or overnight (away) camp with students of all ages. One thing that makes this an excellent summer or winter break position is that you are already qualified. You are likely already CPR-trained, have experience with children, and have completed a background check.
Becoming a virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant (VA) can perform dozens of different duties for business professionals. In this role, you might coordinate schedules, make phone calls, book flights, or design professional presentations and reports. The best part is that you can work as a VA from anywhere in the world and often on your own schedule. You get to set your own rates and, unless you sign an agreement stating otherwise, can work for multiple people at once. Small Business Trends notes further that a virtual assistant may work as a proofreader, which is an excellent use of your impeccable grammar skills.
Why change careers?
As a teacher, you likely have a reasonable salary, as the national average is approximately $63,900. But you also likely spend a portion of your paycheck on supplies for your students. An obvious first consideration when changing jobs or seeking part-time employment is money. Other things to think about, especially given the stress of the pandemic, is work/life balance and your own mental health.
Further, as an individual with ADHD, making a professional move now can help you find your true calling. As much as you love your students, if you do not feel “at home” in the classroom, there is no shame in looking into other options to help you enjoy personal and professional fulfillment.
Teachers with ADHD are great at keeping up with students in the classroom. But the classroom isn’t always there. Whether you are looking to find your true calling or simply need to channel your energies into a side hustle, the above ideas can help you change careers and live your best life.
Career Coaching With Shell can help you uncover your true professional passion. As a person with ADHD, you need to be fulfilled. Contact Shell today and live your new career tomorrow