2025: The Return of Intention
As a new year begins, people often reflect and think about how they want this new year to be different from the previous year. A trend in parents’ responses has been, “We want our time back.”
Parent’s schedules are chock-full of work and home responsibilities, not to mention their children’s extracurricular activities, and they are tired, and so are the kids. Kids need time to be kids, and their parents need time to enjoy them and spend quality time together, which is invaluable.
When you ask people how they’re doing, have you noticed that their response typically involves talking about how busy they are? We have become a culture that bases our worth or merit on how much we have going on in a day or a week, and people are fed up with it.
2025 is the year we return to intention. That is, everything we do has a purpose or a meaning behind it. Of course, we all have lists of things we need to get done, but it’s time to prioritize how and where we spend our time. We can also be intentional with our words, actions, and deeds. For instance, we can choose our words carefully to uplift and encourage others, take actions that align with our values and goals, and perform deeds that contribute to the well-being of our community.
This return to intention can even translate into a classroom setting, especially with curriculum and student and teacher demands. From an educator’s perspective, it is empowering to ask questions such as: Is this homework essential? Or is it just checking a box? Does this curriculum make sense, and does it have a purpose beyond assessment? What will students learn and gain from this curriculum? How will it help them as individuals?
It’s time to start thinking about what’s best for students and their families. Perhaps we should limit homework and cut back on an extracurricular or two. This could lead to reduced stress, more time for rest and relaxation, and a better balance between academic and non-academic activities. Let’s put all our devices away for family dinner every night and spend quality time with loved ones. This connection is invaluable. It could also be taking the time to work on a personal goal together. Intention looks different for everyone, but it is necessary and desired in our current social climate and culture.
Educators, families, and students are overworked, over-scheduled, and overly tired, and it shows. Let’s return to intention this year and focus on what matters most.
Written By: Meredith Biesinger
Professional Writer/ Education Specialist
Meredith Biesinger is a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi, in addition to being an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 administrator. Meredith also works as a consultant, where she bridges the bridge the gap between K-12 school districts and ed-tech organizations. With a passion for literacy, she is also a professional writer and syndicated author. With a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and a B.S. in English Education and Creative Writing, she has had rich and diverse opportunities to teach students and education professionals in different parts of the country as well as overseas.
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