Building Momentum: How to Keep Progress Going When Term Fatigue Hits

There’s a point in every school term where the energy dips.
It starts subtle. Students move a little slower, lessons feel heavier, and teachers feel like they’re pushing uphill.

It reminds me of something every decathlete knows well.
After Day 1, your body is exhausted and you still have a full day of competition ahead.
You cannot rely on freshness. You rely on rhythm, focus, and the ability to manage your energy with purpose.

Teaching is the same.
The term will not always feel like the 100m. Some days feel like lining up for the 1500m with tired legs and a tired mind.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘄

On Day 2 of the decathlon, even simple movements feel harder.
By the hurdles, discus, or pole vault, your body feels nothing like it did the day before.

School terms follow the same pattern.
Students become less responsive. Lessons feel more draining. Progress is still happening, but it becomes harder to see.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝘁

Decathletes never go all out in every event.
We survive by being intentional.
We pace, reset, and create micro moments of clarity between events.

Teachers can do the same.
Momentum is not created by pushing harder. It is created by rhythm.

Here are three strategies that kept me going across ten events in two demanding days:

1. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
In a decathlon, you never chase perfection. You choose one focus, settle your mind, and let flow do the work.
In PE, giving students one clear focus creates calm. Calm creates progress.

2. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀
Small wins are what keep you alive in competition.
A clean jump. A solid throw. A tiny technical fix.
These moments change the rhythm of the whole day.

Students are the same.
When energy is low, small wins create the biggest momentum shift.

3. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺
No decathlete gets through ten events alone.
Coaches, teammates, and competitors lift you when you need it.

In PE, rotating leadership gives students ownership.
Ownership builds engagement. Engagement restores momentum.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆

Decathletes do not finish the final 1500m because they feel fresh.
They finish because they manage their energy with clarity, rhythm, micro goals, and support.

Teaching works the same way.
When the term feels heavy, do not increase intensity.
Increase intention.