“Lauren – Thank you for today – it was time well spent.”

I opened this simple yet profound message in my inbox today. Have you ever had those weeks where everything seems to blur together because you’re juggling so many important tasks that it’s hard to be fully present in each interaction, moment, or experience? It’s almost like being caught in a revolving door, constantly moving forward.

But sometimes, a short message like this makes you pause. It reminds you of the impact we have, even on days when everything feels like a whirlwind. It brought to mind a concept I recently learned in The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: “duration neglect.” They explain, “When people assess an experience, they tend to forget or ignore its length… Instead, they seem to rate the experience based on two key moments: (1) the best or worst moment, known as the ‘peak’; and (2) the ending” (p. 8).

This message was a peak moment for me, and it made me realize that, even amidst a hectic schedule, the quality of our interactions matters more than the amount of time we spend on them. It’s proof that, despite the busyness, we are still creating meaningful connections, making a difference, and leaving lasting impressions—often without even realizing it. That is what makes time well spent.

Amidst a sea of professional learning sessions, committee meetings, planning discussions, data reviews, school visits, parent phone calls, and teacher observations, there were still moments that truly felt like time well spent.

Like the time I facilitated a data meeting this week and felt my plan was going off course, only to feel a sense of pride when teachers began leading the conversation themselves—studying assessments, analyzing student work, and finding clarity in their next steps. “Thank you for letting the conversation go where it needed to go, Lauren. You brought us to a place where we were doing what’s best for kids.” That was time well spent.

Or the time I worried about asking teachers and colleagues to lead parts of a large meeting because I couldn’t be everywhere at once, doing everything myself. “Lauren, anytime—I’m happy to help you.” In that moment, I realized that the effort I’ve put into building strong relationships was time well spent.

And then there was the time I felt some guilt leaving the district with our Literacy Coach to attend a professional learning session elsewhere for a short time, knowing I had other tasks to do but recognizing the value of growth. The very next morning, I saw our Literacy Coach share a new instructional practice she’d learned, using it to plan another professional learning experience in our own district. I knew then that it was time well spent.

These moments bring clarity to why we do what we do, reminding us that in the midst of busy days, there are always meaningful moments that ground us.

And that is truly time well spent.