The yearbook has been submitted—and maybe even delivered and in your hands—so now what?
You could plan a celebration and a big distribution event, but if you’re like me, so many regular life activities have either been on hold or continued without you, especially in those final weeks when deadlines were looming and the project needed finishing.
For me, there’s a burst of energy and mental clarity that comes with organizing and laying out a plan to get back on track. I also need to wrap up loose ends and make notes for next year’s yearbook. Technically, this wrap-up should happen after submitting the book and while waiting for delivery—but I’m usually so eager to catch up and rejoin my life that I delay it until distribution time sneaks up. First, I like to get a great night’s sleep—or two!
Getting back to your family, your regular schedule, your obligations, and your life can push the yearbook wrap-up to the back burner. It’s no longer urgent or pressing like it was for weeks on end. And let’s face it—your life has been waiting and now demands your attention. That avalanche of to-dos? Yep, it hits hard. Like I said, I try to channel that post-yearbook momentum into making a plan and getting things back in order.
The truth is, I feel my best when I’m juggling multiple projects—but I still get overwhelmed when I fall behind. Every year, the same cycle plays out when I’m a yearbook advisor. I’m starting to think it’s just the nature of my involvement in so many activities. When I finish a yearbook, I always think, “That’s the last one.” I’m exhausted, frustrated, and totally overwhelmed. But then the books arrive. I see the students and families flipping through the pages, the compliments roll in, and I’m all in again.
Every year I tell myself: Next year will be different. I’ll be organized and start with a solid plan. But life has other ideas! Fall tends to be quiet with fewer events, so I sign up for things or agree to new projects. The problem? Everything seems to hit in the spring—right when the yearbook is due! Suddenly, all my commitments land in the same week, and I’m both energized and overwhelmed. Oh—and did I mention it’s also sports season? Practices all week and games on the weekends. Chaotic schedule, for sure!
Oddly enough, I kind of love the chaos. I thrive in it because I don’t have time to procrastinate. When I have too much free time, I don’t feel urgency, so I delay—and eventually panic. But under pressure, I’m often at my most creative and most focused.
Once the yearbook is distributed and any issues are resolved, it’s hard to re-engage with yearbook tasks or planning for next year because school’s out for months—and just like the students, I’m in full “SCHOOL’S OUT, IT’S SUMMER!” mode.
So what do I do when the book is submitted—or even already distributed? I try to reconnect with the life I’d put on pause. And if you know me, I’m also already keeping my eyes open for the next exciting project or event!