Very rainy today, which made it tough to engage in my selected activity of leisure during my digital declutter - gardening.

However, with my absence from most online connections, my mind started to wonder why the city had not yet picked up the grass clippings, pulled weeds, and fallen sticks laying on the side of the street.

Going on the city's website, I discovered that the city decided they were no longer going to be offering this service. Now what do I do with this refuse? I grumbled.

But before I could get stuck in that emotion, I was thankful that I had the presence of mind to notice the issue, ask the question, and seek out an answer. Otherwise, I would have likely received a notice on my door of my noncompliance.

Because this is a space dedicated to literacy leadership, I can relate this experience to the busyness of the life of a principal. We don't see the importance of what's happening within classroom instruction when our minds are occupied with the urgent and less important. Even if we are where the teaching and learning is taking place, where are our minds? I know mine was too often thinking about that potential blinking light on my office phone, a parent or board member or superintendent wanting my attention on something other than instruction, as pressing is it might be.

How do we create more presence in our work? I think principals and other instructional leaders would benefit from some type of digital declutter. It could even be for the weekend. Practice ignoring what can so easily capture our attention. Turn on the vacation responder to let people know who email you that you check messages on weekdays. It's a public accountability as much as courtesy.

Giving myself more space to think, I have a plan for the excess grass clippings and refuse: I will use it as mulch over a space between mine and my neighbor's fence. Weeds of all kind grow in that neglected area. My theory is, if I clear it out, put down fabric, and spread the dead vegetation over it, it will at least help keep the growth down.