“Farch”: Finding Motivation in the Months that Seem Endless
February 12, 2026
After a long weekend in November, two weeks off in December, and holidays and snow days in January, the months of February and March can blend together to become the dreaded two-month-long schlep that has become known as “Farch”.
And what to do when it just seems like you’re in a never-ending marathon of school days with no breaks in sight? Some say, “Just lean into your Perseverance!”, not knowing it’s your #24 strength. “Think about spring break”, others say, not realizing you signed up to work tutoring hours that week.
You try to feel motivated, but at the end of the day, motivation feels out of reach.
Before giving in to the ickiness of “Farch”, here are some thoughts to turn to when motivation seems out of reach.
VALUES
Your values are like the sunrise—off in the distance, and always a guiding light. A few examples of values include belonging, gratitude, leadership, travel, or community. An essential question that gets us thinking about our values is, “What matters most to you?” Sometimes we don’t need to look any further than the lock screen on a phone or our “For you” page on Instagram to call out some of our values. What are the ideals that are at the top of your list, personally and professionally? (If you want to dig into some values exercises with your students check this one out!) (E.g., I value academic achievement and social emotional wellness for my students.)
VISION
Give yourself the gift of a pause. Take two (or ten!) deep breaths and consider where you want your students to be at the end of this academic year…and where you want to be too. What do you want your life (or classroom or hobbies) to look like in the next three to four months? (E.g. I would love to have a more peaceful and safe space for learning.)
GOALS
Goals are your stops along the way toward your vision. You can create both “do goals” and “be goals”. “Do goals” are SMARTER (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound, Evaluate, Readjust), and are a specific next-step on your way to your vision. “Be goals” stay with you for all the stops (i.e. “do goals”) along the way. “Be goals” set out how you want to show up as you move toward your vision. (E.g. My “do goal” is to use one lesson from The Character Effect a week, with a mindful moment before every test or quiz. My “be goal” is to show up in kind and encouraging ways, starting each day with a clean slate for my students.)
PURPOSE
What is an overarching motto for your life? Or a quote that explains how you want to show up the rest of this school year? What phrase, quote, or lyric often comes to mind when you’re in a tough spot? This might be a way to give yourself a breath of fresh air when you’re feeling stuck. (E.g. “Get Back Up Again” from Trolls 😊) Your purpose can be long or short-term, all encompassing, or specific to just your classroom.
BRING IT ALL TOGETHER FOR MOTIVATION IN “FARCH” (or anytime, really)
When your values are like the sunrise, your vision is like the path you are on, and your goals are the stops along the way as you live out your purpose. Keeping all of these ideas in alignment helps us gain a sense of meaning and motivation in the everyday struggle to keep going through “Farch”.
Let’s bring all the examples together:
Values: I value academic growth and social emotional wellness for my students, so I’ll craft a vision to help me move in that direction.
Vision: I want to see a peaceful and safe space for learning by April, so I’ll set up goals as stops along the way to get us there.
Goals: I will check in with myself a week from now to see if I met my “do goal” and used at least one TCE lesson, and offered mindful moments before tests and quizzes…and I’ll also ask myself if I met my “be goal” of showing up with kindness, encouragement, and a clean slate each day.
Purpose: I WILL get back up again—I need to lean on playful perseverance to make it to this goal for the next few months. I know I can make it.
You’ve got this! “Farch” doesn’t have anything on you 😊
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