Are you still wondering how you can fit time into your busy schedule to polish your skills and improve your effectiveness? Consider these ideas from veteran, award-winning teachers: Make it a goal to attend at least one State conference during the year. Look ahead to see the dates and locations for National conferences in your subject area so that if one is convenient for you attend, you can begin planning for it now. It can be very energizing to associate with other people who share your professional interests. Subscribe or read online one or more professional journals related to your field. Join a book club, movie club, investors club, neighborhood association or any organization where you can meet new people outside the field of education. You never know where some of your best ideas may come from and people with similar hobbies and interests may provide the boost you need to learn something new. When you are required to attend a meeting, in-service or other professional development encounter, plan to sit by people you don't know or don't know very well and make it a point to get acquainted. Before you even walk through the door for the meeting, remind yourself that you have to be in the right frame of mind to learn something new. Of course, not all meetings are productive or specifically designed to meet your personal needs, but if you have the attitude that there's a good chance you will learn something useful, you probably will. Don't be afraid to get involved in a mentoring or peer-to-peer coaching relationship. The mentoring relationship can be one of the most rewarding for both the mentor and the person being mentored. Build in some "think time" for yourself each day. The physical aspects of your day may leave you feeling exhausted. Before you leave the school or get into your car for the drive home, take a few minutes to close your eyes and just reflect on your day. Think about the good things that happened and what you want to do to improve your performance tomorrow.