Dr. Melissa Read

Germany, So true. Students can easily see if we are well organized and prepared. When we are not, they often lose confidence in our abilities. It's important to maintain their perception that we have everything under control. Dr. Melissa Read

Brandon, Trying to manage stress in both work and personal life is often a challenge for instructors. They tend to be good at one or the other but not both. Work tends to be where most instructors focus on trying to change, but personal life is just as important. Finding good balance between the two is the key. Dr. Melissa Read

Vanessa, We've got to make sure we operate in compliant and legal ways when it comes to student evaluation. It's good to investigate both the rules of your institution as well as the rules of your field to understand the parameters you're working in. Dr. Melissa Read

Katherine, Exam maker software is so helpful. Often times, our book publishers offer this to us at no cost. It's great to have a bank of sample questions to choose from. Even if we don't use those questions, they can be great thought starters. Dr. Melissa Read

Renee, Wow, sounds like you are balancing a lot. These are common challenges for instructors, but they can really add up. Reviewing your list, it looks like some of your stressors are higher priority than others. For example, student voicemails may take priority to cleaning your desk. In the end, I know it all has to get done and it adds up quickly. At the same time, it sounds like you might have some wiggle room on a few things. Dr. Melissa Read

Reynaldo, So true. Exercise has so many benefits. Relaxation of the mind and body, as well as the fulfillment of esteem needs are some of the many reasons to do it. Sounds like you've relied on this approach with much success! Dr. Melissa Read

Ian, Great approach, though I should note that some instructors like to get to a few easy tasks first. They can make for great confidence builders. Dr. Melissa Read

Maria Elena, Really interesting to hear. Love the idea of having multiple graders access the same material online. This sounds handy, especially when you are in a pinch and cannot complete grading yourself. Dr. Melissa Read

Alexander, So true. Instructors often juggle responsibilities between several places of employment. When things change mid semester, it breaks up the routine. It can be tough to get back on track and find balance in your schedule again. Dr. Melissa Read

Jennelle, Excellent to hear. Sounds like you've already got some things going right with your meditation routine. Your plans to incorporate regular exercise will only make your life better. Dr. Melissa Read