Dr. Melissa Read

Benny, This sounds like a great plan. I like the way you plan on doing 15 minutes of exercise a day. Every little bit helps. I should note that some instructors don't even have 15 minutes. For them, sometimes it's helpful to find opportunities to get very short amounts of exercise at work. For example, if you can choose to take the elevator or the stairs, take the stairs. This can really add up when you are running to several classes each day. Dr. Melissa Read

Seth, This is a great list and seems to cover off on a lot. One of your stress sources is job security. Right now, many instructors are listing this as a top stressor. It's a challenging job market. The good news is you are not alone and there are many other people who understand where you are coming from. Dr. Melissa Read

Seth, Sounds like you have found a great system that works for you. Keep it up. I really love hearing that you have so many ways to cope with stress. When one method fails, you move on to try another. It's nice to have a backup plan, or several. Dr. Melissa Read

Lorraine, Yes, the best approach is to eliminate as many stressors as you can up front. When they are off your plate and out of your life, it's much easier to focus on reducing and coping with what's left. Some stressors cannot be eliminated and that's ok. Just try to take a step back and assess the total stress landscape, then move forward with your plan of attack. Dr. Melissa Read

Donna, Breaking down tasks into manageable pieces can be a great strategy for instructors. It gives us a wonderful sense of accomplishment and helps keep us motivated to chip away at our goals. Dr. Melissa Read

Michael, Some instructors simply perform better under pressure. If you're one of them, it's ok to go with this as long as it doesn't impact your productivity. Try to balance doing what's right for you with keeping up appearances. Dr. Melissa Read

Mark, Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have some really fun ways of relieving stress. Motorcross is not one that I hear of that often, but for those who love it, it can be a wonderful outlet. I like how you balance this with breathing techniques too. Motorcross is not always available to us when we really need it, but breathing is. Dr. Melissa Read

John, So true. Short breaks can do wonders and sometimes, they are all that we instructors have. Even just taking a break to walk to the water fountain can help us take a mental break that makes us better when we return. Dr. Melissa Read

Jennifer, Sounds like you have found some healthy coping mechanisms. I'd be curious to learn more about the kind of music you are listening to. Instructors seem to come in two varieties. There are those who seek peaceful music to relax. However, there are others who prefer loud music that matches their mood. Dr. Melissa Read

Rhonda, Sounds like a great plan. Brief periods of exercise can work wonders. Some instructors think that you need to spend a lot of time exercising every day to see the benefits. That's not necessarily true. Short bursts work too! Dr. Melissa Read