Dr. Melissa Read

Paul, Sounds tough. You are not alone. These are the typical demands of instructors. Trying to balance work and life can be tricky and can take practice. When we have multiple jobs and multiple supervisors, they often compete for our time too. Hang in there. Dr. Melissa Read

Joan, It's wonderful when we have the support of our administrations. It often makes us so productive and confident in what we do. Finding the right educational environment to teach in can really make all the difference in our day to day lives. Dr. Melissa Read

Breaks are great Steven. Even if we just take a few minutes, we can come back feeling refreshed and with a new outlook. Some instructors don't have time for a long break due to course schedules, but have time for mini breaks all throughout the day. Take them when you can! Dr. Melissa Read

Indeed true Paul. Sometimes when a task has been delayed for too long, it simply cannot be completed. It's important to start completing those kinds of tasks as early as possible. Often times, tasks require the input of others, additional research and much more to get done. It's not always as simple as just completing things. So we've got to give ourselves time and a little margin for error. Dr. Melissa Read

That's a great tip Matthew, thanks for sharing. Smartphones - as well as other technologies - are often designed with our organizational needs in mind. Often times, instructors already own all the equipment they need to benefit. It's just about learning more about what our technology can do for us. Taking some time to invest in learning more can save us a substantial amount of time in the end. Dr. Melissa Read

Sounds like a great plan Wendy. Walking and breathing are both easy coping mechanisms that can quickly be integrated into your routine. You can start simply by taking a break to do some breathing exercises at your desk. It's amazing how much better you will feel. Dr. Melissa Read

Interesting perspective Roger. It's often better just to get it out there and not to dwell. Also, when we bottle things up inside, the stress we experience may be misinterpreted by people around us. They may see us as unfriendly and standoffish instead of for what we are, stressed! Dr. Melissa Read

Sounds like a visual approach Tom and I like that a lot. For some instructors, visual methods like time lines work best in terms of putting things into perspective. The key is to learn about which method works the best for you. Dr. Melissa Read

So true Theodore! It's nice when we can design our exams for quick grading as well as detailed grading. Having complete answers written out also prevents student cheating. Dr. Melissa Read

Ha! What a great find Mike. Sometimes it's the little things that really bother us - far more than we know. Finding a way to eliminate annoying sounds or other stressors can make a huge difference. You're not alone in stress eating too. It's a very common challenge to have. Bringing healthy snacks is the right choice. Dr. Melissa Read