Dr. Melissa Read

Steven, That's interesting. Yes, when the coping mechanism is too hard to do, it can be stressful in itself. Hard labor could be good every once in a while, when the mood strikes. However, it might be a good idea to build in a few other outlets so you have a variety to choose from. Dr. Melissa Read

Michael, Sounds like this coping mechanism was worked consistently well for you. That's great to hear. I'd love to hear more about the kinds of exercises that are working well for you. Dr. Melissa Read

Jana, It sounds like you have two wonderful outlets and those that serve you well. It's nice to have a variety of outlets that we can count on. This way, when one is not available, we can turn to the others. Dr. Melissa Read

Steven, When people are stressed in general, they often find that it's hard to help others. Perhaps that is what you are experiencing here. This is why it's so important for instructors to manage stress well. When stress is managed well, we often do our best work. Dr. Melissa Read

Colette, Yes very true. It will probably help you feel more confident and less down to the wire when completing tasks. Dr. Melissa Read

Stacey, That sounds like an organized approach. You probably rest more easily over the weekend, knowing you have a solid plan to count on when you return the next week. Dr. Melissa Read

Darilyn, It sounds like you have built a great reputation. Taking a consistent approach can give the people you work with piece of mind and confidence that you'll deliver consistently. Dr. Melissa Read

Tricia, That sounds like a tough stressor and one that we all face. Do you have an opportunity to delegate any of your tasks? Alternatively, have you ever tried pushing back on tasks that might be more appropriate for someone else? Dr. Melissa Read

Ruth, It sounds like you frequently find yourself with many tasks on your plate at once. It also sounds like you take a lot of pride in accomplishing them immediately. That has probably worked well for you and contributed to your success. At the same time, it can also contribute to burn out. If you are ever feeling like you have taken on too much, it's ok to take some time for you every now and then. Doing so could help you actually be more productive when you return to your work. Dr. Melissa Read

Shannon, It sounds like you know exactly what you need to do to get back on track. Yes, sleep and sharing are two great coping mechanisms that work well. Sleep is not always possible when we have taken on a significant amount of responsibility. Sharing can happen at work or home depending on who we trust and tends to be a little easier to accomplish. Dr. Melissa Read