Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Carol, At a guess, it will. You might go through withdrawal for the first few weeks but it will be worth it in the end. Hang in there! Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

George, Like it or not, many of us find ourselves in a similar position. It can be tempting to complete easy tasks first. Problem is, there are so many easy tasks that fill our queues that it's hard to get to the more complex stuff. Some of us break complex tasks down into smaller parts and that can help. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Causes of Stress

Hong, That sounds incredibly stressful. Yes, loud sounds and lot of people can be quite stressful. This is particularly true if you are an introvert and next time away from it all to recharge. While it's hard to control our environment in the office and on our commute, you might consider making your home as peaceful as possible. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Anne, Small steps toward our end goals often work best. I like your thinking around gradually getting into an exercise routine. You don't need an hour in the gym a day, to your point. Every little bit helps. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Tracy, If you have the luxury to save things until the next day, then you are in a great position. If ever you find that your queue picks up, you may have to take a more structured approach. For now, perhaps you should simply enjoy the flexibility! Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Carol, I am glad you see the importance of prioritization. Your current method sounds a bit stressful, though I'm glad to hear you are able to get everything done. With a little prioritization, you'll probably end up with the same results at the end of the day but your experience getting there will be better. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Joseph, Nice! Thanks for sharing. Regardless of whether or not we are in the medical field, that saying certainly applies! Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Causes of Stress

Anne, That's a tough challenge. As instructors, we often are faced with a mismatch between expectations and reality. Sometimes it pays to clearly articulate what we can do and to reset expectations with our fellow faculty, students and administrators. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Bronzel, Sounds like a wonderful plan but also a lot of changes happening all at once. You might try to make changes gradually, one at a time, to make the transition more manageable. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Kristy, Sounds like an excellent plan! It's ok to start small and work your way up. If exercising three times a week is too much, you can start with just once or twice. Dr. Melissa Read