Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Doris, Sounds like a wonderful plan. Yes, sometimes the weather can limit the kinds of exercise we are able to complete at certain times of the year. I recommend having a few different kinds of exercises that you can do, depending on the climate. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Gary, It sounds like you've got some great ideas for better managing the stress in your life. That's good to hear. Yes, it's ok to ask for a little extra support. Most of the time, people are understanding of your needs and appreciate that you reached out - instead of watching you drop the ball later. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Lauren, Sounds like you know yourself well, both your strengths and limitations. That's a great first start. It also sounds like you might benefit by taking a little time for you. You are right, fatigue can really limit your performance. Sometimes we are at our best when we take a step back and spend a little time investing in ourselves. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Causes of Stress

Mackenzie, Aligning with coworkers is often the key to success in an academic environment. Some instructors are proactive about gaining alignment. They setup meetings with fellow faculty and administrators to get on the same page. Others are more informal but keep communication of expectations frequent enough that it does the trick. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Streamlining the Grading Process

Esperanza, Interesting to hear about your experiences. Perhaps some of them could be shared with your current administration. Online testing and grading can save so much time for all faculty involved. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Tiffany, That sounds like the right approach. Sometimes we need to take a step back and approach our lists with new perspective. It's easy to cross off simple tasks... but if we do that all day, the harder ones never get done. A balanced approach can work wonders. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Esperanza, Interesting approach. I like the way you've incorporated psychology into your teachings of time and stress management and I'm sure your students benefit. Yes, we've ultimately got to ask ourselves about the outcomes of not performing certain tasks. This can help us establish priorities. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Dawn, You are not alone. Many instructors are motivated to complete only the most interesting or rewarding tasks. Tasks that are less interesting often fall to the wayside. To do lists can help us stay balanced in terms of the tasks we select to complete. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Jessica, Sounds like you would greatly benefit from a coping mechanism to your point. There are so many easy ones to try. I'd start with simple breathing and walking. These can take you far and can be completed anywhere. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Daniel, Interesting take. Task delegation is a great way to manage through a full task list. When we have people we feel we can count on, we are in a great position to delegate. Dr. Melissa Read