Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Curt, So true. Budgeting is such an important exercise. It helps us stay on track financially and guides our spending. Some people simply can't live without their budgets. It's too easy to go off the rails on spending without them. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Ghaleb, I like the way you assess each task to decide how quickly you respond. That's a great approach. You are right. Some tasks can be knocked out of the queue right away. Others require thoughtful and deliberate response. A one-size-fits-all approach does not always work for task management. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Anna, Excellent to hear. Yes, breaking tasks into manageable chunks is a wonderful approach to completing daunting assignments. Keeps us motivated and moving forward. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Cynthia, So glad to hear it! Yes, sometimes staying so on top of things is actually our greatest problem. When we don't slow down and take a break, we can get overwhelmed and stressed too. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

William, Good point. Our tried and true process and templates must occasionally change to stay relevant. Sounds like you understand this all to well. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Edward, Excellent to hear. Yes, a to do list can be so rewarding and satisfying. To your point, you might be able to leverage some of the reinforcing aspects of this method to accomplish tasks that you find less desirable or that make you nervous. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Causes of Stress

Joanne, So true. It's hard to push back on students who need more of our time than we had originally planned for. They are often our priority. At the same time, in order to continue to serve student needs, we must make ourselves a priority as well. When we have what we need, we are in a better position to help them. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

George, Interesting. Some instructors are good at prioritizing in one setting (e.g. work) but not another (e.g. personal). Sounds like you might be able to relate. People like this often compartmentalize their home and work lives or focus primarily on one or the other. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Elizabeth, So true. As instructors, we are often asked to do more with less. Over time, this gets tough. We want to give our students the best we can. With limited resources, we can only do so much. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Cynthia, Yes, from your comments, it sounds like you are really on top of things. This is great but can burn us out if we use this approach long term. Every now and then, people who struggle with immediacy should stop and try enjoy life too. Dr. Melissa Read