Dr. Melissa Read

Jumana, That's such a big challenge. Many instructors struggle with getting students to care. It's tough, especially when we as educators care so much. Dr. Melissa Read

Nancy, I love your perspective and you are right. There are a wealth of coping mechanisms to choose from. The best ones are the ones that work best for you. It sounds like dancing has really helped you cope. I say continue to go with that. Music is such a great outlet too, and doesn't require much effort to enjoy. Dr. Melissa Read

Chuck, I like your approach. Even in situations where we have access to only standardized materials, we can still find a way to streamline our efforts and make them more efficient. Dr. Melissa Read

Susan, Excited to see you try it with success! Underlining and highlighting can significantly speed essay grading. It also encourages our students to focus on the most important parts of their answers too - increasing their chances of providing complete answers. Dr. Melissa Read

Jumana, Mental to do lists can work well when we are balancing only a few tasks. When we have more than 3 to 5 tasks however, they become limiting because we have to focus so much on remembering what's on them that it's hard to think about anything else. I recommend transitioning to a paper list when too many tasks come into your queue. Dr. Melissa Read

John, Yes, flexibility is the key. Our lists should guide our activities high level, but we must also be open to change as new tasks and priorities come in. Dr. Melissa Read

Heather, Some instructors find that making their list the night before works best. It's easier to rest when we know things are organized for the next morning. This is especially nice if you like to sleep in a little too. Dr. Melissa Read

Diane, Sounds like you have come up with a great routine for coping with stress. I particularly like the idea of taking short breaks. What a difference they can make. Stepping away from your desk for even just a few minutes can give you a fresh perspective when you return. Dr. Melissa Read

Chuck, Sounds like you have balanced a lot over the years and have managed it well. It's a good aspiration to try to not bring outside stress with you but it can be tough. It's ok to break down every now and then and just experience it in the moment. It can potentially help motivate you to make some changes that ultimately make your life better. Dr. Melissa Read

Angel, Sounds like a great and highly productive tool. Thanks for sharing. It sounds like your administration made the right investment. I understand your challenge of being a new instructor and not knowing about this tool to start. A lot of times, our administrations and fellow faculty members have wonderful assets and tools for us to use, but do not do a great job of communicating their existence. Sometimes we've got to be proactive and ask to see what's out there. A lot of times, we are pleasantly surprised. Dr. Melissa Read