Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Peggy, The process of reevaluation is an important one. It's not enough just to make a list. We've got to consider new tasks that come in, compare them to the ones we have on our plates and balance them all. Sometimes, priorities change quickly so it's important to reevaluate and quickly respond. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Kevin, This is mostly true. While it's important to stay on top of things, it's also important to balance that with making sure we don't fall prey to problems with immediacy. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Jarrod, That sounds tough. Sometimes back to back teaching can be painful. If you can step out ever so briefly, even to just get a drink of water or a snack, it could make a difference. I understand that's not always possible. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Charlie, Sounds like a great approach. It's nice to be able to focus a little more on you. Yes, try to enjoy your vacations more - even if they are just the weekends. It's nice to be able to indulge in a break every now and then. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Allen, Excellent to hear you'll slightly update your approach! Note that it's ok not to be as regimented as making your list on the exact same day of each week. Just update your list when it needs to be refreshed. The best interval is often determined by how much work is coming into your queue and the kinds of tasks (large or small). Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Angel, Excellent to hear. Yes, it's a simple approach but can make a huge difference. I highly recommend writing things down, putting them on paper and out of your mind! Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Causes of Stress

Ramon, Sounds like you have stress from a variety of sources, including both work and family. You're not alone. Many instructors must find a way to balance stress coming from all sides. Writing things down is a great way to get your tasks on paper and out of your mind. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Causes of Stress

Eric, Somehow I have a feeling that you are not much of a procrastinator. You have a lot of work stress that you keep top of mind. This likely drives productivity, but at a cost with respect to your experience. I'm glad your to do list helps you stay focused and on top of things. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Streamlining the Grading Process

Charlie, I like the idea of grouping similar tasks together to become more efficient at processing them. Here, you group all your copy time together and this likely makes a big difference on how much work you've got to put in over time. Nice! Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Susan, It's tough not to feel a great sense of urgency to complete tasks as they keep rolling in. Sometimes it's a good idea to take a step back and prioritize our list when there are too many tasks. Gives us perspective on which tasks we need to complete quickly and which tasks we can hold off on. Dr. Melissa Read