Dr. Melissa Read

Barbara, I'm glad you mentioned this. They can be easy to overdue. If we give every task priority status, it doesn't really get us anywhere. To make the right call, I recommend asking yourself what would happen if you did not complete each task. A lot of times, this approach gives us the clarity we need to make the right choices. Dr. Melissa Read

Danielle, I hear you. A lot of instructors end up in this situation. We have the best of intentions but never find the time. I recommend starting small and working your way up. Even if you can do just 5-10 minutes of exercise per day, it can be well worth it. Also note that small choices can make a big difference. Taking the stairs as compared to the elevator for example can pay off when you do this consistently. Dr. Melissa Read

William, I see your point. If you had to choose one problem, I'd go with immediacy too. Dr. Melissa Read

Morgan, Yes, procrastination that cause big challenges in life. It's a good idea to get on top of tasks, even when they are not our favorite. I recommend taking on one challenging task a day and then filling your queue with other fun tasks. This will make most of your day enjoyable but will also help you accomplish the important things. Dr. Melissa Read

Jennifer, It's nice to hear that you have found an outlet that you can take on the road with you. It's nice to be able to have a method that we can use to cope anywhere. Note that I understand you are trying not to disturb your coworkers. That sounds like a respectful approach. However, another approach is to invite them to join you. This can, in some circumstances, work too! Dr. Melissa Read

Robert, Interesting approach. On one hand, we want to make sure we always provide value in evaluation exercises. On the other, we must think critically about how we focus our assessments to provide the greatest value. Dr. Melissa Read

Charles, Yes, grading batches of similar exams in large chunks can be much more efficient than grading multiple kinds of exams. Sometimes, the order that we choose to accomplish tasks dramatically impacts how efficient and effective we are at completing them in a timely manner. Dr. Melissa Read

Casey, Different job responsibilities demand different approaches to prioritization. Sounds like your military role set you on a faster pace and that you have since slowed with the new demands of being an instructor. It's ok to make those kinds of changes. Often, the pace of our environment drives how fast we respond to it. Dr. Melissa Read

Chuck, So glad to hear you got so much out of this section. It's easy to fall into a pattern of procrastination, and it can be a downward spiral once we do. Staying out of it and on track is the best approach, though not always possible with the complex demands of being an instructor. Dr. Melissa Read

Donna, Yes, when we prioritize, things tend to go very smoothly. When we don't we tend to have big challenges and sometimes the complexities of life can take over. Dr. Melissa Read