Overcoming the Need for Immediacy
I believe that many instructors feel the need to get things done yesterday. It should be in our nature to always be thinking of priorities in past, present and future deadlines. Sometimes this innate need exstinguishes our ownership over how to creatively accomplish tasks.
I have all my life been exactly like this--I must get things done as soon as possible. I know, however, that this kind of inflexibility can dampen creativity--I find a system that works and use it because it works. That makes me feel efficient. Over the past few years, though, I have tried taking baby steps towards not tending always to my need for immediacy first. For some reason, I can do this a little more easily at work than I can at home. It's okay if my copies for class two weeks from now aren't made; it's okay if I leave quizzes on Friday ungraded if I won't see the students until the following Tuesday. But the need for immediacy is a very dominant trait in me, and I am aware of it, so I can try to compromise sometimes.
Linda, I like that approach a lot and I often use it in my work. Really helps shed light on our true priorities.
Dr. Melissa Read
You should ask yourself, "What is the worst thing that could happen if this doesn't get done until tomorrow?"
Ray, So true! Burn out is a major problem for instructors. Often times, when we're running at many miles per hour, we eventually have to take a break. When we don't break, our bodies often force us too. Staying balanced and being proactive about it is a great approach.
Dr. Melissa Read
Immediacy is probably the easiest obstacle yo success for an instructor to slip develop. Instructors by nature, crave progress in their pursuit of furthering the educational process with their students, and what surer road is there to immediate gratification than to complete everything and have the results "right now".Unfortunately, unless the instructor learns to develop some confidence and prioritize their tasks and responsibilities, they will ultimately find themselves burned out and ineffective as teachers.
Summer, It's tough to leave things in a disorganized state so I completely understand where you are coming from. At the same time you are right. Sometimes there's just got to be a cutoff. We've got to pack up at the end of our days and get on with our lives. Some things really can wait until morning.
Dr. Melissa Read
I experience this feeling daily. I find myself sitting at my desk at 10:30 p.m. at night grading papers instead of going home to my family when these papers really could wait until the following day. I have to just make myself stop and leave everything where it is, even if it is a mess and walk away.
