Reduce your stress Level
In all efforts to reduce your stress level in todays work world one of the things that is benifical is to BE PREPAIRED as much as you can in task you are trying to accomplish.
I agree with you Rhonda. by taking time for yourself is enough to take the stress away. also, if you have an assistant to help you with your overload that will help you to calm down too.
Hello Natalie
Reduce the stress level in the educational environment is important to be well prepared in the content of the class, the motivation, the organization of the class, maintaining the proper level of energy in the class and the ability to transmit and to get knowledge students, I think these things reduce the stress level in a class, the better we are prepared for a situation stress level will be lower.
Maikel Garcia
Stress seems to be a major culprit in the classic cranky teacher. I tend to have a short fuse when overly stressed, so my number classroom rule is not to lose my temper...no matter what. So I put myself in the shoes of my students - this gives me the long view, reminding me of why I'm there in the first place. And those big, deep, belly breaths that everyone from our moms onward told us to take when burdened? They work, and science backs it up. I also follow the advice of performance coach: leave every gig feeling good. This means be prepared and always do your very best at your work and behavior.
Rhonda, All great points! It sounds like you deeply understand the need to invest in yourself and make sure you're in a non stressed state with the interest of being a better help for others. This is a great approach. We are better at helping others when our own needs are covered.
Dr. Melissa Read
Reducing your stress levels is very important in an effort to be an effective teacher. Stress can affect you in many ways. It can cause you to become sick and either miss class or not have the ability to give your class an energetic, happy and alert instructor willing to pass on his or her knowledge of the subject. What ever you need to do to reduce your stress within reason while at work is a great idea. Being prepared and confident is a great way to keep from being stressed.
I "make" myself leave my desk during lunch time and even if it is for only 25 minutes. This time belongs to me, going on a walk, doing Yoga or other exercises. Very energizing and it clears my head!
Gregg, So true. I like hearing that you have transferred some of your learnings from the sales profession into your role as an instructor. In any position, we should always identify and leverage the transferable skills we gain.
Dr. Melissa Read
Yes, I agree with the importance of preparation. Entering a classroom knowing you are well prepared for the lesson can help quite a bit reducing stress.
Being prepared is great stress releaser not only for the instructor, but also for the students. Being organized is also vital to being prepared. Prior to my becoming a faculty member, I was in sales for three decades, and the kiss of death on a sales call was to walk in not prepared. I believe this also applies to the class room.
Agreed. Most stress seems to arise from things that are sprung upon us that we didn't prepare for. If we keep up-to-speed on our day-to-day workload then a new task won't be as stressful and we will find it easier to juggle.
It is true that being prepared makes the difference in an instructor's work load. Also, it is good to be preapred for the unexpected. For example: changing the way to teach a topic or adding a class activity in the middle of your lecture because you as instructor realize that students aren't understanding the topic or they are bored with the topic.
Yes, preparation is essential to reducing stress level. In addition, try to be ready with all handouts, powerpoints, assignments, etc. at least 10-15 minutes before class so you are not rushing around. Inevitably something comes up--for example, a student or colleague wants to talk with you before class or you need to make a call or email someone, etc. Besides material preparation, I try to be prepared mentally for a good class session. I try to clear my mind of personal issues and focus on the task at hand.
Well said!! We forget to take care of our own mental state sometimes!! I will take your advice!
I totally agree with that statement. Nothing is worse than facing a classroom feeling disorganized and unprepared. Being organized gives the Instructor confidence and credibility to the student.
Laura, Yes, I too love to be on top of things. It puts me in a better position to deal with the unexpected. Things often don't go as planned but when I plan ahead, everything is easier to manage.
Dr. Melissa Read
Being prepared makes everything better...students are way more satisfied with the class if you are prepared..even if things dont run the way you planned.
i could not agree more, i tend to make sure hand-outs, worksheets, tests are always prepared the day before.
As an adjunct instructor, teaching is my second job after a full-time day job. I agree about the preparation, but I would also add that what works for me is to have a daily time (usually between my day job and classes) that I reserve for preparation, not errands, not dinner, not meeting students. This has been a huge benefit to me.
Yes I do lose sleep if I do not know what I am doing the next day in classes; therefore I always know for at least the next day; always be prepared for the next day; write notes to yourself; even if it is in your head; just be sure you know where you are going.
