Tina, I find your list familiar. Have you found any ways to help?
A little worry can be helpful because it keeps us mindful of the tasks we need to complete. But too much worry can cause additional stress and can be harmful to our mental health.
Oh dear, I cannot even begin to describe all of the stressors in my life. I know, only too well, the repercussions of living with too much stress.
I have ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux that are all relatively new and related to the high stress in my life.
My biggest problem with stress is that I worry about everything. Most of the things I worry about are out of my control and I know this, but can't help but worry about them anyway.
I do really need to find a way to better deal with the stress in my life.
Fortunately, my work environment is great! In general, people are friendly and helpful! I do have some issues with things, but there is always someone to help me out.
I can relate to the example of the nursing instructor highlighted in this module. I have two young children (ages 5 and 6) and wear the 'mom' hat. I teach online with 3 different institutions so I also wear the 'professor' hat. It is a balancing act, going between my children and my job, but I thoroughly enjoy the challenge.
This sounds quite stressful David. But looking on your list, I see that some stressors here are temporary. Ph.D. programs for example can be tough. But once you get through, life tends to get much better.
The low pay of adjuncts is a stressor
I feel stress in my career as well as personal life. I tend to let these two things run together. As I have stated before I have a very busy schedule. My personal life stressors are that along with teaching, I am currently a PhD student and this does not let me enough time to truly spend with my family, or for just some relaxation. Although I tend to handle the stress in a constructive way, for the most part at times I truly do feel burnt out. The demands of the schools for which a teach also is a stressors as it seems the demands are constantly changing. One time the requirement for discussion board post may be 20 a week and the next week the school will change the requirement to 30 posts per week. With trying to manage my time as well as my workload this can be major stressors, which push me to the burnt out point.
Hi Melissa
I never use students for grading (I really think we should grade our own work)
Thanks
Alana
That sounds tough. Where it is possible, you might consider taking on a student assistant to help with grading. Often times, students will help in exchange for an experience they can put on their resume and a letter of recommendation.
Hi Dr. Read
Some areas in my life that are stressful is working 3 jobs at once. I normally teach on a brick campus full-time and teach hybrid at a community college and then teach online courses at night with chats, etc.
Sometimes if my online courses have a lot of students I can get stressed out on Monday when I have to grade so much by Wed night
Thanks
Alana
This is true Ronald. Learning to deal with stress does make you stronger and often more organized.
Stress is part of the job at times, it builds a little character. Dealing with it and over coming the effects makes you a better professor.
The list of stressor is probably pretty common:
Logistical factors-The servers and internet have to be working.
Student needs: They call and email and sometimes forget that I have a life too.
College requirements: The 72 hour requirement to grade all assignments.
Stressors in my current teaching invironment involve standards and organizational factors. In many instances I, as an adjunct instructor, am powerless to enforce or protect academic integrity. There are vast inconsistencies with the way policies are inforced.
Stressors in standards catagory include:
Recommended minimum of 120 word feedback to each assignment no matter how small the assignment. With 38 students in a class this equates to writing a term paper every three days.
Organizational stressors:
School advisors consistently overriding instructors judgement calls.
There are a variety of major stressors in my life. The main one would be family. I am currently fostering my husband's nephew. This has been an added stress - much of my down time is now taken away. Another stressor is the actual grading of assignments. I get caught up and grade within my 72 hour turn around time but then it seems like another assignment needs to be graded as soon as I am done.
For me, it is organizational and I will employ the strategies herein to document my stress list and better organize the information I work with to be more productive with a goal being to reduce stress.
Hi All,
The stressors in my life are similar to those of the nursing instructor used as an example. I go from being a parent to an instructor back to a parent and husband as well as try to be a friend. My stressors come from trying to balance my time as a parent, teacher, husband and friend.
My list is as follows:
Grading assignments.
Getting my son ready for school.
Preparing for classes.
Picking my son up from school.
Deciding what we will make for dinner or go out.
Picking my son up from the grandparents.
Staying in contact with friends.
Straightening up the house.
Cleaning the house.
Helping pick up after my son.
Making time to go to the gym.
Getting ready for church on time.
Helping my parents and my elderly neighbor.
Regards,
Brian
Staying healthy and active is a great way to reduce the stress of aging. Getting exercise and eating right are two things that can help us feel younger than we are.
Some stressors include the balance of work, personal life, social life, family,life, hobbies, and getting old, amongst others. Some of these can be reduced and some can be eliminated. I am trying to eliminate the stress of getting old. Any suggestions?
Yes Victor. Communication is the key. When these parties all understand how their competing needs impact you, they can be more understanding.
