I feel that some stress is good for a person. I know how to step out of a situation in order not to become stressed to a point where I just throw in the towel.
I find it helpful to talk with other instructors and vent as well as spend some time outside everyday.
One of my biggest stressors is the constant change in teaching aschedule. Not only does is it a stressor in my personal life- hard to schedule events and gatherings- but health wise it is hard to eat, relax, and exercise on a regular schedule.
As I experience some stress in my life like personal (Illnes, family etc)plus difficult teaching enviroment, using technology and other factors. I must be transparent about the stress that I'm experiencing in my personal life and my profession, also talking to people about the stress that I'm experiencing i can set good expectations and open up the possibility of receiving assistance in order to reduce my stressors.
I totally agree with you, venting to someone who you know will listen and not judge is a great comfort to me. I have ehld things it and tried to be superwoman and all it got me was a stay in the hospital. So, when things build up, venting begins.
Working two jobs, trying to reduce things due to my husband passing and wondering if I will have to change courses.
Some General areas that I can identify as major stressors in my life and my career are politics and finances. These stressors are based in logistical factors. The following is a list of my stressors within these general categories:
The economic condition of the country
The economic condition of the state
The economic condition of my school
The politics that lead to the economic condition of the country
The politics that lead to the economic condition of the state
The politics that lead to the economic condition of my school
My stress is caused from end of year reviews they are not accurate and if there were problems they would be addressed at a specific time during the year. Parents aging sickness wife depression kids daily problems and neibor issues
The time-clock can be a stressor. The instructor may have much to do to prepare for the classroom but the employer mandates the hours available to prepare for each class.
Sounds like a challenge Jill. For out of date texts and lack of adequate course material, try asking text book publishers for supplementary materials. You never know what you'll find.
I see major stressors from home and in my career. Such as taking care of pets, spending adequate time with husband, students who are rude, over dependant students, etc..... I don't think too much is based upon my orginizational factors, I believe it has more to do with out of date texts,and not enough adequate course material provided.
I agree David,100% when you put in so many hours day after day you start to wonder what kind of life your living,and what its all for.so yes time off is exactly what is needed.
Yes this is true Cara. Students have a variety of issues that we've got to assist with. Sometimes it can be tough to listen to their issues and help them deal. Over time, we start to see patterns in the kinds of problems students bring to us and we develop standard ways of helping them through.
New management. At our school we seem to get new administration yearly. This causes major stress. New administrators usually have new ideas. Some work and some do not.
There are many things that cause stress in being a carreer educator. Mainly it is dealing with the many diffrent studnet issues at any given time.
My causes of stress are mostly organizational which I am working on. But I am in Karate and that releases alot of the stress in my life. It helps me unwind after a stressful day.
Diane
I like your response
I will incorpoate this as part of my personal wellness plan
I am a full time instructor and also have a business .
Juggling both of these is very stressful
the ever changing demands of administration, the demanding needs of the students and the expectations of the business in this economic climate sometimes seems overwhelming
I have instituted a wellness plan in my life to eat healthy, exercise etc..
On the homefront managing a household also seems to be overwhelming- always something that needs to be done when you are a homeowner
The stressors I experience on a daily bases are work and personal. When looking at the stressors related to work it tends to be dealing with student and faculty complaints, workplace noise, such as construction, opening and closing of doors, etc., and returning phone calls and e-mails. All of these stressors become elivated when I feel tired or drained. When looking at personal stressors it would tend to be getting home on time. Everyday I try to set a time range of when I will be home to have my personal time with my family. When I do not meet this time due to work, traffic, or something else it not only causes stress on my but also my family. Daily check lists and routines make it easier but when you are a Dean of large school sometimes things just happen! :)
Wow, it's great to hear that you can fit that much exercise into your schedule Randolph. Great work!
