James, Sounds like you are dealing with stress from both your work and personal lives. That can be tough to balance. I hope you have a few coping mechanisms you can count on when times get tough.
Dr. Melissa Read
When work causes stress, one maybe could learn more about content and a more efficient way of teaching your subject. Teachers should always be improving in both subject matter and delievery. This builds confidence and confidence reduces stress. We have to many teachers that can only show concepts and not teach them because of lack of depth of the subject or presentation skills.
stresses dealing with grand children
stress dealing with a stress related job and then teaching classes with students who are stressed out
I thing that everybody have stress but the most important is know how to control or deal with it to continuing live
Dorothy, That sounds like a tough challenge. Managing through change can be an issue, but not getting the support you need only makes your job that much more complex. You might look to colleagues who are in the same situation as you for guidance and support.
Dr. Melissa Read
I agree that it can sometimes be difficult to fit all of what needs to be taught into the time that we have to teach it. Add that to meeting deadlines for grades, assessments, etc., and it can become overwhelming.
The constant changes that require additonal administrative time are my biggest stressors. New directives are implemented by upper management,which impose more responsibility without offering any assistance.
Causes of stress: competition for teaching resources, trying to keep a course updated and relevant and meeting resistance from the institution, commuting, financial, coping with a sick family member.
Till recent times, we were concerned about diabetes and hypertension as a major cause of death/ debility. But now stress is emerging as a silent killer. I believe workplace stress is a self-created entity, and periodic evaluation of the workplace environment can help in identifying the key stressors. All guidelines, system and protocols are man-made and are bound to be imperfect as human beings, thus there is always an opportunity to improvise the way we work. This process is a two way process, an efficient employer/company understands the difference of personalities and capabilities of the employees and helps them perform to their best. Working long hours does not necessarily mean working productively and efficiently.
I do just fine with Sabbath observance hance I do distress, I would recommend it to every one.
Stress from home can cause a lot of work place issues, we tend to bring our work home, and our home to work. We cannot live apart from them in so many ways. When I'm stressed from home problems, I always see something lacking in my workplace performance, even though I try harder to keep it from interfering.
As an instructor, I need to manage my students time, my time for preparation, and my home life. It is constantly changing as the needs of the student, course and homelife evolve. The key is to stay organized in all of the area's to reduce stress for the instructor, student and family.
Martha, Sounds like you face stress from both your personal and professional lives. That can be tough to balance. Some instructors are able to build a wall between two worlds, not letting one impact the other. Others experience stress from all sources at once.
Dr. Melissa Read
I have a husband and four kids, ages 12,9,6, and 5. So having four small kids at home and dealing with 100 students is enough to stress anyone out!
I have been trying to buy a short sale for 5 months and my mobilehome that I am selling has had no offers to buy. Sometimes the commute to clinical sites is quite treacherous due to weather conditions and time of day and of course distance.
Carrie, So true! Stress can come from so many different sources. Both work and family sources can take their toll. Sometimes it feels like everything is a priority and this can be hard to balance.
Dr. Melissa Read
I feel like almost everything contributes to my stress level. Home, teaching, kids, my "career" job, this makes it stressful even making sure I'm getting enough sleep, eating healthy and getting exercise!
My stress comes from college requirements. I have been teaching a lot of courses that I never taught before, so I need to spend a lot of time prepping which creates stress. Student needs do not stress me except when I have a lot of students needing something from me at the same time. I really don't have a problem with organizational factors, I am very organized.
This topic was built for me! Everyone else is just along for the ride. : )
I'm a stress ball and have been warned and admonished for years that I must relax and "let things go" a bit more. I cannot disagree. As a personality type, I worry about the significant and the trivial. i think in terms of ripple effect or consequences, and I often find myself laboring only to avoid a consequence that is uncertain anyway.
Fortunately, as I've grown older, I have let much go and now devote my stress energy to a few big areas, namely my children's well being, my standing in the eyes of my work superiors, and the condition of my home.
I am always self-punishing and feel guilty for not having more time with my children, despite knowing that quality, which I have time for, and not quantity, is most vital.
Regarding my career, I am ever aware that I am a primary provider for my family, and living in uncertain economic times, I am deeply concerned with being thought well of by my superiors, and thus assuring myself that they have no reason to believe I should be let go. It's a terrible way to approach work, however. In this capacity, I should trust myself and trust God more.
Lastly, the condition of my home really gets under my skin. i am inherently a home body who believes the blessing of having a home comes with a responsibility of stewardship for the blessing. In my mind, that means regular maintenance, cleanliness, upgrading, etc. i also believe my wife and kids deserve the best home environment I can provide. I try to share responsibilities for home maintenance and wind up in a trap where good enough isn't good enough for me, and thus I foolishly waste my time revisiting others' efforts to help out. It's a sick cycle, but yet another area where I am learning to let go.
The good news is that my house woes have become a lower priority than my children or my job. Now, it's time to be a better time manager and keep working on not "sweating the small stuff."
Grading papers/exams in a timely manner
Student requests
Departmental requirements
School requirements
Sick Pets
Housing repairs needed
Morning traffic
