I find thet if i'm not organized it increases my stress factor tenfold. Being a new instructor is hard enough without being disorganized
Most of my stress at work is related to holding students acountable to the many rules our school has that are related to student conduct.
Shirts tucked in
safety glasses in lab
driving slow in the parking lot
smoking in designated areas
I find that a great deal of my time is consumed with enforcing rules that many other staff members ignore. I fell stressed because of the constant conflict with students.
In the section discussing stressors, there was a mention of school materials that may be inadequate, students who cannot complete assignments on time (or is absent whenever tests are taken), or a constant barage in policy/procedure change. These are the things that cause me stress.
Incompetence stresses me out. As an adjunct instructor, I still work out in the field/hospital and I have an immense amount of respect for my field of practice. I remember how much time and effort I put into learning the material I needed to be successful. I try VERY hard to come up with new and better ways to deliver the material to my students in the best way. It kills me when I put all this time in, and I already know the material, to have the students not put their time in. Management stresses retention retention retention, but some of these kids DO NOT belong in the field unless they really change their ways. It seems that sometimes we are setting these kids up for failure, but as long as we get paid, we will let them keep trying over and over and over again until they get it. I don't know about you, but I do not want somebody who took three attempts to pass the course and understand the material managing my ventilator if I get sick. Would you? I suppose I have too much pride in the profession to allow for the kids to attempt to limp through my course. I have extremely high standards, yet reasonable, and if these students do not at least put forth a little effort, I have much trouble passing them. This is my biggest stress at school. People that do not care and that are fine my incompetence.
I have a 16 year old son and it is stressful. Keeping life in order as much as you can be relieve the stress especially if you can keep your home in order and things organized.
Stress for me in my life are being a single mother and making sure I am providing my son with all his daily needs. Being able to make monthly bills and making payments on braces. It is a daily grind but in the long run I try to stay positive and keep a stiff upper lip.
Timothy, Sounds like finding a new job was one of the best changes you could have made. Congrats on your new role and new life. This is a perfect example of how eliminating stress - where possible - can yield huge benefits.
Dr. Melissa Read
I just came through a year of extreme stressors to deal with. Not only in my family was I having issues to deal with but also at school...our student population seemed to take a pretty sharp turn into in-your-face conflict and disrespectfulness right in the classroom no matter what was going on or who was present...I was really losing my spirit of wanting to teach these students...actually started feeling alitte afraid for my safety. Fortunately our management finally stepped up to the plate and acknowledged the problems we were having and implemented conduct standards across the entire campus as well as disciplined students that continued to "non-comform" ...this has helped reduce my stress alot...that and going to see a therapist!!!
The major stressors in my life is commute, I have a long commute to my work and I don't want to be late for anything. Another stressor is when I am assigned to a facility for the first time to teach clinical. I will be dealing with new staff and in a new facility that may operate differently from the previous facility that I worked with.
Undobtedly, time/project management and the need to find work (I am a management consultant/coach). The challenge is that I have a tendency to procastinate, which is why the tip on this module are great.
Some my stressor are
1) teaching classes that I am unfamiliar with in different programs
2) Raising a child
3) Organizing my time at work and keeping up with different projects as the day goes on
No doubt. I agree. There are too many GOOD jobs out there to stress out in the wrong unappreciated ones. Moving closer to my GREAT job helped alot when it came to stress. Not only did it cost less in gas, the extra 2 hours a day was used for relaxation or extra prep time for work. More me and family time, less expense, less traffic anger! Good all around.
I am not perfect by any means. I feel the stress in my life is low compared to many others in this forum. I do not have children which I know is a big struggle. I have been married for 8 years but feel that my career right now is more important than having children. My husband supports this idea. However, that being said I have a hard time relating to students who do have children to know the struggle they feel. One current stress I do have, which many at my school do is creating effect lesson plans that engage students. I am constantly seeking new materail to engage my students in. I feel a hands on approach/active learning works best for most of my students.
A personal stressor, much as the rest of the world, is financial. I currently support my husband who at 33 years old is a college student working on his undergraduate degree. His school is private and we know what that means. . . $$$$ I work two jobs to support the house and find little time for me. That is a major source of stress.
Work, meeting suspenses (unreasonable), organizational.
Work, conducting special projects for the boss, organizational.
Students, students that really don't want to be in the course.
Teenage boy who does not see the value of educations.
Stress at work - students who don't want to try at all. Also, students who may not get along with other students in the class. We're not in junior high anymore.
Stress at home - having a 24 week (at birth) baby at home - she 13 months now and beginning to crawl everywhere. From where we've been to where we are now is both amazing and crazy, but won't change it for the world.
We have many changes occurring and the biggest stressors are increased responsibilities and requirements with little or no training. Also, standards that are expected to be met with no support.
We are using "custom" books, but have not been provided with answers to workbook assignments or homework. This increases the time I need to grade and definately increases stress.
There are subjects on the syllabus that are not even covered in the book and we are told to use supplemental materials which have not been provided.
We are expected to have 36 grades in 6 weeks and have not been given an electronic gradebook or any assistance to keep up with the increased requirements.
Talk about burnout!
Trying to stop stress is like sandbagging against the tide.At best we can merely control, as best we can, how we react to our stressors. I believe that this starts with our attitudes.To me a positive attitude is the first step in either the reduction or elimination of our stress. I tell my students that my intention in dealing with things that stress me is to make sure they can merely produce ripples as opposed to waves on my life's pond...Paul T. Rougemont
There are several factors that add stress to any person's daily life:
1)Constant expectation of meeting deadlines.
2)Work-stress related issues .
3)Family and personal
4)Finances
I agree with the causes of stress. I personally have maney of them. I am pro active useing alternative and holostic means for stress control a favorite of mine is to carry a small bottle of aramathearpy Lemon concerate it has been identifed as a stress calmer... 1-2 dropps rubed in your hands to warm releases a calming lemon vapor that I inhail as needed.
I have found that my stress comes when I have to change my work times. I then have to move all my clients around and I do not like doing this to them.
