New school requirements for instructor training is stressful both because of the content, and time restrants. On a less important level, the lack of parking at school makes it stressful to find a parking space and get to class on time.
I like many others instructors, have a full time job. But my full time job is not always too far away from my computer desk. This allows me to combine some of my time. I no longer travel to the school to teach on ground. Even though I miss it, I know the added stress that it will bring back in my life, and I cannot justify the money. I mainly do remote computer repair.
Stressors were actually keeping my life in a state of unrest. I ended up quitting the on ground teaching position and alto the IT position I held also in the same school. Now I am happier and everyone who sees me tells me I look more relaxed.
here is a list of stressors but in no particular order: teenage daughters; incompetent and rude administrators; poor communication between faculty and administration; lack of respect for classroom teachers; pressure not to fail students; lack of IT support; When I really come to think of it actually my stress level is higher outside the classroom than in it. I find the classroom a haven!
One of the major causes of stress in my life is my work situation. With the economy the way it is right now, my career school is trying to find ways to cut the budget and save money so asking for new equipment or extra supplies is not acceptable.
In addition, career schools have had a loss in revenue due to depleted student populations; when numbers are down administration has to try and cut corners. One of the ways they do this is by cutting faculty hours or even cutting certain staff off of payroll. This is a constant worry for my fellow faculty members. It is difficult enough to make a living or to even survive from week to week without having to worry that our hours are going to be reduced. Major stressor!
Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. For many people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price.
If you frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, it’s time to take action to bring your nervous system back into balance. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects
Couse schedule- we have a 16 days/per module really fast paced. We switch module every 16 days, that means new syllabi, new module, new students and new course outlines.
Mostly logistical factors,
Due to
-Schedule
-Amount of courses being taught
-Small administrative duties that are consitantly added on.
Staying on time in accordance to my timeline which many career college instructors have; but I also worry about method of delivery of the material due to some rooms have equipment that does not work.
In addition, I have many things going on in my personal life. We are tying to sell our house, so I have to keep it in perfect condition daily. This is only part of things at home that are some issues.
There is many things that are on my "to do" list that need to be accomplish but requires time, which I have very little of at this time.
Traveling to work because it takes about 45 minates to get there on a good day
Having a very large class
Home life, I have a 95 year old aunt who lives alone but I help her out as much as possible. Along with all this I have a husband, 6 pet cows, 2 horses, 1 dog and a donkey!!
Sometimes I feel like "Gumby". You know, the green rubber man from the 1960's cartoon, being pulled in all different directions.
Logistical: Lack of supplies for the night instructors. Sometimes I have to rearrange my lessons or improvise my lessons. I explain to my students that one must be flexible in the office. You never know what you might be up against.
Student needs: Being an Adjunct instructor I try to set up tutoring time, but the only time I have is on Fridays. Numerous times I make time and no one shows up. I have started to ask some of my fellow instructors to help. Sometimes a different perspective may help things click with the students.
Personal: There is so much to add to this category. I too am in school I attend a local University and am finishing my BA. and plan on getting my Masters. My time is very limited. I truley miss spending time with my students. At the same time, I let them know that I too am in school and know what they are going through. They often ask how my schooling is going. My other stressor is my 80 year old mother. She really pulls on my heart strings and when she calls she expects me to visit regularly. I do manage to find for her.
My New Years resolution was to try to be better organized. It seems to be working, but it is not easy. Sometimes I find myself slipping back to the old ways.
Causes for stress come from several sources, some already mentioned like the daily commute, some of the standards established by the administration, family conflicts. Some other sources in my case are, starting up a new consulting project, which could be labeled my main source of income, not finding enough time to promote my practice, so my next customer is lined up.
Marlena, Finding the right balance is tough. Sounds like reducing your course load can help short term with the stress you experience when trying to find work / family balance. At the same time, I understand how hard it must be from a financial perspective.
Dr. Melissa Read
Too much on ones plate causes stress. I have started instructing part time to prioritize my life and to eliminate the stresses that too much work and not enough family can cause. Of course, there has been a budget cut at my house in doing so but a little money management goes a long way. God honors us when we honor our families.
I agree with the sources of stress the module has indicated. For me, stress at home is the more dominant- I actually feel releived coming to work as I am in control of my workspace and the organization of my tasks. At home I have a dog (puppy) that needs to be trained how to pee and poop outdoors so that the first thing I have to do when I get home is not pick it up and clean. We need to hire a maid to keep up with the house- which leads to financial issues. I have a 6 year old who I have high expectations for at school and other activities, I have bills, family, friends, etc. etc... This makes going to work on Mondays easy.
Great module.
Stress is definitely a major concerns for all of us on a daily basis. The most important process that I have utilized regarding managing stress with work is to be as organized as possible. Being organized allows you to displace a major part of work related stress, and allows you to in some respect focus more intense energy on family concerns. We will all be prone to the realities of stress, but prioritizing our concerns allows us to live a more stress controlled lifestyle.
Try to eliminate or reduce tthe vauses of stress
Renee, Wow, sounds like you are balancing a lot. These are common challenges for instructors, but they can really add up. Reviewing your list, it looks like some of your stressors are higher priority than others. For example, student voicemails may take priority to cleaning your desk. In the end, I know it all has to get done and it adds up quickly. At the same time, it sounds like you might have some wiggle room on a few things.
Dr. Melissa Read
Some general stressors in my life currently are balancing my instructor position with student retention focus.
Logistical (Organizational) factors
Syllabi and lesson plan development
Grading tests, projects, & essays
Managing a clean office/desk area
Student Needs
Responding to voice messages left by students
Answering emails in a timely manner
Following up with certain students in classes
College Requirements
Assisting Academic Advisors with success tracking
One of the major stressors in my case is, I have found, a natural one… meeting students' expectations. I do not mean trying to be a buddy to the students, or trying to make it easier for them to fail with the least effort. It's about making sure I deliver what they're paying for, making sure I deliver what the school is paying me for. I would venture to say that, although not desirable, I would call it a "necessary" stressor. We must never be content with our job; we should always strive to do better. Is this a "stressor" or simply a challenge? Or both?
Alexander, So true. Instructors often juggle responsibilities between several places of employment. When things change mid semester, it breaks up the routine. It can be tough to get back on track and find balance in your schedule again.
Dr. Melissa Read
