Sounds like you have a wonderful range of coping mechanisms Linda. Thanks for sharing. It's nice to have this kind of range so when one doesn't work or is too expensive, we move on to another.
For stressors that I cannot reduce or eliminate, I practice distance, sharing, and getting massages to help refocus. However, massages get expensive. Hiking is the next alternative.
Indeed it will Linda. Exercise helps both our mind and our body. Don't be afraid to jump in but start slow. You can ease your way into a great routine in no time.
I will take the time to look at the big picture take a breath and approach things with an open mind
Sounds like you have found several coping mechanisms that all work well Michael. That's great to hear! It's nice to have a range to turn to. This way, if one thing isn't working on a particular day, you can turn to another.
Yes, that's a great place to start Brent. You might even try working out with her as a first step back into exercise. It's great to have a partner to motivate you to keep moving!
I hope to increase time for myself. I want to add a daily exercise routine and downtime for myself to unwind and feel stonger both physically and mentally. I think time to relax along with time for exercise would do wonders to my stress tolerance and elimination of many stress factors.
I think that i will take my wifes advice. She loves to work out when she gets stressed. I guess that is a good place to start.
I have learned from the module that I need to let alot of things go. I internalize a lot of stress. When I talk about it, in my mind it seems that people don't want to hear others problems or issues. I need to increase my physical activities in order to combat my stress. I have a lot of hobbies that I like to do, I just allow other things to occupy my time instead of doing the things that I enjoy when I have the time. I have alot to work on but I will give what I have learned in this module a try.
My wife is a great sounding board about stressors that we do not share. When I have a problem at work or school that I can discuss with her she usually has some good thoughts about how to deal with them. The really intractable ones that have no solution can also be dealt with through prayer, which is a good way of centering and calming the brain as well as putting many of them into a larger perspective.
Sleep is one of the best as most stressors are made worse by lack of sleep.
Sounds like a fantastic strategy Rachel. Sometimes it is hard to not take things personally. Takes a lot of practice to not feel impacted. Reading more and warm baths are probably a great place to start.
For myself I will try to not take things so personally which is my common problem. When I come home at night I am going to try to read a book more instead of watching tv which keeps my brain more active and try to take a warm bath.
The two things that will help me coping with stress will to exercise more and talking about some of my stressors. These two things seem like simple things to do.
It's nice to be able to share the load Rachel. Nice to hear you and your husband have alternate nights for feeding. I'm sure that's a huge help. Yes, do try to limit caffeine intake. That could significantly improve your ability to fall asleep when your schedule permits!
Sounds like you have found a wonderful outlet Stephen and one that works quite well for you. Music is a powerful way to cope with stress for many instructors. Different kinds of music help more than others. Finding the genre that calms you down can be such a wonderful help.
Sounds like a nice approach Richard. It's great to keep the conversation lines open between your fellow faculty members and administration. Helps everyone stay in the loop and helps you continue to be part of the decision making process.
At this time in the program we are facing trmendous pressure to cut back expenses. The stress is how to do this and effectively teach our students? Therefore, the coping mecanisem that is in use is continued conversation and togetherness by all in the department.
i think the best thing to do for me is to take about 15 minutes after class to just sit quietly and decompress from the day and also prepare myself for my commute with a bit of relaxation. Talk is good, exercise is good, fresh air is good but for me it's music. I put on some music either on the way home or at home and sing like a rock star! Stress level goes way down.
Sounds like you know just what to do Dawn. Now it's about execution. You might start small and work your way up when it comes to exercise. That's a great approach for people who have a hard time getting started.
Nice approach Wendy and I've actually met several instructors who us the same method! There is often no need to send the email. Simply writing your feelings out is often enough.
