Healthy Stress Reduction
As was stated in this module, having a close relative, friend, coworker, or even department head could help with stress reduction. For example, I was hesitant at first with the idea of having to create course materials from scratch. My program director assured me that by contacting the book's publisher I would have access to their PowerPoint slides, test banks, and other resources that I could modify to my liking. This allowed me to reduce the stress that comes with teaching a course for the first time.
John, It's good to rely on yourself a good bit of the time, especially if you are experienced and are comfortable with that approach. At the same time, it's occasionally nice to let others in and help a little. They can teach us new tings, bring us new ideas and learn from us too!
Dr. Melissa Read
James, So true. It's great to vent with colleagues who truly understand what you are going through. At the same time, we must be respectful of different levels in our organizations and conscious of how others might perceive us if they have too much transparency into our stress. It's a balance.
Dr. Melissa Read
Right, and the department head has his/ her own headaches! Commiseration can be quite helpful, and can lead to solutions.
I too find that using the resources of the materials, such as the publisher, really can reduce the stress of teaching a new course.
I feel we have all kinds of stress every day of our lives. It is different for each one of us. Strss comes from many places, sometimes we cause our stress. What is stress to one may not be to another. It is real. We must learn to help reduce our stress by what ever works for us. I have learned that when stress i do better working thru it by myself as having someone help me.I have been in the work field 50 years, have had many great friends, who all are very willing to help when needed....but may not be around at 3AM when you want to talk.Planing things to do over weekends a way from work helps me a lot. Outdoors works for me.
Jacqueline, So true! It's important to make sure the person you are leaning on is strong enough to engage in this kind of conversation without also getting stressed out. Sometimes, that person is a colleague and other times it's a family member.
Dr. Melissa Read
I use my spouse as a stress release sometimes - just to air it out to someone who has no direct affect on what is stressing you out
also go for a walk with your fa vorite muscic in your ear is an excellent destressor
I ca agree with this having someone to have a stress release conversation with is a good thing this module talks about how it is a good practice to have someone you can use as a sound board.
I feel that when we are given resources to help us deal with the stress better, it can alleviate more stress and allow us to focus on other priorities. I think that for example if a book's publisher has given an instructor access to powerpoint slides, test banks, and other resources and just modify it accordingly, that can help tremendously. In my department we try to utilize the resources to gain the most effective teaching resources available. Rather than re invent the wheel, we have learned to work smarter not harder and I feel that has alleviated stress more.
