These are all stressful Don. Your point about "tied up time" is particularly important. It is hard to get anything else done while instructing and multitasking is rarely an option. Setting expectations for yourself about what you can accomplish during these times is key.
All of the above. LOL. Trying to get a parking pass that actually works or even being assigned and adequate classroom would be logistical factors. Trying to keep students attending classes and learn the material as they juggle their schedules, or making sure they have the resources to do the assigned work are student needs. Being required to give specific exams and follow exact curriculum without any wavering at all is college requirements as is a schedule that changes dramatically on a three week basis.
The latter of course can interfere with my family and social life which creates personall stresses
Stress from parenting and running a home, financially and organizationally, taking care of elders etc.. Stress from work which starts with commute, lots and lots of changes with little time to adapt, sometimes changing again before being able to fully understand and integrate.
Changes can make life really stressful William, especially when they keep coming and the world never seems to settle. Sometimes just setting your expectations that the world will work this way can help you deal with changes more effectively.
I also work in four different places now, and my husband changes his work shift once every 4 weeks. Trying to balance my schedule is very stressful.
Currently, the stressors in my life are non-work related. In the last few days, I have had to deal with ripping-up carpet in a wet basement and car that just broke-down. Granted these items are of a temporary nature, when events like this happen at the same time, it makes my stress level reach a different height than if taken one by one. Then, I suppose you have to add having to "fit" your work into this! Thankfully, my schedule at work is currently less hours than normal, so dealing with the house and the car seem managable. I'm still able to find the time to take care of the student administrative needs at work, which has been great. When things at work do tend to get stressful, which tends to happen when I'm teaching a course that I'm not terribly famliar with, I find that daily exercise is quite helpful.
aggressive students can add stress to my job. great students meake my job a pleasure. balancing too many things cause me stress: teaching, consulting, father and primary caregiver, husband, landlord,
Stress is part of our life. The responsabilities of adulthood make it a daily problem. To keep our sanity we must control it, reduce it and avoid adding more. Finding the right balance emotionally and physically is probably the most effective to way to deal with stress. Don't ignore its negative effects. Recognize where, when you are exposed to them, how it affects you and/or your family and act adequately.
For me, a major stressor is my commute to work. Sitting in traffic has never been something I enjoy. I try to utilize that time to talk to friends and family that do not live near me so the commute goes by faster and I don't get as frustrated.
As a Veterinary Technician we are exposed to major stressors every single day. Dealing with death almost every day can make any person think twice about the career they have chosen. Also the practice that I work for is very busy and it is not uncommon to get to 5pm with out a break, including a lunch break. Then imagine yourself having to rush to your the college to teach a 6pm class.
Luckily I have a good sense of humor and get to see many animals that are healthy and happy to keep me sane!
Well I work 2 jobs 6 days a week and 8 shifts.I also take care of a horse and a dog. I am a equine vet tech/office mgr. so all the standard stress factors apply to those professions, and I am an equine instructor for the past 4 years at an AVMA accredited career college. I think my stress covers all the bases of catagorization.
Talking to friends, listening to the radio and just taking a mental break from work and personal matters can all help with the commute.
Agressive students and difficult student personalities really can make our work life stressful. As instructors, we always have at least a handful of these students per semester. But often, far more of our students are really great, and do make teaching a pleasure. Trying to focus on these good students is key, while carefully managing the difficult personalities.
Wow it sounds like you have many responsibilities Eric. Caring for animals can be particularly stressful because you just can't fail them. Hopefully you do find a little time for yourself every now and then.
Time and commitments or obligations are major areas of stress. As others have commented, there are not enough hours in the day.
I am an adjunct, and my teaching schedule will vary from term to term. The time commitments for teaching will increase as my schedule expands.
Add to this the fact that I am self-employed, and clients make their demands on my schedule, and the stress level increases.
Also, there are the personal demands on my time. Family, friends and others have things they wish me to do.
They only way I can see to minimize this is through prioritizing. What is immediate versus what can wait, and what I can politely refuse.
I try to let those in my world know what I have on my plate, ands enlist their aid in not addin to the burden.
Then, I get the demands answered as quickly as possible. I find that when the task or commitment is fulfilled, I breath easier.
Polite refusal of tasks can really go a long way Mark. That, combined with asking for deadline extensions, can really give you some breathing room.
Recently, the addition of new curriculum has created the need for writing new classes, considering new text books given to the instructor on day one of class, and the fall out of un-happy students. Trying to meet the expectations of administration, students and my family who now never sees me is difficult.
You bring up an important point James. As instructors, we have so many different people to please. This can be stressful as we feel we are being pulled in many different directions.
When you break down the areas of major stress, it makes it easier to cope or attack and reduce or eliminate the problems. By identifying the areas one can also establish time limits as to putting items in order.
For personal, you can identify (especially this time of year) filing Federal, State and local income tax returns; auto inspections, insurance payments and other items that can lead to stress.
With work or teaching requirements we are now at the end of our module so final grades must be completed and submitted in a timely manner. Also, getting prepared for the upcomming classes.
All contribute to stress, the easier we can complete these tasks, the easier life can be.
By listing and organizing, tasks become easier and less stressful.
I like the way you break down your stressors Marshall. That's a great approach and one that probably serves you well.
