I have been asked to use a designed textbook that has not been found at any library. I have to rebuilt the syllabus in order to match the objectives of the syllabus with other textbooks.
Children, $$, job, aging parent,
School- not enough time in the day to complete required tasks, not enough work space to complete these tasks.
Workspace can be a challenge when it's limited. There are some low cost and simple solutions. Use a dining room or kitchen table when children are asleep. Or if space is an issue, try buying a simple folding table that you can use to spread paperwork out when you need and put away when you're finished.
My biggest cause of stress in my personal life is dealing with negativity. People who are always complaining about how much they have to do, politics, environment,who said what to whom, who is doing what to whom,just about anything and everything. When confronted with negativity I now say nothing, and try to distance myself. Unfortunatly, the response I often get is I don't care or I'm selfish. Not true. I've found out that If I try to say something positive, many times I become the "bad" guy and and they become defensive and argumentative. Then they become angry at me.
Great points Vivian. Negativity and gossip can present a huge source of stress in the workplace. Your best bet is to try to distance yourself from these kinds of conversations. While some coworkers may think this is a sign you don't care, others will quietly respect your decision. And you will feel better for not having taken part.
Workloading is a key stressor, I am currently teaching several classes and trying to prepare for a batch of new classes. This is creating a real time crunch. I am using all of the latest tools but am concerned that administrative requirements from the school will interfere with with my schedule and result in additional time compression. I try to leave the job at the job and refuse to even check email from home to allow myself some space and recovery time. I am also physically active and that helps to reduce a lot of stress.
Interesting points Le. Taking a break from email on your off hours can be a healthy way of achieving a healthy work-life balance.
I try to discuss and work through the things that cause me stress so that they do not build up and cause me professional and personal problems.
Personal:
Lack of sleep due to two-year-old child
Student Needs:
Needing to prepare successful lessons for an audience every day
College Requirements:
Too many weekly hours spent on job related tasks
This is a nice strategy Adam. Facing issues head on and dealing with them quickly prevents issue build up and reduces stress.
One of the greatest stressors in my life are the "standards" that are set by the Universities. The standard with the highest stress level is time related; being able to meet their 24 hour, 36 hour, 48 hour time frames for discussion postings, response to emails, etc. Each school I work for has different time frames. I have decided to access each classroom on a daily basis (yes I work every day!) to complete all emails, discussion postings, etc to ensure that I meet all these time frames. I try to make it as close to the same time each day as possible.
A personal stressor would be my spouse! He is retired so feels that we should be able to go and play at anytime of day or night. I place stress on myself to try to please him by participating in the activity he wants to do as well as completing my "work related" activities that need to be completed for that day. We work to negotiate the time frames to ensure that play time happens as well as work being completed.
Laurie
Le,
I have to agree that physical activity can help to relieve stress in one's life. I try to take a walk every day to get out and get some fresh air and clean the head. Sometimes I even do my best thinking when I am walking and not focusing on any specific job task.
Laurie
I have a high stress highway drive to teach at a career school 4 times per week. (Life)
Also teaching on line requires using the format required by the school which means grading long papers each week. (Organizational)
The primary stressors in my life revolve around personal and professional commitments that cannot be easily manipulated. I have three small children that have school and outside activities and social calendars that rival that of most tabloid magazine stars. I work for the military with obligations that require that I be available 24/7. One of the benefits of teaching online, is the fluidity of being able to access my courses at any time and from any location world wide.
I think they come from all areas. Since I work at a college as my full time job I deal with students and faculty and staff all day. THEN I have to go home and grade papers and deal with students and another school organization. It's hard to "get a break" from the college experience.
There is also POSITIVE stress, which the lesson didn't cover. Holidays, buying a house, getting married, having a child (or dealing with children) can all be GOOD things, but still cause stress!
Hmmm...
I teach far too many classes.
I care for my elderly father.
I am renovating the home I grew up in.
I have a deadline for my novel rewrite.
I have one school who wants me to chase after students who are failing.
I have a brother who steals from my dad.
My partner over spends.
Damn.
I never realized I was sooo stressed out.
My stressors are:
My full-time job with varying deadlines
Arraigning enough time to spend with family
Making the time to do the administrative tasks related to running the household.
I have found communication related to these and the parties involved helps.
Yes Victor. Communication is the key. When these parties all understand how their competing needs impact you, they can be more understanding.
Some stressors include the balance of work, personal life, social life, family,life, hobbies, and getting old, amongst others. Some of these can be reduced and some can be eliminated. I am trying to eliminate the stress of getting old. Any suggestions?
Staying healthy and active is a great way to reduce the stress of aging. Getting exercise and eating right are two things that can help us feel younger than we are.
