Jay, I know it's tough to say No. Some instructors feel like they are not doing their job unless they are everything to everyone. The truth is that when we try to serve too many people, we often serve no one well. Scaling back and prioritizing can help greatly.
Dr. Melissa Read
I have stress at work both my daily job and this my night job teaching, one thing that really stresses me is making time for extra things like taking these classes, working two jobs and balancing work life and then having these online classes is stressful, but I need to deal with it so I take some time where I can find it and complete the class.
In a technical training environment, i find that most of the sources of stress are logistical. Timing in class, staying on schedule, and broken or missing training aids seem to cause the largest mount of stress for me and my students.
Shawn, Interesting observation and very true. Logistics can make us or break us, especially in technical training. Where possible, I recommend building a close relationship with AV support. If and when they are available, they can be great partners.
Dr. Melissa Read
Working with standards that are not realistic with platform being used-- Work
Homeschooling Children-- Personal
Home/Family Demands-- Personal
I am currently going through the process of getting rid of some of the stress. Some I feel I can control and others I cannot. I am going to change the things I can control.
Monique, Sounds like this is an important process for you. Keep it up. Getting rid of stressors can can be eliminated is a great first step. Gives you long term stress relief. Then work those that can be reduced and / or managed more efficiently.
Dr. Melissa Read
Logistical. I am always trying to find new ways to become more efficient. In doing so I stress myself out by never having the same routine.
Kimberly, Interesting observation. On one hand, investment in creating efficiencies does make our lives easier after some practice. On the other, when we never have a steady routine, life can feel overwhelming.
Dr. Melissa Read
Over the years, I have learned to deal with stress in a way that most probably have not. I really do not let things stress me out. I know that either I can or I can not do something. If I can, I create a roadmap to complete the task. If I can not, I simply ask for help or state that I can not do it. Stress is a leading cause of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. I have too much to live for to let things that can potentially take my life away stress me out.
I feel I donot have any stress. I have been teaching since 14 years all medical subjects.I enjoy my to teach and and can handle any situations.
Saroj Patel
Saroj, Sounds like you've gotten into a healthy routine at work. After teaching 14 years, I'm sure you have a lot of streamlined processes for teaching and grading. While you probably have to spend a little time making sure your course content is fresh, the rest is likely on autopilot.
Dr. Melissa Read
Working hard and not being able to pay the bills and my children need to get a job
There are many causes of stress in my life (as is the case for most instructors!). Some of the biggies are:
Working as an adjunct instructor at 3 different colleges rather than having a full time job with benefits and job security- keeping track of 3 sets of passwords, gradebooks, campuses, policies, etc is challenging
Having to use teaching materials that I don't like- sometimes the assigned texts are great, but sometimes they get in the way of student learning, and I don't have a say in what is chosen
Not making enough money as a part time employee to make bills all the time, pay for private insurance, etc
Ever changing rules within the organization-
I will try to keep up with changes and get together with team mates to develope strategies to apply them.
Students can cause many stressors-
Making sure the rules/expections of the class are gone over at the beginning of each session will help eliminate some of the problems. It is the personal dilemmas students have that causes me the most stress. As instructors, we want the best for our students. Knowing what some of them face in their personal life is heart breaking.
Most stressors are based on logistical or organizational factors. Career colleges have multiple accrediting organizations with different requirements. These in conjuction with limited resources and space (office and classroom) place great stressors in faculties live.
Brenda, Career colleges are complex stress landscapes. You are correct in that there are many constraints that we face when working in these environments. Some of those can be overcome. For others, we must learn to cope with and adapt to the environment.
Dr. Melissa Read
Stress at work are most preminent. It is very competitve especially within instructor groups. The tention to have your class achieve high goals included with every day life stresses can be conflictive.
Student needs should be first, then logistical ie materials, area of expertise per subject. etc.
I tend to my stress levels and improvise with items needed to decrease overall stresses.
Big cause os stress when in the middle of the teaching period the instructor starts a new day job. that can be really intense in term of stress.
I can relate to this one. I am an over analyzer and this alone can be a stressor with my list of job, financial, and relationship stress. When I step back, breathe and relax, things go so much smoother.
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
