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As a Full-Time instructor I am responsible for managing my classes, students’ questions and concerns, teachers’ needs, etc. And that’s just on campus. I am not married, so have no immediate family to ‘juggle’…just 2 cats, but I did have an elderly aunt whose health needs were a constant concern. By the time the weekend comes I’m usually so depleted that I seldom socialize, in fact I found myself ‘screening’ my phone calls because I was too tired to carry on a conversation.
Based on what I’ve learned from this module, I am understanding why exercise and meditation are such beneficial ways to escape and cope with daily stress. And actually driving is a form of meditation I enjoy. Truly. I drive to-and-from work on a daily basis
(40+ miles round trip) and I find this allows me some time to daydream and plan out my strategy for the day. Now, if I could just get back on that stationary bike, again…I may find some additional relief.
Robert, I love hearing about how many outlets you have to cope with stress. Some sound really exciting and like things you would genuinely look forward to.
Dr. Melissa Read
I need to exercise more. I also need to focus on my breathing when I am in the middle of a stressful experience.
I like to do a number of things to cope with stress. Recreational activities work best for me. I like to hike, play video games, go to the shooting range, or even work on my car. These help with exercise, hand eye coordination, proficiency with fire arms, and finish with routine maintenance. Either way, it takes my mind off of my stress and I manage to get some productive work done, too!
Brandi, It sounds like you have found a great balance of activities that work well for you. That's wonderful to hear. It's great to have a few different outlets to choose from. Breathing, aerobics and running all work great.
Dr. Melissa Read
Sharon, This is wonderful to hear! It's great to lead by example when it comes to time and stress management. When people around us are better able to manage stress, our environment often becomes a much nicer place to work.
Dr. Melissa Read
I have stress from job related activities and personal issues being in a relationship and mother. I believe breathing techniques will work greatly as I have used them in the past and know they work. Also, a little aerobic exercise always helps to get the heart pumping and blood flowing, which helps to reduce stress!! So, I think I will take up running again! I need to de-stress!!!
My coping mechanism has always been to breathe deeply and stretch for at least three minutes at the top of the hour. This keeps me on a pretty even keel all day long. My students have watched me do it with success and I now see them around campus doing the same.
I have been telling myself for the last 6 months, I will take a lunch break and use it to walk. Unfortunatly, time constraints with workload have only allowed me to do this 3 times.
I find it very helpful in reducing stress, and I am hoping with the new year I can restart this idea.
Torria, Sounds like a great plan. Now it's time to get started. For many of us, that's the hard part. It's ok to start small and work your way up, particularly with the exercise.
Dr. Melissa Read
Maria, So happy to hear that coping mechanisms are helping with your well being. I think you have the right approach in focusing on the positives too. The negatives can really drag you down and it's easy to get too wrapped up in them.
Dr. Melissa Read
I do have stressors that cannot be eliminated at this time, to cope with them I have chosen to look at the positives within the current situation(s) and truly be thankful for their goodness. Furthermore, I am currently making use of several coping mechanisms and am noticing a big difference in my over-all well being.
I need to excercise reguarly and talk to a co-worker about any stressors in an attempt to reduce or eliminate them
I can talk to someone about the stress I am experiencing. I can also try to develop the habit of exercising at least three times a week. I have taken on projects (or hobbies) in the past that I enjoy to get my mind off of the stress. When I do this, I make sure that I do not give myself a deadline and thereby create another source of stress.
I can trick myself into exercising by committing to only ten minutes on the treadmill. Sometimes I will run for only ten minutes, but most of the time I run longer. I like this method because it gets me to do it.
Pearl, This absolutely counts as exercise. Walking is one of the best ways to bring up your metabolism. It's low impact too, so you reduce your chances of sustaining a sports-related injury. I'm sure your two dogs appreciate it too!
Dr. Melissa Read
Kenneth, These are wonderful outlets. Thank you for sharing. Yes, when we keep things to ourselves, life can be very stressful. Opening up and sharing with others is a great way to gain new perspective and get challenging things out of our heads too!
Dr. Melissa Read
Treva, These are all great suggestions. I like how you mention using a range of exercise methods. It's important for many of us to have variety of methods to choose from - so we keep with it. When we get board, it's easy to loose focus and break our exercise routines.
Dr. Melissa Read
Exercise and having to someone to talk to are great stress relievers. Often times we bring more stress on ourselves by not opening up. So i say get out go to the gym go for a stroll in the park. Find someone you feel comfortable talking to and watch the relief you get.
Since I cannot change the way the syllabus is structured, I will not be able to reduce or elliminate the stress it causes. I am going to discuss this with some of the other instructors and get some feedback