by Kenyada J. McLeod
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Faculty burnout is prevalent in higher education as the role becomes more and more complex. Faculty may be navigating the roles of advisor, confidant, cheerleader, researcher, grant writer, and instructor in addition to others — more often than not neglecting to give the proper time and attention to oneself to recharge. Let’s consider three strategies that can help faculty better prepare for a productive and fruitful semester.
Choose a Day of Rest
“Faculty teach because they want to help students, but they are also human beings with limited physical, emotional, and mental resources” proclaims Terri Milroy, curriculum developer, instructional designer, and certified life coach. Amplifying the humanity of teaching faculty, it is not far-fetched to recommend at least one day of rest per week.
As the academic year approaches, it is not uncommon for faculty to create lists of tasks that must be completed prior to the first day of the semester. The list usually includes carving out time for meetings, reviewing course materials, and the like. Before committing every hour of the workday, consider identifying a day of rest or reflection. This is a day dedicated to engaging in activities that allow one the ability to unplug, be present, and find inspiration. This is a day that you will be unavailable for calls, meetings, and perhaps even email.
A weekly day of rest is designed to help restore well-being and eliminate the stress and anxiety associated with the need to be available to others. While disconnecting from work may seem unfeasible to many, the benefits should be strongly considered. While disconnecting from work may seem unfeasible to many, there are many potential benefits, such as reducing stress and feeling refreshed, which can ultimately improve productivity. After reviewing your teaching schedule and student engagement requirements, try to identify at least one day per week that is non-negotiable and considered to be your personal day of rest and reflection.
Embrace Time Management
What do we do with the infamous to-do list and marquee of scrolling tasks? Mastering time management is essential, and the good news is, there are many books, frameworks, and methods that already exist to help you, including “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” “The 4 Day Week,” and the Pomodoro ® Technique. Among these many resources, the common themes are focus, priorities, and designated times for tasks.
No matter the method chosen and after identifying your personal day of rest, it is important to create a schedule for the many responsibilities of a faculty member. Identifying specific days and times for teaching, grading, checking and responding to email, advising, and the like will help create a sense of purpose and order to your work.
As you identify these time blocks, be certain to include opportunities for breaks — mental and physical. Milroy shares that we should “…make physical movement a priority every day. This doesn’t have to be running or strenuous exercise, but it does need to be 20 or more minutes of moving your body.” Walking meetings, stretch breaks, short meditations, and more can all aid in overall well-being.
“Lack of competitive pay and expectations to concede personal time for the good of our students are the two greatest reasons for burnout among faculty at all points of the semester”, says Milroy. This is all the more reason to not only communicate one’s boundaries, but also defend them.
Leverage Technology
While artificial intelligence (AI) is a trending topic these days, there are other ways to leverage technology to your benefit. Autoresponders, scheduling tools, and more are also viable options.
Autoresponders
Many are familiar with an out-of-office response, but did you know that you can tailor an email response based on specific criteria? During the first day of class and within the syllabus, you typically read, explain, and discuss policies. It is not uncommon for an instructor to take learners on a guided tour of the course. Despite these good intentions, oftentimes a faculty member’s email inbox fills up with inquiries about these very topics.
To avoid redundant responses, consider utilizing an autoresponder for email messages from students. By leveraging email rules, you are potentially able to eliminate the need to respond. Your response can reiterate classroom policies, share additional college resources, and even link to a “frequently asked questions” document or page.
Scheduling Tools
In addition to allocating time in the electronic calendar connected to your email account, some institutions leverage scheduling tools for appointments. It may also be helpful to use tools such as Calendly or Doodle to eliminate the email threads needed to identify a suitable time and date for a meeting. Calendly can be synchronized with your calendar, allowing visitors to select a date/time that works for the meeting and automatically add the meeting to your calendar. Doodle is great for identifying dates and times for group meetings using a poll-based feature. The great news is both tools are free.
Accessible Syllabi
As you update your syllabus in preparation for the upcoming semester, use tools like heading styles within the document to make it easier for students to scan and search the content. If the document is in PDF form, ensure that the text is also searchable.
An idea for a future project may be to create a video version of the course syllabus to include searchable transcripts. Not only would this address varying learning preferences and needs, but it would also provide learners with alternate means of accessing the same information.
Take a Breath
The new academic year is here. When the work of an educator goes far beyond the bounds of the classroom, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Rest, time management, and using technology effectively can help reduce stress and make your semester more manageable. Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.
