dealing with burn out

[burnt]

I am a faculty member and I am having an issue with burn out. I always thought that those end of the semester grade grubbing and general whining emails would bother me less with time, but it turns out that every year it bugs me more. I am not saying that they are increasing in volume or tone. Just that every year I get more fed up with it. To the point where it ruins my end of the semester, when I get in a generally shitty mood. Does anyone have some advice on this? Or at least has experienced something similar?

[styles]

Feel ya

Part of the problem is that you are tired at this point of the semester and anything can “feel” more annoying that it probably would be any other time. With a presumably greater workload (research, service, etc) as you advance in your career there is also less time to deal with this shit. Not to mention that we are getting older and probably have a little less energy.

In any case, it helps me to…

1. Reflect and think about all those out there with no jobs (or shit jobs) and realize that putting up with a few complaining students is annoying but not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

2. Anticipate this and make sure you plan some mental health days at the end of the semester doing something that is stress free and that you find enjoyable.

3. Remember that you will forget about those few students in a month…..though there will be another round coming next semester;)

[blunt]

End of the semester grade grubbing and other whiney emails (the ones from slacker students not the legit "I'm in the ER so may I have a one day extension on the final paper due to this concussion" ones) are super annoying and used to ruin my end of the semester too. That is until I realized that it was my own rumination over them that was stressing me out. I was thinking about them, trying to give the student the benefit of the doubt, and spending loads of time writing carefully crafted "nice" replies that, when I was denying their request, also nicely explained why I was making the decision I did...

This year I stopped all of that and it has made a world of difference. I now send short, blunt responses to these messages, file them in my saved email folders and forget about them. The student who asked to take her exam on Monday, instead of her class's scheduled day of Wednesday, since Monday "would be more convenient" for her: Dear X, No you may not take the exam on Monday. best, Prof. The student who emailed because he doesn't think his paper deserved the low grade I "gave" him: Dear Y, The procedure for contesting a grade is outlined in the syllabus. best, Prof. They student who emailed to ask if points would be deducted if the 7-10 page final paper they have had all semester to do is less than 7 pages: Dear Z, Yes. best, Prof.

Short, blunt replies to grade grubby and other entitled or arrogant end of the semester emails has greatly reduced my end of the year frustrations because now I'm spending less time and energy dealing with them. I now treat these emails like mosquitos to be quickly swatted away whereas before I was spending time with them, was getting bit and then was pissed off about it. If I have a student with a serious situation I of course respond with the seriousness and depth that is appropriate for the situation. But to the emails like those from students who skipped class all year and are now asking for extra credit I write "No." and move on with my life.

[burnt]

If I am honest with myself, I think I might be suffering from either depression or some compulsion. No one has complained about their grades so far, but I check my email compulsively. I extend deadlines beyond what is reasonable. I dream about this. But there is nothing else going on. Nothing outside of this is bothering me, and I don't feel depressed. I just am obsessing over this to an amount that is not reasonable but I can't help myself.

[blunt]

Maybe its anxiety? If it doesnt go away once semester grades are entered and youre finished for summer might be worth mentioning to your doc.

For what it's worth though, I'm obsessively checking my email for non-existant grade complaints too. I even enter the final grades to the course webpage a few days before I send then to the registrar just in case someone is going to complain; but as of yet no one has. its like waiting holding my breath for something that rarely happens. I also check my ratemyprofessor page way too often terrified a harsh review is going to be posted by a disgruntled student. Again, rarely happens, but this time of the year these are the main things im stressing about.