• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Teaching in Higher Ed

  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • SPEAKING
  • Media
  • Recommendations
  • About
  • Contact
BLOG POST

Bringing life to this time of the semester

By Bonni Stachowiak | December 9, 2014 | | XFacebookLinkedInEmail

It is a tough time of the semester. The grading pile is stacked high (in my case, virtually). Energy levels are low (my whole family just spent the last few weeks passing an illness to each person who lives in our home).

Bringing life to this time of the semester

While this is not my favorite time of the year, I do have a few techniques I use to bring a little life into my days and to keep myself plugging along.

Take regular breaks

While I don't typically adhere to a strict Pomodoro technique, I do try to remember to take a break every hour. My wrists are really bad, too, so I incorporate stretching in as often as I can into those breaks.

Use music for inspiration

NPR is a great source for finding music for every desired mood. If you need a reminder to avoid worry, Playing for Change has this great version of Don't Worry Be Happy.

If you need a good laugh, Weird Al Yankovic has a great grammar-related spoof called Word Crimes that is perfect for all the grading we're doing this time of year.

Track your progress

Sometimes it can seem like we aren't getting anywhere. I follow my Mom's advice from when I was a kid and would get overwhelmed. She recommended that I create (or revisit) a list of everything that needed to get done. Then, I could prioritize the most important item on the list and get moving toward done.

stickiesI use OmniFocus for tracking all my tasks, which really helps me feel like things won't slip through the cracks during the busier seasons (or, at least I'll know that they have been missed, if I am not able to get to everything). I also like to break tasks like “grade business plans” down into even smaller tasks and have a visual reminder on my monitor of how much further I have to go.

Each time I finish grading a business plan, I remove the sticky note from the bottom of my monitor. That process gives me a visual indication of just how far I've come and how much there is left to grade on that particular piece of the virtual pile.

Establish a reward

Walter Mischel, the researcher responsible for developing the marshmallow test, reminds us of the importance of self-discipline and delayed gratification.

I find that when the temptation to stop what I'm working on and to “eat” my marshmallow early starts to crop up, it helps to have already considered what reward I will give myself when I've accomplished the end-of-semester tasks.

As geeky as this is, I think for me it is going to be to dive in to watching videos on how to learn OmniFocus better and also to start playing with the CATME tool, introduced to us by Dr. Chrissy Spencer in episode 25.

[reminder]What will you reward yourself with, once you're done with the grading and all the other end-of-semester tasks? [/reminder]

Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With: productivity

Bonni Stachowiak

Bonni Stachowiak is the producer and host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, which has been airing weekly since June of 2014. Bonni is the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Vanguard University of Southern California. She’s also a full Professor of Business and Management. She’s been teaching in-person, blended, and online courses throughout her entire career in higher education. Bonni and her husband, Dave, are parents to two curious kids, who regularly shape their perspectives on teaching and learning.

Essentials_CoverMockup-2

GET CONNECTED

JOIN OVER 4,000 EDUCATORS

Receive a free Educational Technology Essentials Guide and
weekly update.

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
JOIN
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Related Blog Posts

  • End-of-semester Grade Complaints
  • It’s that time in the semester
  • It’s that time of the semester

TOOLS

  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Community
  • Weekly Update

RESOURCES

  • Recommendations
  • EdTech Essentials Guide
  • The Productive Online Professor
  • How to Listen to Podcasts

Subscribe to Podcast

Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidby EmailRSSMore Subscribe Options

ABOUT

  • Bonni Stachowiak
  • Speaking + Workshops
  • Podcast FAQs
  • Media Kit
  • Lilly Conferences Partnership

CONTACT

  • Get in Touch
  • Support the Podcast
  • Sponsorship
  • Privacy Policy

CONNECT

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • RSS

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Teaching in Higher Ed | Designed by Anchored Design