My goodness, what a spin this new year has been! I didn’t talk about it, but I had to take a leave last semester to deal with a health condition and I’m back to work now. It’s so very interesting how health issues can make you put things into perspective.
First, I’ve noticed that going back to sitting in front of screens for most of my day, every day has illuminated the need for increased self-care. Taking more walks (especially in nature), frequent breaks, and longer between-meeting down time has become essential for me to keep myself well. I’ve begun to read more research about phenomena such as zoom fatigue so I can try to figure out ways to keep myself well and still produce quality work and experiences for my students. Overall, it’s tough.
I’ve become more committed to figuring out ways to work smarter–and this is right up my alley because to me, this is just another problem for which creative problem-solving is the best approach. As I learn more and doing more exploring by way of trial and error, I’ll definitely report back.
Happy telecommuting!