I probably don’t need to remind you that, as much as we enjoy it, teaching can be physically, psychologically, and emotionally demanding. After a long day of teaching and office hours, I usually feel absolutely exhausted when I arrive home. There is a lot of demand on professors, particularly women, gender expansive, and racially diverse sessional instructors, to be responsive and attentive to students’ needs. Furthermore, as sessional educators, we frequently lack the institutional support required to handle these new responsibilities.
So, while I am very supportive of an educational approach that promotes empathy, I believe it is equally crucial that we begin by taking care of ourselves. Natalie Samson’s new University Affairs post offers some excellent tips for maintaining well-being throughout the year. But, for me, one of the most crucial things I did to care for myself was to set clear emotional boundaries when teaching.
The word “emotional boundaries” refers to the distinct and explicit limits that people create for their interactions and relationships with others. To put it another way, emotional boundaries are the rules we set for how we want to be treated and how we want to treat others. They are crucial for maintaining our emotional well-being and empowering us to prioritize ourselves; they are also required in both our personal and professional life. For example, you may have strong personal boundaries, but you may not know how to apply those boundaries in an educational situation.
I understand that it is easier said than done. Along similar lines, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss some of the tangible tactics I use to set and enforce emotional boundaries while teaching. While I speak as someone who has worked as a sessional educator, these guidelines can be useful for others as well! I understand that many of these solutions seem easy. Yes, they are. However, many sessional instructors practice the bare minimum of self-care, and sometimes we need someone to give us permission to care for ourselves. So, consider this permission!
1. Schedule email time
This is more of a two-part solution. Email can be quite daunting for professors, and there is significant pressure on them to react as soon as possible. To avoid becoming an email answering machine, I do two things. First, I set up particular times to check and respond to emails. I normally check once in the late morning and again in the late afternoon. And that’s it. Second, I don’t read my work email during the evenings or weekends.
2. Allow for cooldown periods
A savvy senior professor gave me this trick: I set a 24-hour embargo on student email on days when I return graded work to allow for a cooling down period. It allows people to be angry or outraged about the grade they received while simultaneously giving them space to cool down. Once the embargo is lifted, we can have a productive discussion regarding the assignment in question. This also allows me to respond to emails instead of just responding to them.
3. Recognize that your time is valuable
Many of us are completely dedicated to our pupils, but we must also acknowledge that our time is valuable. So, in general, I stick to my office hours and refuse to come up to school on non-teaching days. Instead, I offer to meet with the pupils over Skype. If you want to take it a step further, you can plan administrative activities for particular blocks of time, giving yourself enough time to finish them without allowing them to consume your entire day.
4. Create a buffer
Laura Ishiguro of the University of British Columbia came up with this idea: I include a list of options for students who need help directly on the syllabus. This list contains resources such as the writing center and advising, counseling service information, Indigenous student resources, disability accommodations, sexual assault centers, and crisis lines. Including this type of information on the syllabus is beneficial since it creates a buffer for when students ask you. They can feel supported throughout a difficult phase, while academics can empathize and rely on the support networks specified in the curriculum. Furthermore, pupils will be able to seek assistance from specialists.
5. Establish clear expectations
One of the most critical steps in developing strong emotional boundaries is to be clear about them from the start of each course. So, inform your pupils about your email, office hours, and other policies. One way I accomplish this is by having a diversity and inclusion statement in my syllabus, which outlines my policies for a safe and fearless learning environment. This sets clear standards for my students’ conduct in class. The statement acknowledges that the subject I’ll discuss in class may be academically or emotionally challenging. This is a call to pupils to understand and maintain their own emotional limits. So, by setting clear expectations, I help both my pupils and myself.
6. Set a specific endpoint for the day or week
This is something that I am still struggling with. Left to my own devices, I will work until I am too exhausted to keep my eyes open. But I’m progressively limiting how late I work. I am a night owl, so while 10:00 p.m. may seem late to most people, it still allows me several hours of rest and relaxation before bed. I also try to take at least one full day off throughout the weekend.
7. Maintain a life outside of work
Your job does not define you. Work is not the same as life, and vice versa. You may believe you don’t have time for outside activities, yet they are vital for keeping solid emotional boundaries. So embrace life outside of work. This could include fitness, hobbies, or travel. I enjoy textile crafts and have been running large distances for more than five years. These activities have often saved my sanity. And if you’re having difficulties finding time for these things, consider scheduling them!
8. Lean on your support network
Academic work may be incredibly alienating, making many of us feel very alone. But we do not have to be. Your friends and family are there to aid you, and you should respect those ties anytime you seek for assistance. Don’t forget about support groups. Some colleges offer sessional support groups, but you can also explore for organizations in your local community.
