Emerging from a LONG Break (Was It Really A Break)?

Readers,

Whew! The break between the fall and summer semesters has been filled with reading textbooks, gardening, organizing my home, and preparing for summer courses. Usually I write one or two articles over the break, but scholarly activities did not fill my schedule over the break. :( 

Yesterday, was my first day back in the office and I was excited! Most people leave the office for a few weeks and come back to total chaos, which may include a plethora of voice mail messages, e-mail messages, mail in the department mail box, and post-its filled with handwritten notes about an upcoming meeting or concern. Since, I am never really "away" from the office, I felt like I never left. Here's why:

GOOGLE VOICE:

Everyone who calls my office line has the option to send a text message or to call my Google Voice account to contact me when I am away from the office. However, work/life balance is very important and I only accept these calls within a specified time frame during my Monday through Friday schedule. 

EXCHANGE:

I receive and respond to e-mail messages via my iPad. In addition, all of my Blackboard e-mails are forwarded to my university exchange account and this is VERY handy when I am traveling and I do not have a chance to log in to blackboard.

COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEPARTMENT:

I always check-in with my department head at least one time every two weeks to see if anything new is happening in our wonderful department when I am away.

That's it! Monday was an extremely busy day and I had a long committee meeting and a great conference call with one of my state organizations! If I could just fit a workout activity in my summer schedule, I would experience peace! Perhaps yoga? I need to try the morning yoga class, because it is STILL 88 degrees in Texas and it is 8:30 p.m.

This summer WILL be productive! I cannot wait to "meet" the students in my online courses. :)

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.