Tutela a guiding influence

Melissa's Corner…

The end is near! I wish all of you the best of luck on your final papers, projects, and exams. Before the end of the semester, please make sure to respond to the end-of-semester survey sent to you over the listserv. This is our best way of knowing who will be with us next semester and how many new tutors we will need to hire. I hope that all of you will choose to stay!

If you haven't done so already, please make sure to remind your students to turn in the Student Evaluation of Tutoring forms. If you would like to see the evaluation forms already submitted by your students, please stop by the office and I will make those available to you.

Please remember to turn in any textbooks you have checked out from the NDIL office before you leave for the semester. Failure to do so could result in a charge to your U-Bill. If you are not returning to tutor next semester, please remember to turn in your Tutor Tool Kit before you leave for the semester. There will be a $10 replacement cost charged to your U-Bill if you do not return your Tool Kit.

I want to thank each of you for all your hard work, patience, and dedication this semester. You helped make an otherwise overwhelmingly stressful semester bearable. Thanks again. Have a super break and I hope to see you all back in January, 2000!!

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Stress–A Note from Your Editor

We have all experienced it. We have talked about it, complained about it, gotten worried about it. And it gets worse about this time of the semester. Hopefully, you all know that I am talking about–STRESS–that nasty "S-word" itself. We, as students, know stress on a first-name basis. It greets us in the morning, follows us through the day, and keeps us up late at night. We, as tutors, experience stress doubly. First for ourselves and then further with our students.

Each of us has our own unique way of coping (for facts, figures, statistics, and suggestions, brave reader, continue!). Some of us may forget the necessity of coping with the things that cause us mental hardship. But finding a coping strategy that you as an individual are comfortable with is absolutely necessary for success. Finding a way to balance all your priorities is crucial to your survival as a student and as a tutor.

Partially as a result of the STRESS that Tutela’s student editor (yours truly) is feeling and partially because I know most of you can relate, this edition will be largely dedicated to the effects of stress on your body, mind, and performance. You’ll find some suggestions on how to cope and plenty of reasons why to cope. So…enjoy, sit back and relax, learn a little, and most of all, take care of yourself. --CJ

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Have a Great Winter Break!

Is the End in Sight?

By: Christi Johnson

At this time in the semester our students, and we tutors, are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is evident that the end of the semester is near. For some of us who see our workload constantly growing, the thought of an abrupt finish to the semester is not necessarily a comforting thought. As demands continue to grow, whether they are students who need more and more of your time or your own academic pursuits, stress levels can reach astronomical levels.

What is this not-so-subtle force that claims authority in so much of our daily lives? Stress, at its most basic level, can be described as mental or physical tension or strain. The thing that causes stress is typically referred to as a stressor, and it’s effect: stress.

In the good old days of the early human, most stress was of the physical nature. When physical survival in a harsh environment was crucial, most individuals were not worried about a 15-page term paper due next week. Clearly, in today’s society, most stress is of the psychological or social nature. However, many of the body’s reactions to stress are the same. In stress research, scientists have identified the "fight or flight response" in which the body prepares itself to battle an enemy or flee the situation rapidly.

When we experience any of a host of stressors, our bodies respond in much the same way that the human body responded to a "fight or flight" situation thousands of years ago. Heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, hearing becomes more focused, and the immune and self repair systems go on stand-by to conserve energy for the ensuing action.

Though during the pressure of our daily lives we don’t take time to monitor these symptoms, stress effects can build up. Indeed, though each individual has a unique tolerance level for stress and many find successful coping strategies, the effects of long-term unrelieved stress can be devastating. For instance, stress can cause:

• High blood pressure
• Headaches and dizziness
• Depression
• Indigestion or loss of appetite
• Weakened Immune System
• Elevated cholesterol levels
• Sleeplessness
• Impotence
• Migraine headaches
• Neckaches
• Diarrhea

So, you say, my tutees are becoming ever more demanding, my studies are draining me, and I want to have a little bit of fun during my college career. It is true that your students need your time, your own scholastic work demands attention, and having a personal life can be quite important. So what can you do to manage it all? The key to stress management is finding a balance within your priority system for daily (and bigger) activities. Though this may seem to be a daunting and rather vague task to accomplish, it is not impossible. Many "stress-experts" offer a few simple guidelines to start you on your way:

• Proper Nutrition. To maintain its function, particularly in times of stress, your body depends on you to provide it with the necessary nutrients and calories. Eating three meals a day gives your body the calories necessary to produce the energy to keep you going through trying times. However, those meals need to be balanced including plenty of complex carbohydrates (not sugars) for energy and fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals. Try to avoid foods high in fat and sugar content, as these will only make you tired in the end. Other substances such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and other drugs will not only serve to raise your stress and fatigue level but also often have other permanent damaging effects.

• Physical Exercise. Scientists have repeatedly shown that getting a little workout is great for your physical and mental fitness. Exercise can help in a number of ways. For example:

1. Exercise helps to reduce muscular tension.
2. Physical exercise promotes relaxation and allows you to sleep easier and better.
3. A workout promotes concentration and may reduce your fatigue and restore energy.
4. Exercise raises a depressed or anxious mood.
5. Working out regularly increases stamina and strength. This will help to improve your reactions to the "fight or flight" response. Exercise serves not only to make you more physically fit but also more "stress fit".

1. Join an exercise program like an aerobics class. Alternatively, start an exercise group. For instance, get some friends together and go on regular fitness walks.
2. Play a game. Join an intramural sport team, city league team, or create a team of your own.
3. Try out yoga. It is great for relaxation and self-discovery.
4. If you still feel you don’t have enough time to exercise, some simple stretching activities may be a solution for you. Although this won’t increase your cardiovascular fitness dramatically, stretching can relieve sore and fatigued muscles.

• Be the Master of Your Mind. This includes such things as managing your relaxation time, your emotions, and your self-esteem. Relaxation is of utmost importance in stress management. Our brains and bodies need time to relax and recover. Much of this is done during sleep. Also, proper relaxation allows you to get a solid grip on emotions and self-esteem. In addition to sleep, many people find relaxation in meditation (thinking of nothing) or visualization (imagining a relaxing place or time). Whatever form of relaxation works best for you, use it!

What does all of this "stress talk" have to do with you as a tutor? Everything! To be an effective tutor, you must first be an effective student. New Dimensions In Learning maintains a high standard of excellence among their tutors. Not only have you been hired in part due to your exceptional performance as a student in the past, you are also expected to maintain that performance in the future. In order to be allowed to tutor a class, you must receive at least a B in that class. Stress management, for many, plays a critical role in achievement. When stress level exceeds coping ability, performance is significantly damaged.

Another important aspect to being a tutor and a successful "stress manager" is your function as a role model. Some students look to their tutor for a positive approach to school (and sometimes life in general). In effect, you may be teaching them much more than you realize by modeling appropriate coping mechanisms when the workload seems insurmountable. Without question, regardless of your stressors and stress level, your approach to stress management will have a huge impact on your career as a college student, and your job as a tutor.

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Special Congrats!

The NDIL staff and we at Tutela send out special congratulations to tutor Wendi Boxx. Wendi is a 4^th-year student in Political Science. She recently received the Laurence Fairall Scholarship for $4000 for the 1999-2000 academic year. Fairall Scholarship winners are selected by nomination rather than application. The scholarship is made possible by a gift made to the University of Iowa by the late Mr. Fairall.

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A Call to All Tutors

Have you or has someone you know done something outstanding or notable? If so, let any member of the Tutela or NDIL staff know, and we will write about your accomplishment! You can also write us at:

Tutela Staff

New Dimensions In Learning

310 Calvin Hall

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 52242

Or e-mail at christina-r-johnson@uiowa.edu. As always, we love to hear from our readers and appreciate any comments, compliments, corrections, or contributions you may have.

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As you prepare for finals and are up late studying and writing papers, here's something to think about before you grab that last cup of coffee.

You Know You're Drinking Too Much Coffee When…

• Juan Valdez named his donkey after you.
• You sleep with your eyes open.
• You just completed another sweater and you don't know how to knit.
• You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
• You have to watch videos in fast-forward.
• You lick your coffeepot clean.
• Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
• The nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.
• All your kids are named "Joe."
• You don't sweat, you percolate.
• When someone asks you," How are you?", you say, "Good to the last drop."
• You go to sleep just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.
• You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.
• You think being called a drip is a compliment.
• You don't get mad, you get steamed.
• Your coffee mug is insured by Lloyds of London.
• You think CPR stands for "Coffee Provides Resuscitation."

References

• http://www.superperformance.com/stressrx.html
• MacArthur, John D., The Emerging Revolution in Brain Health and Fitness. Published on http://www.brain.com/about/article.cfm?id=2013&cat_ID=24

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Page last modified January 2000. Site maintained by University of Iowa Office of Support Service Programs. Copyright © 2000 The University of Iowa. Creation of OSSP site directed by Ray Mescallado.