The 2025 Fall term has raced by, AND you have never felt so overwhelmed with work, right? You are not alone. I hear from a surprising number of you. For some, it is the unexpected uptick in workload after a promotion. The surprising "7 days a week" attitude as you move up the administrative ladder is common. But the most common complaint is that the workload continues to increase – more online sections to serve more online students – and the need to train and support more online faculty, with no additional budget or staffing. Sadly, that too is VERY common.
We are, after all, unicorns. The administrative and staff roles of a Distance Learning program are still rather undefined. We don't really fit in the organizational chart either. We seemingly support everyone in academics and work with everyone in administration. We are NOT a silo operation; quite the contrary, we are everything, everywhere, all at once.
And yet, we stay with Distance Learning because of our passion and our belief that online education is the "present" and the "future" of higher education.
If this resonates with you, I have a few very important questions to ask you: "How are you doing"? And what are you doing to better manage the daily stress and developing burnout from working too hard for too long? It is very important that you take care of yourself – make "you" the priority and rethink current time commitments. I wanted to recommend a few ideas to help you:
- You need to be honest with yourself – you have been dealing with the stress for some time now. You hoped it was temporary, but you need to realize it is not – it is your new post-pandemic normal
- If you have a good relationship with your supervisor, you can discuss the workload openly. Your supervisor likely can't do anything immediately, but could start sharing up the chain to increase awareness – and perhaps additional staff at some point.
- If you have some staff, is it possible to restructure and delegate some of your responsibilities and tasks? Over the years, I've seen this as one of the easiest things to do to better manage the workload, BUT it can be difficult to delegate when you have been doing everything by yourself for so long. Letting go of some duties and tasks can give you some breathing room, though, so it is worth considering this option.
- Start saying "no" to additional commitments. For those of you who know me, this is my Achilles' Heel – I can never say no. I have a problem with this and likely need an intervention. Seriously. It can help you slow down the exponential expansion of commitments (and related commitment of talent and time).
- I know you love what you do, but sometimes changing your career path can allow for a reset in terms of priorities and time management.
At any rate, remember you are not alone in feeling the stress and associated burnout from the tremendous workload you deal with day in and day out. Think about my suggestions, and please feel free to reach out to me if you need someone to talk to – or to listen.
Recommended Reading
Making Meetings Matter – Six Strategies For Campus Leaders, eCampus News
By treating meetings as living systems subject to reflection and refinement, campus leaders signal that time is a valued institutional resource
No, The Pre-AI Era Was Not That Great (Commentary), Inside Higher Ed
Faculty commentary about generative artificial intelligence often sounds like a lament for a fallen golden age when students wrote all their own papers, dutifully completed all the reading and set our classrooms buzzing with authentic engagement. Then along came ChatGPT, sending us into a new dark age. The problem with this sentiment is that it buries the truth that ChatGPT exposes: The problems in higher ed go back much further than generative AI.
Beyond The Hype – Transforming Academic Excellence And Leadership Culture In the Age Of AI, Campus Technology
While most higher education leaders focus on AI's operational benefits — and rightfully so — the deeper transformation lies in how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping what it means to learn, teach, and lead in the 21st century.
Higher Ed Outlook Remains Negative For 2026, Moody Says, Education Dive
Enrollment, political and cost pressures abound and will stick around in the new year, analysts said in a recent report.
Immersive AI & VR Experiences Bridge The Skills Gap In Higher Education, EdTech Magazine
Colleges and universities deploy immersive artificial intelligence and virtual reality learning environments that build student skills and scale innovation.
Remember Your Why – Community Colleges Are America’s Most Powerful Engine For Opportunity And Renewal, The Evolllution
Community colleges have always served as drivers of opportunity and mobility for students, and that mission has only increased in importance in the past few years.
Videos Of The Week
Top 17 New Tech Trends for 2026 Part 1, YouTube
Top 15 New Tech Trends for 2026 Part 2, YouTube
