Continuing Fall out - November 2009

Again this month we have continued to deal with constant disruption in our business. It seems that once a period of disruption occurs it rolls from one event to the next. At this stage we are in the hang on and lets try to ride this out phase. When we have students in a similar situation it can be excessively frustrating for them as they feel they cannot get a break and they are never getting their heads above water. I can total sympathise with this feeling of being overwhelmed.

One way we have been dealing this has been to set realistic goals and develop tasks list that enable us to see that we have achieved something within a set time. This sense of achievement is helping with the management of the stress levels we are experiencing.

Also I think our additional contingency planning has helped as well.his is where a couple of months ago I suggested that we have a decent and regular rainy day fund and a couple of our collective group laughed at the amount I was suggesting. It was startling to get a request from one of the cynics this month that when we get an opportunity as in when we get paid can we stash the amount you were suggesting when we get all the back bills paid. Knock me down with a bunch of feathers.

For our students I would suggest that they try and not live to the max on their student loans and bursaries but put a little amount away for their rainy day fund.We have to consider the big issues of what happens if you need transport to placement when your car breaks down. Can you handle the additional costs of trying to get into placement?

When the ride is getting rocky you can only do what you can only do and sometimes we need to be reminded that we are human rather than taking on superhuman tasks.