Reducing My Workload, Trying to Find Balance

Last updated on July 10, 2024

Taking on too much at work or in school is something I hear other autistics admit to doing. Add the ADHD many of us have and it’s a potential disaster in the making. We take on more than we can realistically manage, trying to prove our value while setting ourselves up for burnout — or worse.

My teaching post at the university does not pay well. The base pay is less than I would earn teaching middle or high school locally. Also, the university is between two and three hours away, which adds significantly to the cost of commuting. A low salary, minus a parking permit, gas, oil changes, new tires, and a new windshield. The math isn’t pretty.

To offset the low base pay and cover the costs of vehicle maintenance, I accepted an overload course each semester and two summer school classes. That’s four extra courses, an entire semester of full-time teaching, accepted, all so I could justify the teaching post to myself and my family.

Then, the university added more students per class. That was like adding another full class of grading during the regular semesters. At one point, I had more than 400 assignments to grade during the fall. It was exhausting and took a serious toll on my health and emotional well-being.

Ah, but it gets worse. I dug an even deeper hole by submitting two conference papers and a book chapter. When I wasn’t grading, preparing lectures, or completing the necessary paperwork for teaching, I wrote on the three research projects. Plus, I am still working on other book projects, both creative and scholarly.

Why would I do so much? To improve my chances for a job closer to home! Yes, I overworked myself so I could apply to other academic jobs. That’s what most non-tenure track or early-career academics must do to advance their careers. In my case, I don’t expect to advance. I simply want a job in greater Austin, Texas, instead of driving five to six hours when I teach on campus.

Not asking for or accepting overload course assignments will significantly reduce my contributions to the family budget. We will need to adjust some spending, especially in light of rising costs. If I cannot locate employment closer to home, then I will need some extra courses every other year. That wouldn’t be ideal, but it would be wiser than teaching extra courses every school year.

Family comes first.

I have a duty to contribute what I can to the household, which I must balance with taking care of my health. If I’m tired and in overload mode whenever I’m home, that’s not good for our daughters, my wife, or anyone else with whom I interact.

Autistic masking leads to burnout. Controlling my body leads to burnout. A lack of sleep…. You get the idea.

As the school year begins, I’m vowing to teach a standard four courses per semester. I won’t seek out overloads, and I might not teach summer school next year. I want a summer vacation so I can work on my own projects and spend more time with my daughters.

Blogging, podcasting, and creative writing matter to me. I’ve had too little time for those activities. I like knowing people learn from what I share, and I appreciate the feedback followers offer. This year, I felt detached from the autism community. I felt like I let people down, especially podcast guests.

I will prioritize family, my interests, and taking care of my health. Those will be balanced against a more sustainable workload. I’m thankful to have a job. I don’t want to burnout and get sick trying to prove myself worthy of the position.