Author Archives: mprest13

“This whole thing started well before COVID” a friend of mine told me not too long ago. She followed up, we were headed for the great burnout and we just would not admit it to ourselves. COVID just accelerated this process. This conversation happened around the holiday break. I was struggling to the break finishContinue reading “Day 11 – That Overwhelmed Feeling Started Before COVID”

Good Morning! Every day begins with a Good Morning! At least I hope it does. There has always been a lot of talk about what a good morning routine looks like and why it is important. Like the argument for breakfast, it is often said that a good morning routine gets the rest of theContinue reading “Day 10 – What Meatloaf and Patrick Bateman have to do with morning routines – #100DaysofHigherEd”

It is going to happen. This weekend I will find myself on the patio of my local World of Beer and I will have my laptop. I will be working. Despite the weekend being a gift of Labor Unions and a product of the 40 Hour Work Week outlined in the 1937 Fair Labor StandardsContinue reading “Day 9 – Why do we Higher Ed folks have such a hard time taking a day off? – #100DaysofHigherEd”

I think we have all felt this a bit. As the COVID-19 virus keeps us working remote or in isolated offices I have noticed that I do not feel as connected as I once did. The friendships I had on multiple levels have struggled to be maintained and even good friendships feel more distant. ButContinue reading “Day 8 – On staying connected in higher ed – #100DaysofHigherEd”

Each fall I get the honor of teaching an Organization and Administration in Higher Education course on the campus of the University of Central Florida. I love teaching this course because we get to learn and discuss my favorite subject of untangling the mystery of higher education. I often start the class on university hierarchyContinue reading “Day 7 – What my Family Thinks I do – #100DaysofHigherEd”

What would I change about my career? Well, the snarky answer would be nothing but then again, I would be lying. There are lots of things about my career that I would change if I had the chance. I am 48 years old. And while I still have about 20 years left in my career,Continue reading “Day 6 – What would I change about my career? #100DaysofHigherEd”

We all know that feeling. That feeling that you are somehow behind or you are missing something important. I get that all the time. And, of course, it usually manifests itself in a recurring dream. I think all of us have some version of this dream. We are back in high school or college andContinue reading “Day 5 – That feeling that I am always behind on work and projects – #100Daysof HigherEd”

Today I get to have some fun. I love a good movie and I cannot wait to get back to the movie theatre when it is safe to return. The popcorn, the cushy seats, the 150oz. diet coke, I just love the way the movies make me feel. I even dig the previews. It shouldContinue reading “Day 4 – My Favorite Movies about Higher Education #100DaysofHigherEd”

For today’s topic I want to stress, this is not an anti-alcohol consumption post. I like a good beer or a glass of wine, maybe even the occasional bourbon, especially after I have had a good, hearty meal. As I write this blog, I am enjoying a nice Hefeweizen at a local brewery. But IContinue reading “Day 3 – On Drinking and Higher Ed – #100DaysofHigherEd”

I think we all have those moments that both give you memories for a lifetime and a lesson you will take forever. In the late summer of 2005, I had one of those moments. I was an Assistant Director at Stephen F. Austin State University and I was essentially tasked with coordinating student involvement andContinue reading “Day Two – What was a game changing experience for me during my career #100DaysofHigherEd”