2.3 The tool of a calm mind
Never send anything when you are angry or upset. If you are upset at something or someone, wait until you have had a chance to calm down and think about it.
At times you will no doubt encounter frustrations when dealing with students. It can be beneficial to write out what is bothering you.
You may wish to do this in a Word document, to be deleted later. If you are in email, ensure you keep the ‘To’ field blank, and do not write in reply status, as the ‘To’ field will automatically populate. This will ensure that you do not accidentally send an email.
Once you have written what is bothering you, read it back to yourself. Clarify with yourself what it is specifically that the student needs to know, then start a new email in a calm headspace.
TIP:
For any email that needs drafting and revising, prior to sending, keep the ‘To’ field blank.
Proofreading is ALWAYS worth it
Reality being what it is, sometimes we have to write communications under stressful conditions, or when we are time-poor. But, when an email is highly important, take a few extra minutes to fully revise what you have written. You will be relieved that you did so, as you fix typos and spelling, and smooth out the edges of your work.
Remember, the person receiving your email is another human, trying to make their way in the world. Just like you.