Role Strain vs. Role Conflict

As the video proved, role conflict is an interference between one role and another role. Such as being a student, but having a sports practice. You must prioritize being an athlete sometimes over being a student because you're obligated to show up to practice. On the other hand, role strain involves conflicts between two or more roles that interfere with one another. For me, role conflicts involve me being a student, me being a brother, me being an athlete, me being a son, and me being in a fraternity. I tend to prioritize well when it comes to being a student along with being an athlete. As a student, I strive to prioritize tasks such as going to class or doing my homework before I go to the gym or practice. When it is time to go to either one of those events, I stop anything I’m doing and I get into the mindset of working out. Even if I have an assignment due that night, I prioritize practice before I finish the homework. The same ideal goes for chapter meetings. If I know I have a chapter meeting at a certain time, I prioritize my role in the fraternity before I finish whatever I’m doing. When it comes to role strains, I tend to struggle when it comes to staying in communication with my family, getting homework done, going to work out, etc. At times when I have lots of homework due, but I know I need to work out, I prioritize my homework over going to the gym. If I know that I need to get my exercise in, but I have too much homework to do, I tend to finish my homework first before I even think of going to the gym. I struggle to make enough time to be able to do both at times, but I know I could always work out the next day, and be at ease because I know I finished my homework the day before. In my opinion, the weekends are when my role strain becomes heavily challenged. If I tell someone I will meet up with them for any reason, I prioritize my role as a friend and make sure I am in communication with them to either meet with them or unable to meet with them. If my parents are in town and they wish to take me to dinner, I prioritize myself as a son over hanging out with friends. Sure my parents will always be there and my friends may not, but family comes second for me, after my faith of course. On Sundays, my role strains become more relaxed, but heavily practiced once again. I know I would like to go to church but I also know I have to do homework, laundry, get ready for the week, watch my favorite football team, etc. I strive to get homework done over the week, however, if I have any left over I strive to complete that first. Once homework is done, I prioritize getting other tasks such as laundry and prepping for the week complete. Once all is done, I enjoy turning to role conflict as a fan and watch my NFL team play. In general, I believe I am capable of being able to handle my tasks of role strain and role conflict. Sometimes I prioritize less important things over others, but sometimes life takes a curveball and you must be flexible. You can however learn from your mistakes and adjust your roles in order to not be as stressed and conflicted.