Week Seven: The Power of Words (along with links to pro tips about writing and creativity)

(I know Karen's life has been crazy, what with the pox and everything, so I figured I'd jump in here to do this week's post.)

I was struck by Earnest English's recent comment in which she said how much she hates having to tell her family to leave her alone. Her comment made me think of how much guilt I have felt as a mother and wife. It also reminded me of something I read in the book Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. In the book, Payne talks about a therapy session with a mom during which he asks, "What's the first word you think of when you think of your role as a mother?" Her answer is worry. Payne goes on to talk with her about ways to turn that word into something else, something more positive.

As I read, I thought, my first word is guilt. And then I thought, how messed up is that? It's not joy or love. It's guilt. My husband doesn't feel guilty about about working or surfing or going on vacations with his friends. Why should I? (I know the answer to that question--I'm a woman--but still). At that moment, I decided I should let go of the guilt. I would tell my daughter (who, since age two, has complained about my work schedule) and the rest of my family that we should all focus on joy, even when we are apart, even when we are working/schooling/etc. 

I started trying to let go of the guilt, and mostly, for a while, I succeeded. I thought and talked more about the joy in life. Instead of apologizing about my work, I talked about the joy it brings me and the good it does for others. I even wrote joy on a chalkboard in our kitchen. Then something happened (an argument with hubby on top of a guilt trip from daughter) that derailed my plan, and I fell off the joy wagon.

Things have been easier this semester because I'm on sabbatical, but it's going to get even worse in 2016 when I'm working full-time while trying to finish the PhD thesis. Once again, I'm going to have to be intentional about what words will define my relationships with my family. And I need to be thoughtful about what words define my relationship to my teaching and to my colleagues and to my research/writing.

Not all of us in this group are parents, but most of us are caretakers--of elders, of church members, and of ourselves. And we have relationships with our research/writing/teaching as well. It is possible to think differently--more positively--about our relationships to TLQ and the people in our lives who affect (or are affected by) our TLQ?

Also, on a somewhat but not totally related note, while reading Y.S. Lee's blog (she writes young adults mysteries), I came across her post about how she protects her creative time, along with a link to another YA writer, V. E. Schwab who quotes 18 writers on their daily writing habits. No pressure to read these, but I thought they might be inspiring diversions if you need such a thing, especially if you don't have any interest in thinking about the words that define your work and relationships. But beware: These posts have good advice about how to be productive, but they might also make you despair that you do not live the "life of a writer" and that you have a full-time job and dependents to care for. Read with caution.

http://yslee.com/2015/10/protecting-creative-time/
https://veschwab.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/18-authors-share-a-day-in-the-life/

If you didn't post goals last week, feel free to post older goals or to just start fresh.

allan wilson:
1. Exercise 4x
2. Finish data entry
3. Finish CR draft without input from collaborator

Amstr:
1) nightly check-in (plan the next day, plan food, plan exercise)
2) stay consistent with exercise (4x) and cleaning the bunny hutch (2x)
3) write 3x
4) 1 hour total decluttering
5) make afternoons available for family office hours; do one special activity per kid this week

Contingent Cassandra:
1) Conference prep (this is sort of TRQ-ish, but if I include looking up possible publication venues for an article based on the presentation, it fits my TLQ goals for the session).  
2) keep to a regular sleep schedule
3) walk (let's try at least 2x again)
4) deal with most urgent household/financial matters
5) make & freeze one more pot soup if time

Daisy:
1) Keep it together mentally and make new schedule work
2) Shorten reviewed paper
3) Project planning for next phase of new work
4) Continue reading project revival

GEW:
1) Nightly check-in to plan exercise and work.
2) Complete half of revisions for Chapter 1 based on friendly-reader feedback.
3) Exercise 4x (2x swimming)
4) Spend 1 hour per day reading primary sources
5) Spend at least 3 hours writing proper text for Chapter 2
6) Take Tuesday off to swim, have a nice lunch with husband (if he's free), visit the bookstore, and maybe catch a matinee (or maybe just read) before dinner with family. #heaven
7) Call to arrange a room/studio for writing retreat (I'm rethinking the camping plan)

Earnest English:
-The big thing I have to do this week is not get totally backed up with big grading. I'm getting 20 portfolios on Tuesday, so I need to be really big and adult about this and get four done on each day I don't teach. If I get five done on each day I don't teach, then I can have one day off from grading over the weekend. I really need to do this. I have such a problem getting papers back. This is not TLQ, but it's absolutely my goal this week.
-continue taking magnesium
-make sure to eat decent food in addition to the leftover cupcakes!!!
-exercise
-get decent sleep
-don't take on anything else until you catch up on service: figure out who to delegate things to!
-nothing is worth killing yourself over. move like water.

Karen:
1. Move like water (thanks, Earnest English), Breathe.
2. Do what needs doing when it needs doing, to a good enough standard, no second-guessing.
3, Find small moments for quiet and embrace them (instead of procrastination activities that just leave me feeling more panicked than before).

KJHaxton:
1. do more printing for scary project and hopefully collect another data set.
2. finish anonymising the house project data set.
3. three hand-crafted items for Hallow'een.

JaneB:
1) so I will put first sleeping well, general self-care and aiming to make transitions into appreciative pauses - whether that's a walk around the ground floor of work, making a cup of tea and enjoying the first few mouthfuls on the back step, or just taking a minute to notice that the task I just finished was well done and to enjoy its being done, I can definitely do with more of them.
2) get ready for NaNoWriMo! I may be insane, but I'm going to try it. I'd like to spend 0.5-1 hour a day faffing around with some bits like redrawing the sketch map of the town my characters spend a lot of time in, making a list of the names of all the side characters from the last two years worth so I don't reinvent them again (I have three M---- females who got horribly mixed up last year), and making a very few notes about plot things I might include. Generally gently wander around the edges of the pool before leaping in next Sunday!
3) Have one solid attempt at the grant again, see if I can find a different hook for the project, and rework the budget (again)
4) Finish some refereeing
5) spend one hour on some TLQ writing which is not Repeater or the grant - there are several options, just pick the one I fancy.

Maude:

-The most important thing that I need to do this week is get that damn article drafted. It's a mess. And not nearly long enough, but I've got to put it together. Like EE, I've got to work on sleep. My sleep doesn't feel good right now but I think that's stress, lack of activity (and I'm normally pretty active, so my body is rebelling), and stress. So yeah, there we go. I would like to work on being in something other than survival mode because I don't like that feeling, so perhaps that's a goal, too. I think actually having the food already done for the week which means good meals which will help with a lot of stuff physically and mentally will benefit me this week.
-Also, I need to knock out the lit analyses on Thursday when they come in so they are out of the way, and get totally caught up on grading for the grad class. And I really want to enjoy Halloween this year. Last year the kid had the flu, tonsillitis, strep, and a double ear infection all at once on Halloween, so we didn't do a thing but sleep. Hopefully, knock wood, this year will be better for her. 

metheist:
1) clean house today--it is a definite must do
2) cook for week--another must do because I work late every night
3) Write 5 days of lecture on Ancient Greece
4) Write 5 days of lecture on Absolute/Constitutional Monarchy
5) Spend 1 hour on behemoth--aiming for 3 days

Susan:
1. Return ILL books that are due, after adding stuff to footnotes about them.
2. Get through next steps of course planning so I can do book orders. And do this before it becomes TRQ!
3. Start thinking about my contribution at the next conference, which is really off in another direction from what I've been working on.
4. Return to exercise
5. Go back to not using iPad in bed

Week Six: Trick-or-Treat

I have Halloween brain today. My daughter is having a party tonight. It will involve a bunch of 10-year-old girls, a theatrical production, dinner, cupcakes, candy, and a dance party. It's been hard for me to focus on my thesis in the face of party preparations. As a result, this week's topic is Halloween inspired. I have two questions for you. Feel free to answer one, both, or neither, since I know that some of you might not celebrate Halloween and/or are in the midst of the spring season!

1) What is a fear you have that affects one of your TLQ goals? Does the fear impact you negatively? Positively?

2) Do you like scary stories? If so, do you have a good scary story on your nightstand for the end of October? Or do you have a favorite from the past? Please share!

Last week's check-in goals (if you don't see your name, just go back to your last check-in, and paste them them into this week's response):

Amstr

1) nightly check-in (plan the next day, plan food, plan exercise)
2) stay consistent with exercise (4x) and cleaning the bunny hutch (2x)
3) write 3x
4) 1 hour total decluttering

5) make afternoons available for family office hours; do one special activity per kid this week

aw

1) Exercise
2) Try not to overeat.

3) Collect and enter data I need.

Contingent Cassandra

1)Do follow-up cooking/freezing with ingredients and finished products currently in hand, but don't start any major new cooking projects. 
2)Continue with best efforts to keep to consistent sleep/wake schedule
3)walk -- at least twice, maybe more. 
4) keep up with most urgent household/financial tasks, but don't expect too much more. 

Daisy

1) Submit lingering paper...
2) Data reduction from new project
3) Revive the Summer Reading Project - one paper a day!
4) Rearrange my schedule...

Reason for number 4: partner is moving many time zones away for a job (thanks economy!) so I will be single parenting, and in charge of everything, and probably traveling to labs for analysis with a first-grader. Difficult, doable, but ouch...

GEW

1) Write 1000 words for the chapter (try to push for real prose, not just notes)
2) read 7-8 chapters/articles
3) Finish party shopping by Wed (and delegate some party prep to Hubby) for daughter's Halloween soiree 
4) Exercise 5x

5) Call to schedule a way overdue mammogram appointment 

Earnest English

-exercise (even if this means only leg lifts and crunches while watching shows at night) as often as possible -- let's say 4x this week
-make sure to write or fill the writing well (i.e., read or watch related documentaries) for at least 15 minutes 4x this week
-maintain calm. nothing is worth killing yourself over. move like water.
-take magnesium supplement more often. strive for once a day.
-work in dribbles on revision of Article
-get lots of sleep
-continue figuring out and asserting my own needs
-keep up the great work!

JaneB

Survive. Stupid cold.
Submit the application text for internal vetting and forget about it
Redo calculations again for Repeater (PDF found typos in the base data. SIGH), go over comments from co-author & reply.
Prepare and give talk for local workshop

Focus on the stuff I can do now rather than the stuff to come

Karen

1. New screen shutdown time of 11am, which should feed into setting a 7pm alarm in case the baby alarm clock fails, which should feed into 5 min yoga/physio exercises each morning.
2. Eating in the best place, and taking some food (healthy snacks at least) in to work each day.
3. Book Christmas leave for me and kids.
4. 15 minutes of writing each work day.

5. Start new pattern of meeting with co-author for conference paper on Thursday afternoons. Get at least 500 words of rough draft in to shared document.

KJHaxton

1. sort out the scary project
2. work more on gemstone
3. anonymise the house project data set

humming42

1. Finish revisions from grant proposal.
2. Organize information for presentation.
3. Work 15 minutes on tiny project 3x.

Matilda

1) Finish the first draft of the article. 
2) Do not forget three minute-exercise three times a day. 

3) Do not have long coffee break too often. I can take breaks, but short ones. 

Mercy

a. grade all the essays
b. read MA thesis assignments and hold meetings w/ the students
c. set midterm exam 

d. walk daily, lunch in pleasant environment, no email/computer at night, go to bed on time

Susan

1. read a potential book for course next spring
2. Keep up exercise habit even while at conference
3. Make travel arrangements for next conference
4. Get regular sleep, and don't read email in bed 

 

Week Five: Tiny Beautiful Things

TLQ things are in that category in part because they are important to us. And amidst the pressures from other parts of life, the difficulty we find sometimes in wrestling with TLQ task, there are moments of pleasure, joy or satisfication that we get from them. What tiny beautiful moments do you find in TLQ?

AcademicAmstr
1) nightly check-in (plan the next day, plan food, plan exercise)
2) stay consistent with exercise (4x) and cleaning the bunny hutch (2x)
3) write 3x
4) 1 hour total decluttering
5) (TRQ, really) class prep

aw
1) Give paper draft JL to bountiful leader for comment
2) Exercise 4x
3) Keep eating on track by staying away from rubbish foods and sugar in particular
4) Think about how I can do 'enough' and know when to stop. 


Contingent Cassandra
1) Do necessary follow-up on finished cooking (mostly freezing) and additional cooking as time allows.
2) Keep trying to establish more regular sleep/wake times (though I'm generally a believer that one can create/maintain a habit without doing it every day, sleep is probably an exception, with rare exceptions to that exception).
3) walk -- at least once, preferably twice or thrice. The weather is beautiful, and the temperatures are conducive; now's the time to get back into this habit.
4) some progress on household/financial tasks (especially financial). 


Daisy (from three weeks back)

1) Data for CP1, polish and send away
2) Write conference abstract based on outline for NP1
3) Workshop field guide and program

Earnest English
-Keep calm. Nothing's worth killing yourself over. Move like water.
-15 minutes of writing is still writing.
-Take magnesium supplement 2x a day and see if that makes me feel better.
-Be organized about food and eat and admit when I need a break.
-Be good enough about grading and prep.
-Read more, when possible.

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Write for 7 minutes 3x; 5 minutes 2x.
Walk midmorning 5x, and midafternoon 5x.
Declutter my desk for 10 minutes 5x
Organize my next day 5x.

GEW
1) Complete paperwork for conference reimbursement that must be sent through both email and snail mail (involved scanning, going to the PO, etc.).
2) Read 5-6 chapters/articles.
3) Write 500 words for chapter.
4) Evening checks-ins to schedule the next day.
5) Get supplies for daughter's costume and the Halloween party that she's hosting on the 23rd. Help her send invitations.
6) Clean out fridge.

humming42
Revise methodology section for grant proposal.
Make an appointment to meet with one committee member.
Do research for rapidly-approaching October presentation.

JaneB (from two weeks back)
1) be nice to JaneB. Go to the gym at least twice. Pack a lunch. Spend time in daylight. Do just enough. Your goal is to get to December 18th with all classes taught, talks given, conferences attended. Not some done really well then others cancelled due to sick leave. So... enough. OK?
2) spend 1 hour on the grant text, make an appointment/send an email to Incoming about getting permission to submit it (new system. More patronising de-professionalism. Yes, I know, there are many positives and good reasons. But it FEELS insulting, and right now feels are what I have room for. I can't write a grant, work on papers, teach, do my administrative role AND rationalise the edicts sent down from above, rationalising or processing the emotional response takes a LOT of energy that I don't have to spare. I'd rather use it on running away to NaNoLand if I possibly can...).
3) deal with responses from co-authors and resubmit the revised papers, if at all possible...
4) write a couple of paragraphs for International Working Group Thing.

karen
1. Continue screen shutdown and eating in the best place rules.
2. 15 minutes writing in the office first thing (or first thing after teaching) each working day.
3. Try yoga/physio stretches for 5 minutes each morning.

kjhaxton
1. Face the photocopier and sort out the scary project research tool for another class. Sort out the online version for distribution.
2. Double check the non-anonymous house project data set then anonymise the set. Work out if I can apply for funding for a research assistant for the next stage.
3. Write out a plan to finish the report (acronym project) and paper.
4. Read draft of thesis for student and complete book chapter reviews.

Matilda
1) Finish at least a draft of one of the sections of the article.
2) Re-read Chapter 1 and 2 of my planned book, and revise them.
3) Do three minute-exercise three times a day.
4) Write for 15 minutes on the article every day. 


Maude
I hate to say it, but do just enough to stay ahead of the game and be caught up for the classes, even the on-line grad class. I will work on that class today and then I'm letting it hit autopilot for the week.

Finish the small research for the article. Write at least 30 minutes three times this week. The article needs to be sent out next Tuesday-ish.

Stay on top of laundry, which is good enough for this week and meal prep.

Five workout days (seriously, I need it). And in bed by 9 every night for the rest of the week. 


Mercy (from two weeks back)

a. prep lectures, but don't overdo it
b. write & send off grading rubric for essays
c. meet w/colleagues 
d. TRY AGAIN: 5 mins on HA paper, 4 days
e. walk daily, lunch in pleasant environment, no email/computer at night, go to bed on time 

metheist
1) Clean house
2) Write two tests
3) Write two chapter packets
4) Write three lectures
5) fix calendar for rest of term
6) Edit Behemoth every day
7) Read book for review
8) Start to outline review

Susan
1. Keep up with the exercise. Extend outside MWF.
2. Input rest of revisions to ms, send to editor and friend.
3. Start work on conference paper for next week (really, this is TRQ, but . . .
4. Move forward on syllabus planning.

Week Four: "Do Just Enough"

JaneB, in her check in this past week, said that one of her goals was to "do just enough" (because doing otherwise can lead to health problems and then not being able to "do" at all). On a related note, Contingent Cassandra talked about tendencies towards perfectionism, and I'm sure many of us have experienced those impulses. This got me asking myself, "What is good enough?" I suppose I should know the answer to this question since my blog eidolon is "GoodEnoughWoman," but I realize that I still sometimes struggle with where the line falls. Here are some small ways, I tried to do "just enough" this week:

• Bought only one plant for the silent auction basket even though it was small and seemed insufficient.
• Bought two books for my step-dad's b-day even though I started off thinking I should get three.
• Told my daughter we could only make one flavor of frosting for the carnival cupcakes.
• Did not put your names in bold below (very hard to resist).

I'm sure the pressures of the academic term are building up, and we all have to prioritize. For which things will you "do just enough"? How are some ways you do (or could do) "just enough"? How do you know when you've gotten to the "just enough" threshold with the various pursuits in your life (e.g., teaching, grading, attending to family, dissertating, researching, doing service, etc.)?


Amstr
1) nightly check-in (especially to plan eating)
2) write 5x
3) 4 hours on class prep
4) 4x20 minutes decluttering (bedroom, office, or garage)

Contingent Cassandra
1) continue shopping/eating at regular intervals, and maybe even cook a bit, or at least shop in preparation for cooking during fall break); continue trying to get into better sleep routine (or at least thinking about/planning for how I can do so over fall break); take at least a walk or two, and plan for more.  
2) make additional progress on household/financial tasks (especially financial)
3) check out possible venues/deadlines for follow-up to conference presentation; schedule follow-up

Daisy (from two weeks back)
1) Data for CP1, polish and send away
2) Write conference abstract based on outline for NP1
3) Workshop field guide and program

Earnest English
-GET ENOUGH SLEEP!! (sorry, but I'm really really dreadfully stupid about this one. I have some thing in me that wants to stay up and have me time, dammit, me me!)
-Eat decent food at regular intervals. Plan ahead.
-Stop periodically. Check in. Take a breath. Take another breath.
-Do pilates twice this week.
-Use the relative lull of the early part of this week to pump out that article!
-15 minutes of writing a day is still writing
-Have a book at the ready for moments away
-Chip away at service pile
-Make sure to do the online class with Absurdist Child early in the week and watch Wednesday Nature program.
-Be calm. Nothing is worth killing yourself over.

Elizabeth Mitchell
Write for 7 minutes 5x.
Walk for 20 minutes at midmorning 5x, and add 20 minutes in the afternoon 2x
Organize my next day at the end of the current day 3x.

GEW
1) Go back to Chapter 1 to make a few changes (even though I thought I was finished with it)
2) Read 5-6 articles/chapters
3) Write 500 words of Chapter 2
4) Write 500 words of Introduction
5) Do volunteer duties for 5th grade carnival
6) Procure costume supplies and help daughter distribute invitations to Halloween party.

humming42 (from two weeks back)
1. Draft writing plan for manuscript
2. Finish last week’s meditation 
3. Submit book review 

JaneB
1) be nice to JaneB. Go to the gym at least twice. Pack a lunch. Spend time in daylight. Do just enough. Your goal is to get to December 18th with all classes taught, talks given, conferences attended. Not some done really well then others cancelled due to sick leave. So... enough. OK?
2) spend 1 hour on the grant text, make an appointment/send an email to Incoming about getting permission to submit it (new system. More patronising de-professionalism. Yes, I know, there are many positives and good reasons. But it FEELS insulting, and right now feels are what I have room for. I can't write a grant, work on papers, teach, do my administrative role AND rationalise the edicts sent down from above, rationalising or processing the emotional response takes a LOT of energy that I don't have to spare. I'd rather use it on running away to NaNoLand if I possibly can...).
3) deal with responses from co-authors and resubmit the revised papers, if at all possible...
4) write a couple of paragraphs for International Working Group Thing.

Karen
1. Maintain good habits - hard 11.30 screen shutdown, eating at table or in peaceful place, 15 minutes each day writing on P1.
2. Book Christmas travel once husband is back to discuss.
3. Read P1 relevant book and take notes.

KJHaxton
1. finalise plan for collecting more scary project data and send out the necessary stuff.
2. finish the preliminary coding of house project dataset 1 and anonymise the submissions for the next stage. Send summary to colleagues.
3. read through report on project (acronym paper) ready to meet with person to discuss finishing the report. 

Matilda
1) Start to write the article. 
2) Re-read Chapter 1 and 2 and make a revision plan, also start writing, at least a little.
3) Do three minute-exercise three times a day. 
4) Write for 15 minutes on the article every day.

Maude (from two weeks back):
-So I guess the next two weeks I'll pound out some research and then turn what I have from the conference paper into a full length article to send to him.
-eat right, sleep, and workout during all of this

Mercy
a. prep lectures, but don't overdo it
b. write & send off grading rubric for essays
c. meet w/colleagues 
d. TRY AGAIN: 5 mins on HA paper, 4 days
e. walk daily, lunch in pleasant environment, no email/computer at night, go to bed on time 

metheist (from two weeks back):
1) Edit 10 pages of Behemoth
2) Refamiliarize myself with 'goddess' book
3) Prep week for 2 classes
4) Cook 3xwk.

Susan
1. Final read and send off review
2. Book tickets for December trip to UK
3. Write short proposal for art exhibit
4. FInish reading MS, and make revisions.
5. Outline syllabus for next semester

Week 3: Habit Formation - Making and Breaking

Many of use are making goals that aim to create new habits - or break old ones. Habits can be incredibly useful tool for removing decision making from our actions: so habits can be helpful if you are trying to do something you know you should fo/it will be good for you but you have low motivation for doing, or where you spend so much mental energy on excuses, procrastination or anxiety that there is little headspace left for the task. There is a lot of writing on habits, and plenty of advice out there, but paying attention to what works for you in building or breaking habits can hep you to figure out how to try and include the habits you want in your life. So for this week's topic: what are your approaches to making and breaking habits?

AcademicAmstr
1) write 2x
2) work on class prep for 2 hours
3) read draft for AD
4) check in on time!!!
 
Allan Wilson (aw)
see check-in at the end of week 2 comments.
Week 3 goals:
1) Exercise at least 4x
2) Not work on holiday
3) Do a bit on JL paper, with the aim of having it fully revised by the following week.

Contingent Cassandra
1) get back on sustainable sleeping/eating schedule, and begin adding in regular exercise (especially walking, since the next month or so will bring some of the best outdoor-exercise weather available in our climate)
2) continue progress on household/financial tasks
3) planning for rest of semester (including scheduling of prep for school and church classes and figuring out where to fit in conference prep and possible work on DH article)

Daisy (away this week, but for the record)
Two weeks worth of goals:
1) Revise and submit 2 old papers that are almost ready...
2) Write data sections for two collaborations and send off
3) Start grant application

Earnest English
-stop munching after 11pm
-engage in stress-relieving at home
-prep and get syllabi to printing by end of the week
-roll back sleep slowly until I'm waking up at 6am without undue pain
-make some headway on the boxes in the home office
-plant elderberry
-make serious plan for the article that is due in two weeks and get major headway made
-get caught up, somehow, on overwhelming service responsibilities
-collect and assess Big Project work
-figure out Absurdist Child's birthday

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Next week’s goals: Write for 5 minutes 5x.
Walk for 20 minutes at midmorning 5x.
Do not eat lunch at my desk, but in a peaceful environment.


Good Enough Woman
1) Exercise 5 times (walking, swimming, or yoga).
2) Take 5-10 minute activity breaks every 90 minutes.
3) Read 8-10 articles/chapters.
4) Write 1000 words.
5) Make reservation for solitary November writing retreat. (Oh, how I wish it could be in an English cottage, but I will settle for a cabin in the redwoods.)

humming42
1. Read remaining chapters for book review 2.
2. Work on IRB paperwork for co-authored project.
3. Do some research for October presentation.

JaneB
1) get the second lot of minor revisions done and off to co-authors
2) spend half an hour looking at the grant I should be working on and make a chore list for it (so making it easier to actually start)
3) Focus on eating healthy snacks, with enjoyment, and adding an extra portion of veg or fruit to every meal even if the meal itself is less than ideal (cheese and apple sandwiches are just as indulgent as cheese sandwiches, right?). Continue setting and reacting to computer off/pottering time/bed time alarms to structure the evening.
 
karen
1. 15 minutes writing on P1 every work day to be done in the office.
2. Hard no screens after 11.30 rule, aim for earlier.
3. Food to be eaten (as far as practical when dealing with children) seated at table or peaceful place (thanks Elizabeth) ie, not standing in the kitchen, not at desk.

KJHaxton
1. finish scary project research tool and collect the first sets of data
2. finish house project research tool and collect the first sets of data
3. buy craft supplies.

Matilda
1) Prepare for an article related to my book draft.
2) Re-read Chapter 1 and make a revision plan, again.
3) Do three minute-exercise three times a day.
4) Write for 15 minutes on the article everyday.

Maude
My goal is at least 30 minutes of writing a day for the rest of the week. It'd be nice to get 500-750 words a day out of that because by Sunday that will give me lots of stuff to work with on top of the conference paper part of this I already have.

Mercy
a. prep, but not overprep those lectures
b. finish the grading & do accompanying documentation
c. 5 mins on HA paper on 4 days/week
d. kid goal: beach
e. no email at night, to bed on time, walk during day, eat lunch in peaceful place

metheist
1) Edit 15 pages of Behemoth
2) review part of one book
3) cook 3xwk

Susan
1. Write almost overdue book review (and read book first, natch!) (this is really TRQ, but . . .)
2. Print out copy of book ms, and read from beginning to end so that I can revise conclusion and streamline argument
3. Do more work on planning major lecture course for spring, choosing readings.
4. Do gym thing. Don't procrastinate!
5. Use iPad only before bed, then move it away so that I get up when I wake up. That will help my exercise plan.