What to say…
What a week… I can’t really come up with anything profound, so we’re going to
small happy things. For our little corner of the internet, let’s do a round of “something
we are looking forward to in the next month until the end of our session” that
can be small or large or just things that make us happy.
Goals from last week:
Daisy
Finish organizing, travel to, and run big group meeting for national organization
Overdue editor recommendation
Thesis edits
Set up exams for two classes
Write and submit report for different meeting
Discuss new paper with coauthor and make plans
Figure out new-to-me journal system and do AE tasks
Department and review/promotion meetings
Organize and entertain two guest speakers
DEH
- one household task of some sort
- read at least one chapter in one scholarly book
- start grading undergrad papers (2 sets now)
- write up notes for grad class
- read dissertation materials for student A, advise on restructure
- yoga x4, swim x1, other exercise as possible
heu mihi
No new goals, recovery week
JaneB
1 SELF-CARE. Remember I'm still recovering from burnout and be kind to myself.
(i) do several mildly creative-with-the-hands things
(ii) read most days
(iii) play D&D with nibling or the group, and prepare to the end of the current arc in the game with nibling.
(iv) three days of stretchy/bendy type intentional movement for at least 15 minutes
2 HOUSE-LIFE ADMIN
i) at least 75% of regular chore list
ii) get fully caught up on laundry
iii) pick up the kitchen again, get caught up on dishes etc.
iv) make a Christmas Wish List (for circulating among the family) and some Christmas planning listing
3 TEACHING AND ADMIN
i) half a teaching block (3-4 hours) on non-urgent teaching prep (non-urgent = happening AFTER next week) - planning out what I DO need to do to sort out the session I messed up on last week.
ii) do the final thing needed to be ready for teaching after Reading Week
4 RESEARCH
i) second referee of another paper
ii) at least one hour integrating other people's comments into the consultancy paper, ugh!
iii) meet with postdoc from other uni who wants advice on the methods I specialise in
iv) catch up with Visitor's work (she's been away meeting with colleagues at other universities in the country and doing a little touristing for a few days, since she's visiting us from a different continent for three months)
Julie
1. Teaching prep, keep minimal.
2. Two hours research.
3. Organise selection panel for postdoc applications.
4. Self-care: read, exercise, cinema trip.
5. Find a dentist.
6. House stuff: organise getting garage door replaced, decluttering.
7. BIL's birthday.
Susan
1. Finish paper for next week's conference, send to commentator
2. Prepare for seminar
3. Return to Famous Author to finish all the bits and pieces that still need doing -- bibliographical essay, appendices etc.
4. Clean and organize the house
5. Go to a local museum this weekend
6. Remember to have fun.
Good luck everyone!
Things I am looking forward to: a conference next week where I will see friends; and a visit from my sister for Thanksgiving. And generally being around people.
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
1. Finish paper for next week's conference, send to commentator YES
2. Prepare for seminar YES
3. Return to Famous Author to finish all the bits and pieces that still need doing -- bibliographical essay, appendices etc. LOOKED AT IT
4. Clean and organize the house YES
5. Go to a local museum this weekend YES
6. Remember to have fun. YES
Well, I posted goals on Thursday, it was all manageable. I've survived this week by focusing on work, not reading the news or evaluations or assessments, and mostly staying off facebook and other social media. Also calling friends. I'm anxious about the seminar on Tuesday, because the paper I'm sharing is something I really want to develop, but I feel very exposed. I'm looking forward to my conference paper, which is nice. There is a lovely small local museum with a stellar collection, and I spent a few hours there this afternoon; I joined it so i can go back and just sit and look at Van Gogh and Degas, or the amazing Barbara Hepworth. Meanwhile, I really need to celebrate that the book is going to be published.
Goals for this week (3 days):
1. Figure out plans for further revisions
2. Enjoy the seminar
3. Keep talking to friends
4. Take walks, look at art
5. Enjoy the conference
Sending good vibes for the seminar! Looking at art is always good, especially Barbara Hepworth.
DeleteThat's a lot of YES! I hope the conference is fun and inspiring.
DeleteDefinitely celebrate the book!! We'll all lift distant glasses to you and the book this week, and send all the happy publishing vibes!
DeleteHope the conference is fantastic and the art is inspiring and restorative!
Congratulations on the book! And I hope that the seminar goes well.
DeleteThe small museum sounds great! And so does properly celebrating the book
DeleteOof, yes. So sorry for all of you in the US. It has been bruising here, so I can only imagine how bad it is over there. But the prompt is spot on. I've seen a lot of posts about how we get through the next four years, a lot of which come down to small things, acts of kindness, taking a moment before getting back to organising and fighting. I realised this week that the first moment I felt ok was cooking dinner Friday night, taking time to chop and stir and listen to comedy on the radio. Definitely taking that as a sign to take some time for things that make me feel grounded: baking, reading, being outside. The final series of a favourite TV series started yesterday (the BBC dramatisation of Wolf Hall, if anyone is interested) so that's something to keep me going for the next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThere was one bit of good news: I heard about my grant, finally, and the outline is 'sufficiently promising' for them to invite me to submit a full proposal. I'm overjoyed. It will now be a goal for next session, as I can't make the 1st December deadline with everything else I have to do. Thanks for all the words of encouragement on here!
1. Teaching prep, keep minimal. - YES
2. Two hours research. - UMM, MAYBE ONE
3. Organise selection panel for postdoc applications. - STARTED
4. Self-care: read, exercise, cinema trip. - YES, SOME, YES (can recommend the film, though it is slow compared to the book)
5. Find a dentist. - YES (appointment tomorrow!)
6. House stuff: organise getting garage door replaced, decluttering. - YES, YES
7. BIL's birthday. - Present done, just need card.
This week:
1. Teaching prep, keep minimal.
2. Research for two hours at least, work out plan for article.
3. Start marking when assignments come in.
4. House: more decluttering, start Christmas planning, go to farm shop.
5. Self-care: read, exercise, watch good TV, bake.
We've just finished season 2 of "The Ark," which we both enjoy. I hope you like your new dentist, and that you are enjoying the new garage door, bathrooms, and decluttered habitat. Congratulations on the grant! That's great news.
DeleteYay for grant! Lots of work that paid off, very satisfying. That will be a great session project, and it is nice that you don't have to do the mad rush for December deadline.
DeleteGood luck for the grading and Christmas planning!
Congratulations on the grant! That's great!
DeleteI watched one season of "Wolf Hall" with Mark Rylance--is that the same series? It was pretty fabulous. I think that rereading the series could also be helpful in difficult political moments (I actually got that idea--about Wolf Hall specifically--off of an advice column that I read, so I can't take credit).
Yes, it's with Mark Rylance. The previous series covered the first two books in the trilogy, then there was a long gap because of Covid and who knows what else. Luckily they got Rylance back and most of the original cast for this series, which is the final book, The Mirror and the Light. It wouldn't work so well (or at all) without him. The books are definitely on my comfort read list.
DeleteYay on the grant! I'm one of the three people in the world who were not able to finish Wolf Hall, so I have not watched the series, but figuring out what grounds you is great!
DeleteI must be the only person in the world who couldn't start it, so you're ahead of me, Susan!
DeleteI didn't get on with Wolf Hall either, but I think I tried to read it when my brain was just not really accepting reading mode (stupid burnout).
DeleteCongratulations on getting a dentist, and on the grant progress! Good things!
I think my small happy things are mostly reading; also baking, when it doesn't feel like too much work. Playing or sitting with cats. Eating good chocolate. Fortunately all of these are readily available in my house!
ReplyDeleteOur Guy Fawkes celebration was fun, but after that last week got even more eventful in the unfortunate direction when my husband was rear-ended while he was out getting groceries about the time I checked in. He's fine, the car is not. For some reason the police report was delayed, the person at fault seems not to have notified his insurance company . . . a lot of hassle, but at least he's uninjured. Between that and whatever ailment is afflicting me, I wound up cancelling everything last Thursday except for my online meeting, and also stayed home today.
So, how I did:
- one household task of some sort: YES, if paying bills counts.
- read at least one chapter in one scholarly book: YES, finished one of the ILL's I've been working on.
- start grading undergrad papers (2 sets now). YES!! Got through both sets.
- write up notes for grad class. NO, cancelled class.
- read dissertation materials for student A, advise on restructure: YES two chapters' worth; one more to go.
- yoga x4, swim x1, other exercise as possible. SORTA: one swim (had already happened), yoga twice, other not feeling up to it.
ALSO: finished taking notes on the text of my other ILL.
New goals:
- one household task of some sort
- notes on bibliography from book JG, notes on text of book LA
- 2-3 pomodoros on Alms
- write up notes for grad class
- adjust all remaining class plans given cancelled day
- read remaining chapter drafts for student A, advise on restructure
- take Sir John to buy new car
- yoga x4, other exercise as possible
- try to think about goals for the remainder of the calendar year
ATM it feels like a struggle to plan even a day, let alone a week, so the last one feels like a real stretch. But I just turned up a document in which I was trying to plan the year, last January, and there are a few goals/hopes I think I could still make a stab at.
So glad Sir John is ok, though it's really annoying that the car is now out of action. It always seems to be that unforeseen issues hit on weeks when you already have less to give. Hope you recover this week and that the catching up isn't too painful. At this point, hanging in there is as reasonable a goal as any for the rest of the year.
DeleteCar accidents are always scary! So glad Sir John is not injured and the car can be replaced.
DeleteHope you feel better soon, drop all the rubber balls and rest as much as you can!
So sorry about the car! That's a hassle. Good luck catching up and recovering.
DeleteOh, dear. So sorry about the car, but at least Sir John is uninjured. That's all you need! Between dealing with insurance and car buying, it's a total pain. And paying bills absolutely counts as a task...
DeleteAt least cars are replacable... but oh, what a week :-( Hoping this one is going better
DeleteThings I’m looking forward to… Three fun holiday shows with various groups around town in December… A break over the holiday, with minimal work... The next few weekends with very few scheduled activities… Two evenings this week with nowhere to be!
ReplyDeleteLast week’s goals
Finish organizing, travel to, and run big group meeting for national organization DONE
Overdue editor recommendation DONE
Thesis edits SOME
Set up exams for two classes DONE
Write and submit report for different meeting DONE
Discuss new paper with coauthor and make plans DONE
Figure out new-to-me journal system and do AE tasks DONE
Department and review/promotion meetings DONE
Organize and entertain two guest speakers DONE
Everything that really had to get done got done, some were the non-optional kind so they feel a bit like cheating, but I don’t care, counting them anyway! The meeting was good, stressful but really interesting. Outside meeting times I managed to see 4 friends while I was there so that was lovely. This week started off with a very discombobulated day – I’ve been sick since before I left so today I went to work without my office keys, my computer mouse, my computer cord adaptor, and my lunch… And turns out the talk I was thinking I had to give on Wednesday was actually today which I only found out because the organizers texted me to apologise for running late, so I made it “on time” and all was well. Hoping for a more organized day tomorrow!
This week’s goals
Mark tests and catch up on lab marking
URGENT Thesis edits
Do one task on revision of languishing paper
Do some microscope work for new paper
Do microscope work with grad student
Open shipment of samples and start looking through them for analytical work plans
Definitely count all that DONE! We need to give ourselves credit for what we accomplish, and that was a lot! And how lovely that you got to see your friends at the meeting! I hope the rest of the week goes better than it started.
DeleteSo much illness! It's that time of year. I'm glad that the talk went okay despite the pandemonium!
DeleteSo much done! And glad there are shows to look forward to.
DeleteSo much done, congratulations! And phew for the late-running-reminder... so many people struggling with lurgies at the moment here as well, not helpful.
DeleteHm.... I came home from my son's church youth retreat (which was really lovely and surprisingly restorative, actually) with a cold, so I'm suffering from anhedonia at the moment and nothing sounds terribly appealing. But there is some fun stuff coming up: dinner with friends on Saturday (my son will be at a sleepover), my husband's birthday next week, seeing my family at Thanksgiving (hopefully we won't have to talk politics too much; I know that they're all really disheartened). And one month from now classes will be over, which I'm definitely looking forward to!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm also looking forward to exercising again once I feel better. It turns out that I enjoy my punishing workout routine!
Thanks for making me think about what I'm looking forward to--it made me actually look forward to things.
Last week: I did some stuff, but had no goals,
This week:
1. Read over my husband's book proposal; provide feedback
2. Read Ka's dissertation chapter
3. One billion emails (actually I took care of most of these already on Monday and Tuesday, but I'm putting it here anyway)
4. Graduate student business (summer teaching and conference funding allocations)
5. Work on draft of what was supposed to have been co-editor's part of our book proposal - after four months of pushing back her deadline, she admitted that she can't do it right now
Sorry to hear about the cold! I hope it clears up quickly, and that all the things you're looking forward to turn out even better than you expect. I wish people would admit to it faster when they have to drop balls . . .
DeleteMe too--I just did her part in like 20 minutes. If I had known back in July that she wouldn't do it, the proposal could have been sent three+ months ago! Oh well....
DeleteI bet she thought it would be a bigger deal than it was, and then in her head it grew bigger and bigger . . . or maybe you have more experience and are actually better at the thing.
DeleteHope you feel better soon and enjoy all the stuff you're now looking forward to!
DeleteHope you get over the cold!
Deleteugh, between illness and other people dropping balls, that doesn't sound fun... hope things are improving!
DeleteLate this week. I usually do TLQ as part of my Sunday Meeting With Myself, but on Sunday lunchtime I got an email from former Interim Head of Department about a class on Monday at 9am which we were co-teaching - she'd assumed I was preparing the activities, I assumed she was. So that's what I needed to do Sunday evening. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteThe main thing I'm looking forward to is teaching finishing... oh, and I'm looking forward to Lebkuchen and gingerbread! And the next Martha Wells book I have on pre-order (next Autumn sadly but still... it's in the works!). Those are the POSITIVE things, because the other thing I'm looking forward to is the resolution of the uncertainty with who is leaving - we're still waiting to hear which of the professors we will be losing (should hear by the end of the month, they tried to also negotiate collective pay cuts like my pool did but were rejected on what felt like extremely unfair grounds so are all on tenter-hooks), and then at least we can start to come up with plans to deal with the problems that will cause.
LAST WEEK'S GOALS:
I did take the couple of days off, and I did very very little. Just ran out of steam. Which happens... but always is so annoying!
1 SELF-CARE. Remember I'm still recovering from burnout and be kind to myself.
(i) do several mildly creative-with-the-hands things - made a birthday card for a friend, knitted during D&D
(ii) read most days 3 days only
(iii) play D&D with nibling or the group, and prepare to the end of the current arc in the game with nibling. yes, both, and I've outlined the path to the end
(iv) three days of stretchy/bendy type intentional movement for at least 15 minutes none
2 HOUSE-LIFE ADMIN
i) at least 75% of regular chore list no
ii) get fully caught up on laundry no
iii) pick up the kitchen again, get caught up on dishes etc. picked up the kitchen and did about half the dishes that needed doing
iv) make a Christmas Wish List (for circulating among the family) and some Christmas planning listing no and ish
3 TEACHING AND ADMIN
i) half a teaching block (3-4 hours) on non-urgent teaching prep (non-urgent = happening AFTER next week) - planning out what I DO need to do to sort out the session I messed up on last week.yes
ii) do the final thing needed to be ready for teaching after Reading Week yes
4 RESEARCH
i) second referee of another paper I think so?
ii) at least one hour integrating other people's comments into the consultancy paper, ugh! no
iii) meet with postdoc from other uni who wants advice on the methods I specialise in yes
iv) catch up with Visitor's work (she's been away meeting with colleagues at other universities in the country and doing a little touristing for a few days, since she's visiting us from a different continent for three months) yes
CURRENT WEEK:
DeleteMight as well write some goals. It's the start of my busy teaching patch and it coincides with the ramping up of the People Change stuff, so. Plus the start of needing to allow extra time for scraping rain or ice off the car and warming it up every morning time. GRRRR.
1 SELF-CARE. Remember I'm still recovering from burnout and be kind to myself.
(i) do at least one mildly creative-with-the-hands things
(ii) read at least three days
(iii) play D&D with nibling or the group.
(iv) three days of stretchy/bendy type intentional movement for at least 15 minutes
(v) get COVID and flu jabs
2 HOUSE-LIFE ADMIN
i) at least 75% of regular chore list
ii) do one extra load of laundry
iii) get caught up on dishes
iv) make a Christmas Wish List and circulate to family
3 TEACHING AND ADMIN
i) prepare everything for teaching next week (a lot)
ii) look at stats for confused research student
4 RESEARCH
i) at least one hour integrating other people's comments into the consultancy paper, ugh!
I like making birthday cards---it's a fun, creative, but small and time-limited thing to do, plus there's an immediate chance to share it with someone, so very rewarding overall. That extra time in the morning to deal with Cold Stuff on the car is so grumpy-making, I agree. Excellent kitchen progress! And thanks for the Xmas list reminder; I need to work on that, too.
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