SAGs (small achievable goals)

When I’m feeling like I’m not getting a lot accomplished, or when I’m putting aside work I really need to be doing, I most often need a SAG--a Small Achievable Goal. What is one thing I can do that will move me forward on Project X? What’s the next step on Paper ZZZ? What one task can get me jump-started into my 90-minute writing session?

So this week, as you think of your goals, think about specific small tasks that can move your larger projects forward.

Have you thought in terms of SAGs in the past? Has it been helpful? What’s one SAG that can help you this week?

Allan Wilson:

to ENJOY the task that I have to spend next week on, and go at it with gusto (thanks to a conversation with a colleague this morning, who tells me this is how he copes with being too busy); and to plan a series of papers on the topic I love but is completely outside all my work plans.

Amstr:

1) exercise 4x

2) eat well (according to "plan" I've established)

3) reasonable bedtimes

4) four 90-minute writing sessions

5) prep for weekend conference (practice pitches; review faculty bios; schedule stuff)

Contingent Cassandra:

1)sleep, eat well, maybe exercise a bit, and generally try to keep the cold from taking hold.

2) do a lot of grading for all classes (with the goal of not doing any, or at least much, grading over spring break).

3) make sure I've got reservations, registrations, reimbursement forms, readings, etc. in place for both upcoming trips.

Daisy:

Earnest English:

Elizabeth Ann Mitchell: (from week 7)

1) Write 100 words a day

2) Space planning for home office. The current arrangement is not working

3) Personal time. I do not protect down time for myself either at work or at home

Good Enough Woman:

1) Read two articles and one primary source novella

2) evaluate structures of chapters one and two

3) Send follow-up email to supervisor about timelines

4) Exercise 3x

5) help son with Minecraft account problems (I've been promising to do this for a while) and prep daughter for next presentation

6) play son's homemade game with him

Humming42:

1) Finish and submit past due article

2) Finish and send proposal to friend for feedback

3) Write at least three days

JaneB:

1) five minuteses 2) planning of many things. Taking time to think about what I REALLY want out of my 'study leave', seeing if I can possibly fit in a long weekend off (other than through being ill!) in the next couple of months, making lists and then RUTHLESSLY PRUNING THEM. 3) three sessions on Crunchier.

Kjhaxton:

1) finish up the marking and stray bits of paperwork from early semester tasks

2) send email about possible article I could write

3) plan publication/presentation around small aspect of current teaching so that I can put an evaluation plan in place to get a good paper

4) make figures for the paper

Matilda: (from week 7)

1) Week 5-2 of Belcher's book.

2) Continue to read the important book.

3) Finish the introductory part of the review article.

4) Exercise for 7 minutes everyday. Do a short exercise in the morning.

5) Be tolerant of snacks, but try to have healthier one.

Susan:

1. Finish the chapter

2. Prepare for the conference

3. Enjoy the conference

4. At least one more session weeding

5. Keep up on the house

6. Keep walking or exercising in some way daily.

Sign up for January-April Session (introductions, goals, and housekeeping)

Happy New Year, and welcome!

This session of the group will follow much the same format as the last. The ground rules were all laid out in the first post on the blog. Amstr and Susan are co-hosting this session, and we will take turns posting each Friday. (We're both on the US West Coast, so we will be posting a bit later in the day for some of you.) You can report your progress and set weekly goals any time between Friday and Monday.

For this first post, briefly introduce yourself.

Then identify your key goals for this period of time.  As a reminder, these are things that are important but not urgent.  What is important to you, but gets put on the back burner?   For many of us it is our own research and writing; but it has also included exploring different fields or new forms of writing, exercise, gardening, healthy eating, etc.    

In addition, set your first weekly goals (for the week of Jan 12-16). Think about how you can take small concrete steps to make progress on your TLQ session goals.

Suggested format:

Introduction

Session Goal

Weekly Goal

While we will both post goals below, we will start with brief introductions of ourselves.

Amstr: I am a semi-newly-minted PhD in the humanities, not currently on the job market. I'm working on turning my dissertation into a book as well as on some non-academic writing and editing projects. Much of my life is filled with taking care of my two grade-school-aged kids and enjoying family life on the West Coast. My house is also home to two bunnies, one crested gecko, and one beta fish--none of which are mine, and all of which I take care of.

Susan: I am a senior scholar in the humanities at an R-1 university in the US. I’m currently enjoying a sabbatical, the first in too many years; when not on sabbatical, I have fairly extensive administrative responsibilities, and these have not entirely disappeared. I live alone, aside from the requisite two cats; I also provide some support for my mother, who lives in the same town I do.

Sign up in the comments below. Our first weekly check-in will be January 16. Our final check-in will be April 24. We're looking forward to a productive session!

Jan-Apr TLQ session. Sign up Jan 2-11.

Ring in the new year with some focus on that Top Left Quadrant (important but not urgent tasks). Our Jan-Apr session will be 15 weeks long.

Jan 2-11: sign-ups with your overall goal and your first weekly goal
Jan 16: first check in.
April 24: final check in.

Feel free to invite other folks and/or post a link on your blog. The more the merrier!

Watch for the Jan 2 sign-up post.