There are about two and half weeks left in the year. Many of us are pushing to wrap up the final bits of the semester, others are finished, some are already engaged in moving toward holiday shopping, cooking, travel, or retreat.
As we move toward setting goals for the final weeks of this incarnation of TLQ, it’s an opportunity to take a moment to look at our successes, be grateful for what we’ve accomplished, and begin thinking about how we might do things differently in the future. What are your plans for finding closure...or ignoring closure as a concept all together?
Listed below are folks who set goals last week, but anyone who’s been on board is of course welcome to continue the conversation.
Amstr: 1) consistent bedtime, 2) exercise 4x (even 5 min. counts), 3) send off drafts to readers, 4) read 1 diss chapter, 5) get caught up on finances + declutter progress.
Contingent Cassandra: weave at least a bit of exercise, cooking, apartment-tidying (mucking out is more like it) and/or attention to financial stuff in between bouts of grading (and accomplish some substantial bouts of grading).
Daisy: 1) Finish all grading 2) Get rid of lingering accounting 3) Send away first paper
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell: 1) Revise the paper. 2) Hydrate and exercise. 3) Inch into the holiday spirit.
humming42: 1) grading continues. 2) Tiny project 3) finish class research paper due on Thursday.
JaneB: 1) get all remaining classes completely prepared 2) do some damage control on research type stuff. 3) clear off my desk in the office
KJHaxton: finish the Christmas stuff; tackle filing and tidying both at work and at home so that I can be productive in the lull between Christmas and New Year.
Matilda: 1) Work on the book of Chapter 1 and Introduction. 2) Write for at least 15 minutes a day. 3) Exercise for 5 minutes a day. 4) Prepare for 2015.
Susan: 1) library: manuscript/rare book work, note checking, reading. 2) visit with lots of old friends. 3) some walking
I have done a terrible job keeping up with checking in--and with TLQ in general. Well, actually, I've made some TLQ progress of late, just none related to the PhD. But I did these things:
ReplyDelete1. Took kids for overdue physicals/check ups. Son even got a dreaded shot and now feels some relief of anxiety because now it's over with.
2. I went to the dermatologist and had several things frozen off of my face. I shall look lovely in holiday photos.
3. Have spent a lot of time with the children over the past couple of weekends.
4. Sewed the kids' medals and patches on to their 4-H hats (it's taken me 2-3 years to do this).
5. Have gotten almost all of the Christmas shopping done. Need to just get about 3-4 more things and need to ship off two packages.
But I really haven't done any work on the dissertation. In fact, this is probably the more significant period of neglect I've had (not counting when we're traveling as a family). I got a bit derailed by my focus on the sabbatical application, and then I've just focused on work TRQ and family. It's been kind of nice, but I need to get serious. I'm going to put in a bit of time today, and then I'll just only a little during our two week trip (that starts Friday), but I'll prepare to hit it hard after the new year. I hope that I'll find out soon about the sabbatical. Rain and work have upended my walking/running schedule. I need to sort that out.
So, I guess my current method of closure is just to look towards the future, and make a clear plan. I think that I, too, might have to do the 15-minutes per day (at LEAST) in order to avoid total neglect. And I need to start back onto my two early mornings of reading/research each week.
This week's goals:
1. Gather articles and create bibliography related to Chapter 2 and the presentation paper I need to write based on chapter 2.
2. Take care of test and lab work for daughter
3. Prep house for house- and pet-sitters
4. Pack
5. Walk/run at least twice.
6. Grade final papers and exams. (I know these are more like TRQ, but even though the grades aren't due for a couple of weeks, I'd like to get them done before our trip, so in some ways, that makes the work TLQish.)
Quick questions: What does this iteration of TLQ end? When are we starting up again? Who is hosting next time?
DeleteGoals:
1) consistent bedtime--yes, early in the week. Got terrible later in the week.
2) exercise 4x--yes, lots of walks + ice skating!
3) send off drafts to readers--yes.
4) read 1 diss chapter--finally!!!!
5) get caught up on finances + declutter progress--not much
I started reading a book about procrastination (http://amzn.to/1wBJQNd), and boy is it productive procrastination to read it! A lot of the "what to do" tips, I know, but reading about it in the context of psychology and work on procrastination is helping me implement them more effectively.
So last night, I just started to read the darn dissertation chapter I've been punting from week to week. Just to start. Then this morning I was able to get through it rather painlessly.
I've got one week before I have kids around all the time, so I need to get more dissertation reading done and the finance stuff done.
Goals for the week: 1) finish reading dissertation; 2) catch up on budget stuff; 3) exercise 4x.
Sorry, GEW. Didn't mean to co-opt your reply section!
DeleteCongrats on all the TLQ things! Three cheers for dissertation work!
GEW...adding cheers for balance too! Getting things done like doctor's appointments and Christmas shopping can really be a help in creating a sense of focus by clearing away worrisome TRQ distractions.
DeleteAmstr, delightful to hear that the thing you've been putting off was far less painful than feared. And hurray for ice skating...not something I have access to and have never learned how to do. But it seems like an ideal winter break activity.
DeleteWell, my week at the library was good -- I got lots of reading done (though not as much footnote checking as I hoped. I thought my way through the rest of this chapter, which is supposed to be finished by New Year's Eve. (And I think I will probably make it.) I saw lots of friends, which was good for the soul. And I managed to walk three days, which was my goal.
ReplyDeleteAmong the things I have realized in the past few weeks are
(1) that while my sabbatical goals were lengthy, including lots of house/life things (I wanted to start singing again, or doing pottery; and various house clearing tasks) I won't accomplish them, and that's OK. Because what I need now is just unscheduled time. That gives me the time to write and think as I wish. And it's important to give myself the gift of being unscheduled.
(2) I think of myself as lonely in my current place. What I realized was that in my former home, all my friends were not from work: my work was always in a different place. And here, all my friends are from work. There are complicated reasons for that, but I realize that I am sufficiently aware of my complex roles that work friendships are correspondingly complicated. There are colleagues I really like, but I'm usually a bit guarded.
Anyway, those are important TLQ realizations. My goals for the coming week are shaped by the fact that I'm throwing a party on Saturday, and I'm trying to reduce the last minute preparations.
1. Finish substantive work on chapter -- this involves reading two more plays, writing about them, and then beginning to move stuff around so it works for the argument that I figured out last week. (And yes, I wrote that down.)
2. Christmas preparations -- I've wrapped almost everything, though I need to buy a couple of more gifts; lots of stuff needs to be mailed. Then there is cooking/baking.
3. Christmas cards -- I've written my Christmas letter, and updated my labels. If the overseas cards get out by the end of this week I will be very happy indeed!
As for next time, I'd be willing to co-host. . .
A good time of year for reflections and realizations. I hope your party is marvelous!
Deletegoals:1) get all remaining classes completely prepared 2) do some damage control on research type stuff. 3) clear off my desk in the office
ReplyDeletewhat actually happened: I got a little too ambitious with my catch-up plan (or perhaps that's not the real reason, causation is so messy) and now I've lost my voice. So more time off sick. I'm coming onto campus for a couple of hours of office hours most days this week, and since our exam period for semester one ends in January have only one batch of grading coming in before Christmas. I am juuuussstt about on top of things here! 1) All the teaching related materials are now sorted, whether that means cancelled, taught remotely, covered by someone else etc. 2) ugh. Well, I did an outstanding bit of refereeing and printed out the most urgent thing on my research must do list, so, more than nothing. 3) doing it now whilst holding office hours (a nice task for five minute gaps).
goals: Christmas prep - I like to send cards etc., so have decided I would rather send them late and with loving thoughts than make it all a stupid stress-source and make some arbitrary deadline. I haven't done much if anything for Christmas yet around the house - I haven't really had the energy mental or physical to tackle some of the basic housework, let alone anything else. But I decided last week to just throw some money at the problem - so I bought all new wrapping paper, scissors and tape (I know where the old/stored stuff is but it involves moving boxes and stirring up dust and... this was easier), and a large fancy multi-wick Christmas scented candle which I am burning for at least an hour every evening - just to do something a little seasonal. Also, Furball has been helping me with the wrapping. It's a bit of an incentive to do a little every evening, as she LOVES 'play time with ribbons'. But no baking, no advent reading programme, no advent ring or even calendar. a 'meh' Christmas is allowed every now and then, and there are no little kids around to be let down, so STUFF IT says I.
Anyway. Goals. Do SOMETHING to one of my neglected research papers. Write 1-2 300 word abstracts for next summer's big conference and submit. Get a lot of sleep, drink a lot of fluids, be nice to voice!
I for one don't mind at all getting late holiday cards. I've even sent my own out for New Year's, and even Valentine's Day one year.
DeleteI hope your voice heals up soon so you can enjoy the season more fully.
Agreed on the holiday cards...I thanked my friend the French prof for his card and apologized for not getting to mine yet, and he said the French often send New Years cards. So I'm all in for that for 2015.
DeleteHere's hoping time spent on research papers will be fruitful.
Goals: weave at least a bit of exercise, cooking, apartment-tidying (mucking out is more like it) and/or attention to financial stuff in between bouts of grading (and accomplish some substantial bouts of grading).
ReplyDeleteAccomplished: a bit of mucking-out, and maybe some cooking. Momentum on grading is picking up (but it will be a mad scramble at the end, as always. I need to find a better way of approaching this).
Goals for the coming week: finish grading; do some gardening; at least contemplate how to fit exercise, cooking, mucking out (at least to the point where I might have a place to put a Christmas tree), financial stuff, enough rest to be restorative, and prep for next semester into the month or so I have off. Also do something about Christmas presents (some done; some not).
Having finished grading yesterday, I have a similar set of goals....and less than 24 hours in, I'm panicky about coming to the end of the month off and coming up short. I want to liberate myself from endless scheduling and to do lists, but need structure. Any thoughts on how to manage the All of It?
DeleteLast week's goals:
ReplyDelete1) Finish all grading DONE
2) Get rid of lingering accounting DONE - money back is a good motivator
3) Send away first paper NOT done, last editing going on right now.
This week's goals:
1) Research travel
2) Program development writing
3) Newsletter for professional association
4) Work on Paper X
Love research travel, I'm playing with a very fancy machine that goes ping, YAY!!!!!!!!
The term is over, all my grades are in and I don't have to see anybody I don't want to for the next 3 weeks. I cannot even tell you how grateful I am for that!
All I want for Christmas is time to work on my writing... Just sending that out to Santa in case he's doing grown-up presents this year!
Sounds like you have a lot to celebrate! Congratulations!
DeleteTotally get the desire for time. I can't wait till I'm dome with family - I love them, but...
DeleteJoining in the celebrating good things, and wishing you broad expanses of time for writing and research.
DeleteRe the next round...my plan was to wrap up at the end of the year, but I see that the year ends in the middle of the week. I guess next week will be the last, and the next version can be at the next host's discretion?
ReplyDeleteI could co-host with Susan, unless there's another willing soul.
ReplyDeleteAmstr
Suits me - I'd be happy to host again in the summer, or the next round, however we decide to divide the year up (we've never really settled on semesters or quarters, partly because members work in systems with both, and the UK semesters/terms are generally out of sync with the North American ones anyway (case in point, most people in the US started back early september and have now finished semester 1, whilst mine began the last week of september and ends at the end of January). Guess the end of the year is a good time to ask if people prefer to plan in 3 month blocks (Jan-Mar, Apr-June, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec) or 4 month blocks (Jan-Apr, May-Aug, Sept-Dec)?
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeletemy year has ended with a bit of a whimper and a need to lie down, really. And a cup of tea as well! We have just finished moving house, by which I mean mainly two of us moving boxes and trailer loads of furniture from one house to the next, completely derailing work plans. I don't know when I have been so exhausted.
So, I began with ambitious work plans and planned to try and meet some of those even up to a couple of weeks ago. Now I am simply counting down to the holidays. I attempted to finish some TLQ stuff with collaborators, but my collaborators were burnt out and we failed to finish a few important things. I began thinking about using some of my holiday time to do TLQ work, but now I just want to recover. So closure, for me, is accepting that it is healthier for me to let go of my work goals and re-focus on health, sleep, exercise for a few weeks so I return in a much better state.
Overall, I got relatively little done in this iteration of the writing group- it seemed to coincide with a whole lot of pressure points. Which isn't to say it wasn't worth being here, because every time I check in, it helps me assess what I need to do and want to do. And pushes me to do a few tasks, however small. Progress at a snail's pace, but still progress.
Many thanks for hosting humming42. I look forward to the next group - thanks Amstr and Susan.
allan wilson-
Happy Christmas everyone. Restful holidays.
Unfortunately, I have ended this iteration of TLQ with more absences than presences. However, at least I have accomplished several things.First, my goals from two weeks ago:
ReplyDelete1) Revise the paper. Yes, I am doing a happy dance. Last Friday, my co-author and I submitted the article. As this was my major goal for the semester, I am feeling very proud of myself!
2) Hydrate and exercise. Yes, for hydration. Less for exercise, because my cold turned into a heated battle for control of my entire respiratory system.
3) Still inching. We are travelling tomorrow to visit our oldest daughter and her family, which will guarantee more holiday spirit.
Next week’s goals:
1. Be kind to myself while flying, which can be difficult at the best of times.
2. Enjoy the time off.
I realize these are pretty minor goals, but hey, it’s my vacation. I will have tougher goals next week, I promise!
I am grateful for what I’ve accomplished this semester. I’m grateful for the group and the accountability it offers. How might I do things differently? I want to check in more, even when I am embarrassed by my lack of accomplishment. I also want to break things down into smaller pieces of goals and time,as well as add things like organization of files to the mix.
As for closure, I’m so obsessed with the tenure process right now, I can’t think about closure until mid-February, when I can tweak the dossier no more. Even then, I will sweat through the vote, the letter from the dean, the letter from the provost, and so on. Perhaps I should ignore closure right now?
Thank you Humming and JaneB for hosting. Advance thanks to Amstr and Susan for hosting next semester. I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season.