I am fortunate enough to be on sabbatical this term, and I am luxuriating in long stretches of work time. But what this means is that I find myself snacking a lot and sitting a lot, and, as a result, my weight is going up and my fitness level is going down. This past week, Earnest English said that she wanted to "engage in research and reflection on what kinds of stress-relieving breaks would work (saying I'll meditate is fine, but maybe there are better things I like more -- I'm seriously open to ideas!!!!)." JaneB offered some great suggestions:
adult coloring book
puzzles
knitting and crochet
meditation
stretching
ta'i chi
stand up and sing or declaim!
For this week's topic, I'm hoping you will add to this list or get even more specific about some healthy ways that you like to take five or ten minute breaks.
Below, I've listed each of your goals from last week in alpha order. Please let me know if I've forgotten anyone.
Here's a reminder of the standard format for check-ins:
1. comment on the week's topic, when there is one
2. report your progress against last week's goals
3. analysis (optional): analyse what happened, what went well, what came up to derail things, note what you learnt/want to change, ask any questions of the rest of the group if you want some tips or suggestions
4. planning (optional): something about the coming week: what the priorities are, what issues are going to present challenges, what the framework for your goal-setting is
5. goals for the next week (or multi-week period until your next check-in)
1. comment on the week's topic, when there is one
2. report your progress against last week's goals
3. analysis (optional): analyse what happened, what went well, what came up to derail things, note what you learnt/want to change, ask any questions of the rest of the group if you want some tips or suggestions
4. planning (optional): something about the coming week: what the priorities are, what issues are going to present challenges, what the framework for your goal-setting is
5. goals for the next week (or multi-week period until your next check-in)
Amstr:
1) now that I can eat again, eat healthfully
2) write 2x
3) 1 hour decluttering
4) put materials for letter of rec in a folder
5) go see a play this weekend
aw (no weekly goals stated; these are aw's session goals):
1) So,I plan to answer the question for each and every week of this session, have I put my personal health and wellbeing ahead of work?
2) My second goal is to submit three papers. It is ambitious, but knowing what I do now about national science organisations, I think this will make a real difference to a number of things. and, I have a number of papers more than half written, so I think it should be possible, and I will feel greater wellbeing once I have a sense of work being finished.
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:
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:
-work out at least twice this week
-get draft together of short chapter (which probably breaks down into working on it several times this week)
-prep and write several big emails to get those projects done
-keep head from exploding by engaging in frequent stress-relieving breaks by. . .???
-engage in research and reflection on what kinds of stress-relieving breaks would work (saying I'll meditate is fine, but maybe there are better things I like more -- I'm seriously open to ideas!!!!)
-compile Big Project drafts so I can take stock of what I got done in the last quarter
-prep somewhat
GEW:
1) walk 3x, swim 1x, yoga 1x
2) explore possible organizational patterns for Chapter 2
3) read a LOT of secondary material (too much to list, but I'll aim for at least 10 chapters of secondary books)
humming42
1. Draft writing plan for manuscript
2. Finish last week’s meditation
3. Submit book review
JaneB
1) go through both sets of minor revision instructions, email co-authors with any parts I can't do myself or they can do more quickly
2) complete a rough draft of each section of the administrivia report and email all the colleagues who need to send me information or add bits
3) rough out the grant budget and put down bullet points of what needs to go in each section
4) be nice to JaneB... do at least two sanity-supporting things each day (early to bed, exercise, crochet or other handwork, work on my NaNo-writing, sitting on the back step in daylight with a cuppa and nothing else to do for at least fifteen minutes...)
Karen
1. Block out 2 hours for P1 material gathering
2. Set sleep alarm clock
3. Cut out snacking outside of meal times.
kjhaxton:
1. Finalise research tool for scary project in anticipation of perhaps maybe getting ethics approval to go ahead. [this will count as my research half day]
2. Sort out as much as I can for the first few weeks of teaching
3. Tidy up workspace for craft and make a list of what I need to buy
Matilda:
1) Prepare for a talk on 3rd October.
2) Re-read Chapter 1 and make a revision plan.
3) Do three minutes exercise three times a day.
4) Write for 15 minutes three days.
Maude:
-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:
1. grade short answer Qs on mid-term exam
2. "touch" HA paper for 25 mins 2 days/week
3. visit Dinosaur museum w/kid
4. walk each day, no email at night, go to bed on time
metheist:
1) Edit 10 pages of Behemoth
2) Refamiliarize myself with 'goddess' book
3) Prep week for 2 classes
4) Cook 3xwk.
Susan:
1. Revise last two chapters of book
2. Begin to draft conclusion
3. Sign up at Gym so that I have a place to go for exercise. Go at least twice next week.
4. take care of one more bag of junk.
Hello, everyone! I’m Elizabeth Mitchell, and I'm also late to sign on, but I hope I can join in at this point. I am in a TT position as a librarian at an R1 in New York State. My tenure dossier went through the college successfully last spring, and the University P&T committee met on my case two weeks ago. I am ABD in medieval studies, but may publish my dissertation as a book, since I have to repeat my proposal and committee process, and retake my quals to recertify myself for the PhD. Also, it is unlikely to change my status or pay. I am an administrator, chair of a department, with the associated headaches and joys.
ReplyDeleteMy semester goals: Re-establish the habit of writing 5 out of 7 days. Those of you who have been in earlier iterations of this group know that I suffer from what my bereavement counselor calls grief exhaustion. Virtually all of my abilities dried up and went away.
Rebuild my organizational skills. I’ve been assured that my brain fog will go away, I hope sooner rather than later.
Add some movement and mindful eating to my day. I had gall bladder surgery at the beginning of September, and need to improve my eating and exercise habits, or lack thereof.
Concentrate on my PMM article. I need to update my literature review for this article, which will lead to some edits in the article proper.
Topic: Stress breaks have been crucial for me in the last couple of years. I find I can use breaks for knitting or quilting as rewards for writing a certain amount of time or amount of words. I also use visualizations for a break. I imagine slipping into a pool to float peacefully, or sitting in a mountain meadow listening to the birds and the spring nearby. It’s almost meditation, but I can’t relax enough to meditate at work, so this is a good substitute.
Last week’s goals: I didn’t have any goals last week, and I fear I wouldn’t have done well. I spent the entire week putting out fires.
Analysis: This past week would have been my mother’s birthday, so the grief was sharper than usual. I have more responsibility due to changes in the layers above me, but so far, no additional authority. I have begun negotiations to change that, which carries its own stress.
Planning: I do better with baby steps, especially when re-establishing a habit. I almost wince, they look so paltry, but I know there is a better chance of success.
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.
Welcome back, Elizabeth! Baby steps sound like a great idea, and peaceful lunches sound like great therapy. But it is SO hard to leave the desk, isn't it? I'm eager to hear about the best place you lunched this week.
DeleteI haven't thought much about using knitting as a short break, but I suppose a few rows could be a great way to reset my mind.
Hi Elizabeth - it's great that you are able to join the group again after such a difficult time already this year, and with what sounds like an increasing amount of pressure at work. Perhaps thinking of this week's goals as foundations rather than baby steps might make them seem less paltry.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to steal lunch in a peaceful environment for my goals :)
Oops, meant to do that as a reply but didn't!
DeleteHi Elizabeth, like Karen, I'm also taking up the "lunch in a peaceful environment"--what a great way to put this. I'd been combining my lunch (sandwiches from home) with a quick walk in the park close to our building, but recently stopped finding the time to do so--but now inspired to try again!
DeleteAlso, 5 mins of writing is plenty for starters (I'll be copying that as a goal, too)
Karen, please feel free to steal the peaceful environment for your goals. So many of us find it too easy to stay at our desks, which is so unhealthy! I also like your idea of foundations, and will steal that thought forthwith.
DeleteMercy, steal away! Part of the wonderfulness of this group is the sharing of strategies!
Topic:
ReplyDeleteThis is really useful for me at the moment, as I need to shift my stress-reliving break habit away from chocolate or biscuits (cookies). The best suggestion I can offer is for working at home, which is not what I'll be doing for the next month
anyway, but for what it is worth, small chores like taking the washing out or in, watering plants, dealing with sourdough bread are good as a task switch, especially if they are outside as well. I'm really interested to see what ideas other people have.
Last week:
1. Block out 2 hours for P1 material gathering - nope, unless unearthing a relevant book while tidying the library counts.
2. Set sleep alarm clock - made an effort on this, but am still defaulting to around midnight, which is way too late as the toddler is waking earlier now with sun coming up earlier.
3. Cut out snacking outside of meal times. Reduced marginally.
This past week I had a fair bit of marking, which is ongoing despite clearing one batch. And there's been family issues and associated logistics - husband will travel interstate next week to assist with Father-in-law's recovery from surgery. Thankfully my parents were planning to arrive around then for an extended visit so I'm spared the panic around covering the childcare slots husband normally does. So there's not been much headspace for TLQ - need to reduce the amount of decision making/headspace required to include TLQ goals - maybe in future weeks we could discuss habit building?
Next week:
One new class to prepare for, the marking backlog, and need to finish tidying the library to fit visiting parents, and even with specchifying on Friday night, and the ever present marking,... Arrgh. Small goals again.
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.
Cutting out snacking! I need to follow you...thuogh I know the temptation of chocolate and biscuits too well!
DeleteYes on "microchores" for me too. I'll wash a few dishes but not All the Dishes or take out the trash. The immediate sense of accomplishment is gratifying too.
DeleteKaren,
DeleteYour standing in the kitchen to eat--I've done that far too often! As you and Matilda explain them, I love the idea of microchores!
Also, small goals are good--foundations!
Sometimes, I find myself just standing in the kitchen, eating the crust from my kids' sandwiches as my breakfast. Not very mindful.
Delete"need to reduce the amount of decision making/headspace required to include TLQ goals" -- It's so frustrating that TLQ is always the thing that needs finagling. But I guess that's because it's TLQ! I suppose if I got up everyday at 4:30, I could count on my TLQ time, but, like you, my internal bedtime clock is around 11:30-12:00, which is prohibitive of 4:00am rising.
Hello,
ReplyDelete1. Topic:
Great topic! I am very curious how people relax themselves in busy days. At work, what I normally do is having some fizzy water and stepping on the site, vaguely looking around the bookshelves around me, or out of the window. This looks really silly, but maybe it is ok when only me in my office.
2. Last goals:
1) Prepare for a talk on 3rd October - mostly done.
2) Re-read Chapter 1 and make a revision plan. - not yet.
3) Do three minutes exercise three times a day. - more than three times, but only one or two minutes, though I am consciously doing so.
4) Write for 15 minutes three days. - I mean I write my draft or draft-related writings, but I was not able to do this.
3. Analysis:
My whole week was spent for preparation for the talk which is on this coming Saturday. I am nervous, for this is the only second time to give a talk for general public. I have prepared a Power Point presentation, which I do not normally do in class. Topic needs to be well-chosen, slides need to be clear and interesting. Anyway, I will do my best. But this task has prevented me from working on my book and my article for a long time. This is not really good…
4. Planning:
I need to be determined to create time to write and work for my TLQ and stick to it. Anyway, my presentation will take place and end in a week, so I am going to concentrate on writing.
5. Next goals:
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.
Have a good week, everyone!
It's frustrating to leave the writing behind for a while, but I'm sure it feels good to have the talk mostly done so that you aren't doing that at the last minute. I gave a commencement speech in May, and I found that preparing/writing it offered some reminders for me about creating clear structures. Perhaps your talk prep will prime your mind for the revision planning? Here's hoping!
DeleteTopic: I wander. If I need a break at work, I tend to wander around the building. Just a silly little thing like going to the toilet but walking to the ones on the other side of the building rather than the nearest one makes a break. Or walking around the outside of the building rather than inside. If I work at home, I tend to do washing or cleaning as short 5 - 10 minute breaks. In either case, sitting outside with a hot drink is a nice break.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. Finalise research tool for scary project in anticipation of perhaps maybe getting ethics approval to go ahead. [this will count as my research half day]
- I worked on my research tool for a different project as I wasn't sure about the ethics but I got the ethics approval on Friday so need to get a move on this week. We'll call the new project the 'house project'.
2. Sort out as much as I can for the first few weeks of teaching
Yes, done but still having to work into the weekend to finish things for next week (the first of the semester)
3. Tidy up workspace for craft and make a list of what I need to buy
Tidied up, made 18 items (so session target is reduced) but haven't made a list yet.
Analysis - I got as much done as I reasonably could have. There were a few unexpected events in the last week which have turned a few things upside down. But not in a bad way on the whole
Planning - freshers flu has struck and the coming week is the week of induction talks so anything I get done is a bonus.
Next goals:
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.
Hey, that's funny, I "wander" at work too! Faraway restrooms, strolling the hall ways--I even take my grading with me in the hallways, when it's not too busy.
DeleteWhen I was writing my dissertation and had a carrel in the library, my favorite break was to walk the circumference of the building. Since I write at home now, I had not thought about going outside for breaks. Maybe I can do a little sweeping or weeding while I'm out there too.
DeleteMercy - I'm glad I'm not the only wanderer!
Deletehumming42 - weeding is a good one, and deadheading or watering, or just checking in on how things are growing - even in 5 minutes you can get quite a bit done.
Weeding does sound good, especially because it provides a bit of exercise (maybe less than mulch moving, but still!). I also think wandering (or even *striding*) is a good option for me. Since working involves so much sitting, my breaks need to be moving. Last week (on one day at home), I took a 10-minute break and walked up a hill on my street. That was good. The fresh air was good.
Delete18 items sounds like good progress! Maybe sometimes you can tell us about your favorite craft item of the week?
1. Topic: I never thought of it as stress reduction, but I do take the little breaks at work, and often in the form of "wandering" too! I have software installed on my computer that lets me know I've spent 45 minutes steadily typing, which is my cue for a break (the computer actually shuts me off for 8 minutes). First, I make fresh tea, then I wander around the hallways and say Hi to my colleagues who are in that day. For a longer break, I try to go outside to the park next to our building, taking my lunch with me. But with the busyness of the semester increasing I tend to not go out as often, whereas I really should, ESPECIALLY when the semester gets busier and more stressful.
ReplyDeleteAt night, I've really benefitted from "no email" and "no tv" after 9pm. I've started buying a new magazine each week, something I would normally read/buy, and it's been fun reading different stuff, and reading on paper, which somehow makes it way easier to stop reading and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
2. Last week's goals & results: mixed, or rather, everything mostly accomplished but the writing goal, which was NOT accomplished at all (this is a sad and familiar pattern for me).
1. grade short answer Qs on mid-term exam --> yep
2. "touch" HA paper for 25 mins 2 days/week --> nope
3. visit Dinosaur museum w/kid --> yep
4. walk each day, no email at night, go to bed on time --> pretty good
3. Analysis: it's the writing that is my achilles heel. I don't have to absolutely do it for my current job, but I do need to do it if I want an ongoing career in academia . . . I haven't really figured out why writing is so hard for me, and/or what works best in terms of making myself do it: not deadlines and external pressure, that's for sure. Maybe baby steps and tricking myself into thinking that I'm not writing "the real thing" while actually I am (that's how I finished the diss). . .
4. Planning: the week ahead is a bit teaching heavy, and my lectures from last year are not as solid as I thought they were--so definitely need to spend some time on prep. Also, need to finish the exams, so as not to fall behind on grading (with the next batch coming in the week after next). I do want to find time for writing, for HA article, but it's hard to plan when I still haven't figured out what works for me. For now, I'm going to try absolutely "baby steps" goals, to see if that helps with the scariness factor.
5. Goals:
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
The new magazine idea sounds quite fun. For years, I was reading a LOT of magazines (I like the "Cottage Living" sorts of things), but lately I find myself reading more books and fewer magazines. I think it's because the kids are getting older so I can focus on books, but I'm not sure. Still, I like your idea.
DeletePerhaps over the course of this session, you can figure out why you are resisting the writing? Do you dislike it?
And it's so true that we tend to abandon our health/stress breaks just when we need them most. Sigh.
1) Topic: In the past, my stress reduction techniques have become crutches. I used to look at blogs and things, but that became an addiction. Nowadays, I actually take the time to do household chores like straighten my desk, clean my toilet, or sweep the floor. I get my chores done without the stress of having to do it all at once. Weird I know :)
ReplyDelete2) Accomplished: I ate most of my meals at home this week and also got class prep done. Specifically, I wrote two quizzes, a weekly packet, writing guide, and three lectures.
3) Analysis: I have a pretty nasty cold this week and took a day off work, went to Urgent Care, and slept quite a bit. So, I only finished what was absolutely necessary. My voice is back and I can return to work tomorrow, but I am still quite exhausted.
4) Planning: I did update my Passion Planner (http://www.passionplanner.com/), which has helped me quite a bit in the past to get back on a focused schedule. I continue to work on not being a perfectionist, and so my goal this week is to do my teaching job, but not obsess about it.
Goals for the week:
1) Edit 15 pages of Behemoth
2) review part of one book
3) cook 3xwk
It sounds like you are not alone with the strategy of doing chores as breaks. I do a bit of that, too, and should probably use chores even more often as a 5-minute work break.
DeleteI'm glad you are feeling better, and I hope you feel rested as you head into this week.
Like you, I need to remind myself that I can do a good job teaching without obsessing and being a perfectionist about it. Great goal--and I would be interested to know how you manage to do it.
DeleteHi everyone
ReplyDeleteTopic: exercise helps me enormously. Another thing which helps is just working to routine as much as possible. Getting to work on time, finishing on time, having designated time for breakfast (so I can sit down instead of running out the door), and designated time to exercise. Reading cartoons or otherwise watching or doing things that make me laugh (although in all honesty I SO didn't feel like laughing about anything last week!).
Last week: After checking in, yes I did prioritise my health above work. I caught up on some sleep and walked on Sunday rather than do a paper review that is overdue.
This week's goals:
1) Prioritise health, preferably by exercising 4x this week, and cutting out unhealthy snacking.
2) Finish some rewriting on draft paper JL and start doing a final check of the data
3) Finish one transcript
allan Wilson (aw)
Routine can be so difficult to maintain. I've found myself getting up a few minutes early each morning, too, just so things aren't hectic, but often think that if I got up *really* early, I could really maintain designated time for TLQ, but I've never been able to do it.
DeleteHow do you protect your designated time?
For breakfast I need to get up 10 minutes earlier so I can make a pot of tea and sit and look at the view. Exercise is much harder to protect- sometimes I write it in my diary, but this is the one I usually fall down on. Another way of making sure it happens is to ensure I have to walk home from work!
DeleteHmmm. Stress reduction? I tend to play solitaire, which I realize is NOT good. In fact one of my goals for this week is to wean myself off my ipad as a bedtime/morning companion. When I write, I write at home; when I'm in the office I get breaks by going to meetings, or just walking to the bathroom, which is a LONG way away. Or I walk to the next building to get a coffee. There was a time (pre-computer) when I was revising my dissertation in a remote English cottage. My breaks would be to watch cricket on TV and knit. I'd do three or four rows and then quit. Must think about getting back to that!
ReplyDeleteGoals from last week:
1. Revise last two chapters of book YES
2. Begin to draft conclusion ACTUALLY DONE!!!!
3. Sign up at Gym so that I have a place to go for exercise. Go at least twice next week. No
4. take care of one more bag of junk. Not really, but I did a massive clean of my desk (there is a surface there) which counts instead.
Reflection: things got in the way of my stopping by the gym on my way home from work (what makes sense) and I got cranky about life. There were kerfuffles at work where I had to deal with hostile emails to a committee I'm on from several colleagues. I sometimes wonder whether people think about the people they are sending things to. . .
Anyway, this week:
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.
Your week sounds VERY productive on the writing and revising front! Inspiring!
DeleteAnd this: "There was a time (pre-computer) when I was revising my dissertation in a remote English cottage. My breaks would be to watch cricket on TV and knit."
Oh my gosh. Yes, please.
I've enjoyed reading other people's ideas of stress relievers. I certainly need stress relievers for work (when I have only an hour break in a 6-hour teaching day) and home (where our high-energy kid runs me ragged). Things I can imagine doing:
ReplyDelete-coloring books (so glad to see so many other intellectual adults not only doing this but admitting it! I thought it was only me! By pure happenstance, my coloring books and colored pencils surfaced last night)
-crochet (but crochet is only stress-relieving, as heu mihi noted on my blog, when I'm doing something I know how to do well -- I recently started a slouch hat working in the round for the first time, and it was not stress-relieving -- I'm not done but I haven't gone back to it)
-watching shows (I'm on the sixth season of Northern Exposure -- no Fleischman, don't go! I love your Jewishness!!!), but I seriously need to consider what I'm watching to make sure it's relaxing and how late I'm watching it
-meditation, when I can get myself to do it
-tai chi, as best as I can remember it
-baths (especially good for relieving sciatica, which has been very bad)
-writing
-listen to music: this is probably the big one for work
Report on Last Week's Goals
-work out at least twice this week: I worked out once and felt pretty good, but then later that night I had terrible terrible chest pains, like I thought I'd had a heart attack, but then later I felt fine
-get draft together of short chapter (which probably breaks down into working on it several times this week): nope
-prep and write several big emails to get those projects done: nope
-keep head from exploding by engaging in frequent stress-relieving breaks by. . .???: my chest exploded instead of my head; I was really grouchy at family this week, granted because of pain, but I need to work on that
-engage in research and reflection on what kinds of stress-relieving breaks would work (saying I'll meditate is fine, but maybe there are better things I like more -- I'm seriously open to ideas!!!!): sure, let's call reading other people's posts on this as "research"
-compile Big Project drafts so I can take stock of what I got done in the last quarter: nope
-prep somewhat: this I rocked. I seriously figured out two out of my three classes, including the new prep
So the big impediment to getting things done last week was my health, which would suggest that I should go to the quack, but. . .I don't wanna. I better, but I don't wanna.
This Week's Goals
-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
This list makes me want to curl back up in bed!
I'm sorry. Not a 6-hour teaching day. An 8-hour teaching day.
DeleteThat IS a big list. I wonder if there is a way to make it shorter? Cut out a few things? Focus more on the stress relief? Of course, these are the same questions I ask myself, and I know things DO need to get done. But those chest pains sound worrisome...
DeleteJust out of curiosity, I'm wondering what two things on this list are you most eager to do? Which two things are you least eager to do?
Topic: Well, as I said, I posted this topic because I need to make some mindful changes. Last week, I did a bit more exercise in general, and a couple of times, I used 5-minute breaks for exercise. Sometimes, I didn't even use five whole minutes; I just did a few squats and/or push-ups and sit-ups. One time, I took a 5-10 minute walk up a hill on our street, and that was great. Since I'm sitting so much for work, moving will be good for breaks, such as small chores, little bits of exercises, and short walks up the street or around the block. If I throw in a glass of water and/or a piece of fruit, my habits will be much better than when I'm just sitting, writing/reading, and snacking for hours without moving. But I think I also want to get back to doing more knitting. And I just remembered, I used to play guitar for five-minute breaks when I was single. I should do that more, too.
ReplyDeleteLast week's goals:
1) walk 3x, swim 1x, yoga 1x.---> Not exactly, but I did well. I walked 3x and swam 2x. I love the swimming! (But my pool is 25 minutes away, so it's takes time.)
2) explore possible organizational patterns for Chapter 2--->Yes, I drafted a few outlines, but I didn't pin anything down.
3) read a LOT of secondary material (too much to list, but I'll aim for at least 10 chapters of secondary books)--->I read some, but not 10. Probably more like 5. Not enough.
Analysis: Last week, I was making the transition from editing chapter 1 to doing major research and development for chapter 2, so I was moving from line editing and fixing footnotes, to reading and researching. I did not make this transition smoothly. The reading just feels SO slow and so much less productive than the editing. I did more exercise, but it seemed to be at the expense of productivity. This week, I hope to keep up with the exercise as I pick up the pace on research.
This week's goals:
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.)
Cabin in the redwoods sounds good to me!
DeleteWhat an good topic! I'm terrible at taking healthy breaks. I usually go for a walk and have a coffee, but that is expensive over the long run and involves sugar... And I'm finding that I cannot do caffeine as much as my younger self, so that doesn't work. I am replacing a lot of those with tea, but it still involves sugar so it not ideal. Talking to people doesn't work, I'm not sure there's such a thing as a 10 minute conversation... I find that getting away from the desk actually breaks my concentration too much, so reading something light tends to be the more effective strategy for me.
ReplyDeleteLast week's goals:
1) Data for CP1, polish and send away DONE
2) Write conference abstract based on outline for NP1 NOT DONE
3) Workshop field guide and program DONE except for my own abstract... Handy to be the organizer sometimes!
I will be skipping next week's check-in since I will be knee-deep in visiting scientists. But for the check-in after that I have plans.
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
Maybe just stretching at your desk? Doing some squats to get the blood moving? Those are some things I might try: 30-second breaks when that's the best I can do.
DeleteHave fun with the scientists! :)
Such great suggestions for breaks! I’m not sure I have anything to add, as I think everything on my list has already been posted.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. Draft writing plan for manuscript: started
2. Finish last week’s meditation: yes.
3. Submit book review: yes, and so glad.
Regarding writing plan: I hope to meet with my department chair soon to see if there is a possibility for funding or course release. I am planning to apply for a small grant for summer. I created a list of the initial big tasks for manuscript writing and revision but don’t want to attach dates to it until I have a sense of what my teaching load will be through spring and summer.
This week:
1. Read remaining chapters for book review 2.
2. Work on IRB paperwork for co-authored project.
3. Do some research for October presentation.
Yay for sending off the book review! Good luck with plans to approach department chair. Funding and release time would be so great.
DeleteI hate everything right now. So excuse any cynical or grumpy tone in the following!
ReplyDeleteTopic: Well, I tried to use my 5 minutes yesterday to do a little stretching, and a muscle in my back has gone into spasm and although it's settled down if I lie down or stand very still, I can only type, sit or do multiple other tasks without distracting levels of pain if I keep my left arm tucked into my side like I am pretending to be a T-rex with stupidly short arms. This is especially annoying as my typing style involves using most of the fingers on my left hand and just one on the right on the far side of the keyboard, because the right hand has to do the stupid mousing, plus is the hand where I am prone to RSI problems so have got into the habit of gross movement (as if the wrist and palm are a solid unit) rather than finer more dextrous movement like typing with multiple fingers. It's not so hard that I can't type, witness rant, but it's rather last straw ish! As is having spent the morning shortlisting for a job only to get an email saying there is a problem with the HR software which will be dealt with this afternoon and all my shortlisting will be reset and have to be redone (it all has to be done online). And I feel gross because yesterday evening after a very stressful day at work I ate cheese, white bread and chocolate ice-cream as an evening meal and it was delicious but my system is sulking a lot about processing it and it's taking all of my energy not to admit to myself I'm uber-stressed and dissolve into tears or worse behaviour. GRRRRR. Guess having to stop short-listing legitimates a blogging break though, silver linings and all that.
On topic: I like the idea of a wandering break, but I also have food issues under stress, and wandering almost always takes me past candy machines, coffee outlets etc. Yes, I could carry no cash, but we are under strict instructions not to leave any money, cards or mobile phones/laptops even in locked offices (because the builders are in, not because the builders are suspect, but because they need to keep opening doors and then leave them on the latch and now students are back and perfectly innocently wandering in and out of pretty much every room in the building being lost, even rooms with big no entry signs (apparently one wandered into the Hidden Shower Room on the top floor, which has a dodgy latch but a very clear staff only sign and the indicator showing occupied works on the latch, just the actual bit that physically locks the door slips sometimes, and anyway this student ended up having their first meeting with their tutor be more awkward than necessary as the tutor was starkers and near-blind being without their glasses as they showered after cycling to the office), so it's considered sensible to carry means of paying, and I have NO WILL POWER for resisting calories because I'm too busy resisting sarcasm, temper tantrums, tears, and the desire to throw things or just leave and go home). I did mention I am in a bad mood today?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, topic. so IN OFFICE stretching type things are good (when my back plays along) or shutting the door, playing a single song From My Youff, and dancing dramatically like a teen (water bottles can substitute for hairbrushes if a microphone is required). Which has the advantage of almost always making me laugh, too. it's good being on the ground floor so no wierd thumping in the ceiling of the office below me.
Or opening the window wide, standing next to it and breathing deeply, whilst looking at the sky, especially when the weather is cold and brisk - yes, luxury to have a window, but this is one way to take advantage of it and get a little light therapy as well.
Go hang out with the smokers behind the building (on a windy day, upwind) - THEY know how to have 10 minute convos and aren't usually looking for calories, plus are mostly either old-timers or the most cynical of colleagues so relatively fun to hang out with.
Watch a Maru youtube video. Very fuzzy cats cramming themselves into small containers always make me happy. Or the one where the adult dogs are waiting in perfect sits for a treat and the puppy rushes past and steals all the treats. You may prefer sneezing baby pandas or sloths swimming, but there's a 'happy video' out there for everyone.
Declaiming. Saying it again because it's fun, and I tend to forget it, but it's definitely effective for me.
Biggest challenge - actually taking the break or FINDING five minutes on a teaching/meeting day. second biggest challenge - keeping it to five minutes. Micro-chores at home are far too prone to drifting into other stuff for me. And twenty minutes later I'm on the couch with a magazine and a coffee ignoring the world. Basically, I'm just so crap at this willpower thing...
And the rest of the report in:
Deletegoals: 1) go through both sets of minor revision instructions, email co-authors with any parts I can't do myself or they can do more quickly - yesterday I did one set completely and sent them off for co-author checking, haven't touched the other.
2) complete a rough draft of each section of the administrivia report and email all the colleagues who need to send me information or add bits - have a full draft and most of the info from colleagues, but at least one is absent for Good Reasons (which makes a change from their usual Weak Reasons or Unstated Reasons or Flakiness) so it won't go in complete but it IS nearly done as far as _I_ can control.
3) rough out the grant budget and put down bullet points of what needs to go in each section - no - because I got distracted by putting together a small but multi-partner bid for funding from a body with a tight deadline. But that is costed, done, written, submitted, so... fingers crossed.
4) be nice to JaneB... do at least two sanity-supporting things each day (early to bed, exercise, crochet or other handwork, work on my NaNo-writing, sitting on the back step in daylight with a cuppa and nothing else to do for at least fifteen minutes...) - did a bit, but not enough and not consistently enough.
Analysis of the current week: this is a particularly messy sort of week as it's the first week back, induction week, syllabus week, call it what you will. So classes don't really start, but there are loads of one-off events and meetings, students are everywhere, lots of individual project meetings to get through, and this year at least the department is like a stirred ants nest if the ants were actually a collection of anti-collectivist academics because of all the undone things that are now past urgent into Critical Final Countdown like the fact that although most classes for next week are scheduled we still don't have a final, complete timetable and some are still missing and some are booked into labs which are not going to be finished in time, and the admin team can't keep on top of it so it's down to individuals to find alternative options and individually request that booking changes are made and individually notify those who need to know and because there are students everywhere we need to be professional and positive when in public, so... it's fraught. Around that, there are spaces to do things, though - it just takes planning, so that I can launch into the task when I hit the spare bit of time. Most of this is TRQ like preparing teaching stuff, so not much TLQ space. However...
goals for the week:
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.
I just want to say the idea of sitting out on the back step with a cuppa for 15 minutes is so good I'm going to try to do it!
DeleteRegarding the smokers: A friend of mine once said that she wished she smoked just so she would be forced to take 10-15 minute breaks. I smoked from ages 14-21. I don't recommend it, but I do know what she means! A cuppa is a good alternative. And breaths of fresh air are the best. I *am* jealous of your window, JaneB. Well, despite your crappy week and grumpy mood, you seem to have done fairly well with your goals!
DeleteBTW, what is your favorite healthy snack?
For breaks, I roll out with a lacrosse ball that I usually keep in my bag--it helps work out sticky tension from sitting and reading/grading/writing, whatnot. And I take walks around the building if I'm at the office. I find that helps me get refocused. If I'm at home, I'll take the dog for a walk.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm usually pretty good at exercise, I would like to add yoga at least once a week, and really make sure that i'm getting four days of work outs in.
I think I met my goals from last week. I did indulge a bit this weekend after a stressful six hour doctor's visit with the kid, so I had some alcohol. And pizza. And it was good.
I finished one of the books I needed to reread. I'd started the next one and realized it was helpful for the grad class I was teaching and not so much the article, so I put it aside once I got the class stuff out of it. I've started the next book I need to reread, and the goal is to get through that this week and just start plowing through articles next week.
I am taking Karen's advice and writing now as I go. I got about 750 words in today and identified three areas that really need to be fleshed out immediately. 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. It's doable I think. Thanks again for letting me be a part of this. This is very helpful. I feel good right now. I think in three weeks when I have to start putting together a book proposal that might change, but at least for now I feel like I'm making progress, and that helps with my stress more than anything really.
Yay for feeling positive progress! And a six-hour doctor visit? Sheesh. I don't blame you for the booze and pizza.
DeleteAnd I hope the kiddo is okay!
DeleteHere I am--a very late check in (again). Quick report:
ReplyDelete1) now that I can eat again, eat healthfully
2) write 2x
3) 1 hour decluttering
4) put materials for letter of rec in a folder
5) go see a play this weekend
Yes too all!
For this week:
1) write 2x
2) work on class prep for 2 hours
3) read draft for AD
4) check in on time!!!
Very late check-in to say that this week seems to have gotten away from me, though I've gotten a few things done. Let's just say that last week's goals, which I'll paste below, are also this week's goals, and I'll take stock of both weeks and try to do a better job of planning for next week at the next check-in. So, here are the goals for the last two weeks:
ReplyDelete1) 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)
I need to figure out the quick-break thing. I'm really not very good at doing anything for a brief period of time, since I find transitions difficult, and taking a short break involves two transitions in quick succession. For me, exercise is probably the best option for a quick break, followed by household chores. But I'm looking forward to reading and contemplating others' suggestions above, and seeing whether any of them could work for me.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteJust doing a crazy early checkin as I will be away almost all week.
This week's goals:
1) Prioritise health, preferably by exercising 4x this week, and cutting out unhealthy snacking - MOSTLY. I did lots of walking but have to admit to eating chocolate this last hour on a Friday afternoon
2) Finish some rewriting on draft paper JL and start doing a final check of the data. SOME. I will aim to finish this by the next checkin (which I will probably do late)
3) Finish one transcript. MOSTLY. It was very slow going.
allan Wilson (aw)
As I am on leave next week my goals are a bit different:
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.
So looking forward to being away!
allan wilson