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.
Last week ran away with me! So a sort of double check in
ReplyDelete1) be nice to JaneB. Do just enough. Your goal is to get to December 18th with all classes taught, talks given, conferences attended. I was moderately nice to JaneB. I didn't push, I focused on what I could control, I made it back to the gym. It wasn't easy but I was keeping going. I now have a cold, as of yesterday. I hope it stays a cold... so far this year the main 'Fresher's 'flu' bug is a chesty cold, hoping I just got a mild version of that.
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.). worked on the grant for an hour or two both weeks, but have to submit it tomorrow for internal review and permission to submit, and it#s not ready for that (as there are nearly 4 weeks to the actual deadline, working steadily, cold, etc.), so after this I have to wrestle with it. Also wrote two applications for university PhD studentships and edited a third where I'd be a committee member - forms are 5 pages of 200 word boxes on this, that and the other, then a 1-2 page project description and an advert. Odds of getting one - vanishingly small. But, y'know, we try so we can't be accused of having a bad attitude.
3) deal with responses from co-authors and resubmit the revised papers, if at all possible... yes, and they are NOW OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED happy dance - \o\ /o/ \o\ ::pause to cough:: /o/ \o\ /o/ ::coughcoughcough::
4) write a couple of paragraphs for International Working Group Thing.written, sent off for comments, did next thing, sent off for comments, no comments. Should chase but...
Sometimes doing just enough is enough to keep things moving. That in itself is pleasurable! I'm just about on top of my teaching prep, though not paid needed attention to stuff coming up beyond next week, and my admin is neglected, and pretty much everything on my to do list is getting more urgent, but that's life.
goals for next week:
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
Yay for accepted papers!!!! This is Crunchier, right? Congratulations!
DeleteYay! If that's Crunchier, it's like an old friend getting a golden send-off. :)
DeleteYes, yay for accepted papers! That's fantastic. Sounds it like was, despite the cold, a good week for TLQ.
DeleteHappy dance!!! And maybe a hot toddy...
DeleteYes, this is Crunchier AND Crunchier's Little Brother, both accepted!! :-)
DeleteCongratulations Jane B, so awesome to get papers accepted.
DeleteI can empathise with your 2) - we now have a new system where all ms submissions now have to be approved by higher ups in an online system prior to them going anywhere!!! I mean really?! It feels as though as scientists we are not trusted to be professional. aw
Topic: I do get moments of joy from the self-care things, especially exercising (walking), and, if not the process of cooking (which is satisfying but I wouldn't say joyful), then having good food in the house (I'm actually pretty good at cooking things that are both tasty and good for me, and I enjoy eating them). I also genuinely enjoy research and writing, which are not part of my official job (which may well make them more enjoyable; there is, if not a forbidden-fruit, then at least a sort of "so there!" quality to doing such work), and are usually part of my TLQ (though not much at the moment; one of the goals of shoring up the infrastructure is to allow more time for doing those things without worrying that I'm ignoring something vital that's crumbling/burning while I research/write).
ReplyDeleteLast week's goals:
1) Do necessary follow-up on finished cooking (mostly freezing) and additional cooking as time allows.
both some follow-up and some additional cooking accomplished; additional follow-up now needed
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).
not perfect, but the nights I missed my bedtime it was by 90 minutes at most, and usually considerably less, not half the night
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.
took one walk (and not immediately after I declared I was doing to last week; can't remember what intervened, other than inertia
4) some progress on household/financial tasks (especially financial).
not much on any of this
Analysis: I've reached the part of the semester where the grading really hits, and also have several planned responsibilities (a conference, a church class I think I mentioned last week as a "do it well enough" candidate) coming up in November, plus a major professional-development opportunity that cropped up considerably later than I would have preferred, and it badly scheduled, but I decided to to anyway. Oh, and I just learned that the laundry room in my building will be undergoing a much-needed major renovation (yay!), but that means that it will be out of commission for about a week starting a week from now, and that value stored on the current payment cards needs to be used up, since we're switching contractors, and cards (and -- oops -- I just topped up the card). I'm beginning to feel in some danger of being overwhelmed, and experiencing the usual symptoms thereof, including not doing as much as I could actually do in the time available because I can't decide what to do first, and really being in need of a real break but not being able to find time to take one. So I'm thinking goals should be modest, and lean toward self-care:
Goals for this week:
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.
That part of the semester leaves me spinning in circles both figuratively and literally. In my office or in my house, I can't settle on anything. I hope you move through it effectively. Maybe that's when we need to do what Earnest English says, and "move like water."
DeleteThese modest goals sound like a really good way of keeping a firm foundation that will carry you through as the teaching work loads up.
DeleteNotes on Tiny Beautiful Things of TLQ
ReplyDeleteI often feel like a significant part of my identity as well as my true loves are bound up in TLQ activities, especially because the writing I love the most is not the writing that is valued in my job. So if I forget TLQ, I'm going to forget myself. And be imbalanced and grumpy for the people in my life as well. That's not good. And of course health is in TLQ and therefore is just crucial to my life, since my past methods of being productive weren't healthy and have managed to get me into all sorts of health trouble. So even if I don't always enjoy TLQ activities, I must do them to be a complete person and more so recently, to be alive at all.
Last Week's Goals
-Keep calm. Nothing's worth killing yourself over. Move like water
I did a much better job on this during a particularly crazy and crazy-making week. Next week will be calmer (though Absurdist Kid's birthday is coming up so it may be a craziness of a different sort), and I hope to not be doing very last-minute prepping and pushing off grading responses.
-15 minutes of writing is still writing.
Yes, it is. And I'm getting a bit done here and there. I don't even want to think about how many days I actually was able to do this.
-Take magnesium supplement 2x a day and see if that makes me feel better.
Nope. I didn't do this. It was a good idea but I didn't do it.
-Be organized about food and eat and admit when I need a break.
I've been a bit better about food and eating. I've also been much better about admitting my own limits.
-Be good enough about grading and prep.
Oh yes. Merely good enough and not even necessarily good enough. But an important part of good enough is, I think, not berating one's self thinking one ought to do more. I've got a crazy schedule, and I'm doing my best. That's it. That's good enough.
-Read more, when possible.
Ha ha.
Analysis
I noticed this week that I work better and feel better about my work when I work in small amounts. For example, there were two activities that I needed to get done this week that I worked on a bit and then planned that I would work again on it a bit later. This allowed me to put my brain on the issues twice, which helped me feel like I really deeply considered and appreciated complexity while addressing the issue. This is because I'm one of those people who like some time to consider an issue. I need to do this more and make this a regular part of how I approach things.
I've also been doing a pretty decent job of trying to look forward in my teaching so prep doesn't sneak up on me. I need to continue this habit of looking forward.
I did not do a great job of getting to bed on time on all days, but wow am I better than I used to be.
I've been doing a pretty decent job of moving like water, so that when I found myself with back to back stuff to do from 10-6 last Friday, I found that by the end I was not absolutely dead, just mostly dead, but I was in a good mood. The big difference here was really in my attitude. The week before I was dead and overwhelmed and unhappy about it. This week I was mostly dead but positive because that's what I expected and made allowances for. I feel like this time in my life is all about realizing my own limitations and changing my expectations accordingly. In short: wisdom.
This Week's Goals
-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!
It sounds like you had a lot of successes this week! Congratulations. And I like the idea of watching documentaries being part of "filling the well."
DeleteI really like the idea that part of wisdom is knowing enough about yourself to know your own limits, and having enough compassion for yourself not to push them.
Delete"Beautiful little things". What a lovely thought. For me there are the moments when a set of ideas becomes clear, and it's just, "Oh, this is why I do this". There are similar moments in teaching, when a student lights and up and you know you've reached them.
ReplyDeleteGoals from last week:
1. Keep up with the exercise. Extend outside MWF. NO -- I got a cold, and I kept going, but exercise was not on the list.
2. Input rest of revisions to ms, send to editor and friend. YES.
3. Start work on conference paper for next week (really, this is TRQ, but . . . Yes, and I have a draft, which I'll finish this afternoon.
4. Move forward on syllabus planning. A very small bit.
Analysis. Like JaneB, I have a cold. Started getting it on Monday, and did what I had to do all week (very much at the "good enough" level) but had no energy for extra stuff. The week included hosting our diocesan bishop and several other people who are doing a long charity bicycle ride, and 16 people at a pot luck at my house on Thursday night. So the fact that I got as much as I did done, I'm really pleased. But exercise was clearly not in the cards.
Goals for week ahead will be modest, as I leave for a conference on Wednesday, and have to guest speak/ lead a seminar on a topic I don't know much about.
Next week's goals:
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
Good luck with the conference. I'd say that working on the conference paper furthur out that the in hotel room the night before probably counts as TLQ :)
DeleteSome tiny beautiful things:
ReplyDeleteWriting a balanced and striking line of prose.
Having an idea that seemingly tumbles out of the sky and into my hands.
Turning that idea into a research project.
Finding a colleague who shares my sensibilities about pedagogy or research and celebrating that together.
Echoing Susan on students’ epiphanies.
Last week:
1. Revise methodology section for grant proposal: no.
2. Make an appointment to meet with one committee member: no.
3. Do research for rapidly-approaching October presentation: no.
Analysis:
Although I didn’t revise the methodology yet or meet with a committee member, I met with a staff member and the director of research, both of whom gave me excellent feedback and suggestions. Revising and finishing the proposal needs to be a priority this week. The presentation, which is more of a talk than a research presentation, has some preliminary research completed for a curriculum proposal I wrote last year. It should not be too taxing, but I should not have left it to the last. One of those habits I’m working to change.
This week:
1. Finish revisions from grant proposal.
2. Organize information for presentation.
3. Work 15 minutes on tiny project 3x.
Oh the joy of a balanced line of prose. I hope you can include many of them in your grant proposal.
DeleteOne thing about sabbatical is that I have time to experience and notice tiny beautiful things--things for which I'm so grateful--while I do TLQ. Here are some recent few:
ReplyDelete--the beauty of the water in the pool when I take time to swim
--the beauty of the ideas that I grapple with when I'm writing and, especially, when I'm reading
--The beauty of my daughter saying: "Mama, why do you do so much for me?" (when usually she's just sad about how much I'm working)
I wish so much that we all could have more time in our lives to *just live*. It really makes ALL the difference. But we *don't* usually get to do that. We are so busy. I would love to figure out how to be productive while still feeling the way I do right now.
Last week's goals:
1) Complete paperwork for conference reimbursement that must be sent through both email and snail mail (involved scanning, going to the PO, etc.).--YES!!
2) Read 5-6 chapters/articles. YES.
3) Write 500 words for chapter. YES.
4) Evening checks-ins to schedule the next day. NO.
5) Get supplies for daughter's costume and the Halloween party that she's hosting on the 23rd. Help her send invitations. YES and NO. Sent invitations, go a few more supplies. Still need one more thing for the costume and still need a few more decorations and all the groceries.
6) Clean out fridge. YES! And a snack cabinet (followed by big shopping trip for groceries).
Goals for this week:
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
I feel like I'm forgetting something.
I just love the sincerity of children when they are spontaneously appreciative. We've just had a 5 year old birthday, and the delight at everything being the 'best X ever' was so nice to share. Hope the Halloween party goes well, and that the real prose starts to crystallise.
DeleteTiny Beautiful Things: I love the feeling when the puzzle pieces fall into place in a piece of writing. I love feeling strong and healthy. And the feeling of a job well done.
ReplyDelete1) nightly check-in (plan the next day, plan food, plan exercise)--most nights, fell off a bit at the end of the week.
2) stay consistent with exercise (4x) and cleaning the bunny hutch (2x)--yes, even did 5 days of exercise
3) write 3x--not really, but did get a little writing in
4) 1 hour total decluttering--zip.
5) (TRQ, really) class prep--yes! The course is live! And I'm already getting confused and whiny emails from students! Success!
The combo of hubby out-of-town, easy guests, PMS, lead up to my course going live, and lots of commitments this weekend made for a crazy week. I did get approval for the changes to my course (reluctantly, I think; but they're interested in keeping me happy in case I turn out to be a really good teacher). I got to go to a fantastic concert on Friday night. And I spent Saturday at a children's book writer's conference with some writer friends (including a critique group friend I met for the first time in person). It was definitely a well-filling event, and I got great feedback on a MS I submitted for review.
I did realize in thinking about Tiny Beautiful Things that my family should be on my TLQ radar a bit more. My son just this week said he feels like I'm not really available much. I told him he could always interrupt me, and then told him to scram while I was taking a nap today. Not my finest parenting moment. So I'm adding him to TLQ.
The week ahead:
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
Well done on having the course go live - and taking time for all the well-filling events. Time for family is a difficult, continual negotiation - I do like the idea of being intentional about one special activity for each kid.
DeleteI'm glad you got permission to make some course changes. I think all of us (and perhaps particularly those of us working in contingent positions) need to stand up for the idea that it really doesn't make sense (except for accreditation purposes) to hire a Ph.D. (or any experienced/credentialed teacher) to teach a class if you're not going to give her some autonomy in designing and redesigning the class. Online programs seem especially vulnerable to interference/micromanagement/general rigidity from on high. And, because accreditation agencies do demand instructors of record with terminal degrees in the relevant subject area, this is one area where we *should* have some leverage, if we say we just won't teach under certain conditions (of course, you'd think that would work for salary, class size, et al. as well, but it doesn't. Still, loss of autonomy could definitely push me over the edge into looking for other work.)
DeleteCC: Yes--the lack of autonomy was surprising, and different from what I was told in my interview. Happily, I'll be part of a discussion at the end of term about what changes to make to the course. I think there's someone else teaching it right now as well, but the "old" way. It is, however, lovely not to have to prepare lectures for each week. And I've been welcomed back to the world of teaching by some great/not great student emails (including a "this course is going to be too much work for me" one. ha!)
Delete1. Tiny Beautiful TLQs: such a lovely topic, especially as I was kind of disheartened coming here (to share quickly: I did a task last week that needed to be done, but not perfectly, and nobody else wanted to do it, so I thought I'd volunteer and just do a "good enough" job with it. So I did, and was actually pretty pleased with myself that this task, that needed to be done, and quickly, but really not brilliantly, got done. But then the chair got all upset with me for not doing a good enough job on this task--and well, it's been hard for me to get over the criticism.) So normally I would say, "the beauty of a job done--even if not quite perfectly--is still beautiful" but now I don't know anymore. I DID feel happy and fulfilled about having done this task that nobody else wanted to do, but there's no way I can maintain the feeling in the face of criticism.
ReplyDelete2. Goals from last week and week before:
a. prep lectures, but don't overdo it --> yes, did quite a lot actually, but happy about it, b/c lectures went well
b. write & send off grading rubric for essays --> yes, but now behind on grading
c. meet w/colleagues --> yes, various meetings, including the one where I volunteered to do this task
d. TRY AGAIN: 5 mins on HA paper, 4 days --> no, gave up on that
e. walk daily, lunch in pleasant environment, no email/computer at night, go to bed on time --> good progress, getting into a good routine
3. Analysis: well, the goals were of two weeks ago, so they'd changed a bit for the last week, mostly in the sense that writing is not on the table at this point in the semester. Since I don't know where to go with the paper, the daily writing practice doesn't seem to make much sense. But there will be a lull in my semester soon enough, where I can carve out a few longer writing sessions, so that's what I'll do.
4. Planning: serioulsy, I need to get over this thing with my (important senior) colleague--but it's hard! More immediately, I need to step up the grading, and skimp a bit on teaching prep if necessary to make room for more grading. And I need to keep up the self-care, to get to a better place where I don't feel so devastated by colleague's criticism.
5. Goals:
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
That does sound hard, stepping up when no-one else would and then not being supported for it. Self-care and listening to yourself on your own value is a good way forward.
DeleteI think your answer to Chair gets to be, "I'd be so happy to let someone else do X next time." And then go get a massage.
DeleteI think that would make me very angry. That kind of scolding does not encourage people to take on extra tasks. I'm sorry that happened. But it does speak to the difficulty of determining what is good enough, and *when* good enough is good enough.
DeletePerfect reply, Amstr!
DeleteMy small things are much like other already listed: a turn of phrase that captures an idea, the satisfaction of a tick off the to-do list, bits of garden that have been a series of snatched minutes and small jobs turning into a whole, the focused simplicity of moving through water when swimming.
ReplyDeleteThis week:
1. Continue screen shutdown and eating in the best place rules.
Yes on screen, mostly on eating (we did manage one dinner out in the courtyard).
2. 15 minutes writing in the office first thing (or first thing after teaching) each working day.
2 days out of 4.
3. Try yoga/physio stretches for 5 minutes each morning.
One morning.
This was the last teaching week of semester, so it felt like survival was a sufficient achievement. Plus a birthday to organise for my now 5 year old, which went off with minimal meltdowns from children and adults. On the big picture side of things, we locked in Christmas travel plans.
Next week:
I have a mountain of final marking to so, and most urgently, an art exhibition which I am curating and making some content for needing to be ready for installation next week. And my parents, who have been visiting for the last couple of weeks are leaving tomorrow - which means the on tap babysitting disappears, and the children will be bereft about the absence of their favorite toy/grandma.
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.
Congrats on making it through the last week of the semester! (and through the b-day party, too!)
DeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI disappeared for last week - in the spirit of "just do enough" from last week... Thanks to grant application week, which was about as much fun as a root canal... But, done for now.
So my conference went really well. The group was fabulous and we had a wonderful time. Nobody did anything unsafe or silly, and the weather was only marginally terrible for part of the field trip (usually it snows on that trip so it was a step up!).
Goals from that week:
1) Data for CP1, polish and send away DONE
2) Write conference abstract based on outline for NP1 DONE
3) Workshop field guide and program DONE
Lesson learned about hosting conferences: Don't bother giving a talk, really, just don't! It went fine and it wasn't a terrible talk, but my head wasn't in the game in between worrying about food and transport and flights and equipment and fees and budgeting etc.
From two weeks ago... Two weeks worth of goals:
1) Revise and submit 2 old papers that are almost ready... DONE
2) Write data sections for two collaborations and send off. DELAYED thanks to data that turned out more complicated than expected - major meeting about that in a couple of weeks.
3) Start grant application DONE and FINISHED, it sucked but it is done. Now being reviewed internally and then I get another shot at editing it. So I'm going to not think about it for a whole week.
This week's goals:
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...
Topic: Small good things are great, the satisfaction of a nice paragraph, a solution for difficult data, a checked-off to-do list. I like the feelings too... For me that means getting to bed at night knowing I did a good job with whatever I had on my plate that particular day. When I'm on top of TLQ things I also don't feel guilty going to sleep early, and I don't dread waking up the next day knowing what is left waiting for me. Part of the reason I am reviving my reading project for the summer is because it gave me such a nice sense of accomplishment and a feeling of being part of actual "research" even in my small way...
So glad the conference went well! And it sounds like a good lesson learned about "don't do a talk!"
DeleteOh, and it sounds like you have some very big changes occurring. When does partner move?
DeleteIt's just chaos - another week where all of my plans have been turned on their head. There's a journal special edition coming out and the deadline is January. The scary project would be ideal but it is really pushing it for data analysis and write up. Not sure what to do, seems like too good an opportunity to pass by but not sure I have the resources to do a good job of the write up.
ReplyDelete1. Face the photocopier and sort out the scary project research tool for another class. Sort out the online version for distribution.
- not done as class leader hasn't responded.
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.
- ready to anonymise but can't decide about funding (and would now use funding for dealing with scary project)
3. Write out a plan to finish the report (acronym project) and paper.
- not attempted, got tied up with gem stone paper/project instead.
4. Read draft of thesis for student and complete book chapter reviews.
- book chapter reviews are done, not started the thesis.
This week:
1. sort out the scary project
2. work more on gemstone
3. anonymise the house project data set
It's semester, the little things are simply eating lunch, taking 5 minutes to chat to a student who isn't having some kind of crisis, being able to spend small pieces of time on TLQ stuff.
aw
ReplyDelete1) Give paper draft JL to bountiful leader for comment -NO
2) Exercise 4x -YES
3) Keep eating on track by staying away from rubbish foods and sugar in particular -YES
4) Think about how I can do 'enough' and know when to stop -YES
Hi all, my last comment was eaten so this will be brief. I got very disheartened by working on CR- I asked my collaborator to send through the final data for her section so I could redraw the graph and check all is ok before I send it on to our leader for comment, but nothing eventuated despite lots of promising. This kind of thing just saps my energy, and at the moment I am really tired and I feel like walking away. I have this problem with a couple of current collaborators, who I have privately sworn I will never collaborate with again. So, small things,- I'm finding this a bit tough this week. But usually walking in sunshine, and smelling the sea. In academia - I don't know this week! I am thinking about leaving and taking up a career writing books instead!
Goals for next week:
1) Exercise
2) Try not to overeat.
3) Collect and enter data I need.
aw
I'd love to hear more about how you are figuring out "enough" and when to stop.
DeleteAnd congrats on all your great progress this week!
I have been enjoying my sabbatical so much that now all I want to do is stay home and live the life of a writer. But when I told my husband I wasn't going back to work, he just laughed. And then I laughed. I'll keep dreaming . . .
DeleteI'm glad you are still walking in sunshine and smelling the sea, but I do hope things smooth out a bit.
Hello, I am checking-in late…
ReplyDelete1. Topic
Beautiful things. It is difficult for me to find any…but maybe when I find some nice phrases to cheer me up. When I come across some good phrases, I write it down to my small notebook and re-read them sometimes. The latest one I’ve written down is ‘Keep writing’, in an e-mail to me from my supervisor, who I respect very much.
2. Last goals:
1) Finish at least a draft of one of the sections of the article. - Partly finished. At least, first draft of a part.
2) Re-read Chapter 1 and 2 of my planned book, and revise them. - Partly, again. Revision work not started.
3) Do three minute-exercise three times a day. - Once a day. I easily forget!
4) Write for 15 minutes on the article every day. - Done. At least I work on the article every day.
3. Analysis:
It is the reality, but I still surprise how much TRQ things there are. There are some planned and prepared ones, and not planned and not prepared ones, which pop up unexpectedly every day. Dealing with the unexpected is one of the things I am really poor at doing. This week has been the week of ‘the unexpected’. Anyway, I’ve done a little TLQ this week. I must be satisfied with it.
4. Planning:
The deadline is coming soon. Do your best, Matilda!
5. Next goals:
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.
Have a good week, everyone!
It sounds like a fairly productive week! Partial credit counts around here.
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