Hello all! This past week was a tough one for me on a personal level, as I will detail in my report. However, it did give rise to a topic for the week. One evening, I was catching up on a television show and knitting. My son came in to ask me about dinner, with about 2 minutes left in the show. We have a longstanding joke that I am always interrupted within the last 5 minutes of a show, so I responded that he was honing the craft by cutting the time down by half. He then pointed out that I was not only watching the show and knitting, but playing a game on my phone. Although he wasn’t overly upset at my chiding him, he then texted my husband, relating the story, and ending by asking, “How do you do it?”
Despite recent studies that multitasking is not truly possible, I still see time management posts that offer it as a solution to our finite time resources. I have ADD, so multitasking is fatal to mindful work in my case. Am I the only one to be easily distracted by shiny objects? My family teases me by saying, “Squirrel!” when I hop from topic to topic, in honor of our Standard Poodle who drops everything at the glimpse of a squirrel.
We have talked about email distractions in previous weeks, (If you need to shut off Outlook notifications, I copied DH’s instructions into my comment in Week 2). If you have more to say about email, please feel free. Are there other distractions that plague you? How do you address them?
Allan Wilson:
1) deal to FS draft that I have been avoiding
2) work on CR ms that I have also been avoiding
3) find a way to exercise more during the week. Maybe goal of 8,000 steps a day?
Contingent Cassandra:
1. Fit in regular exercise
2. Keep working on establishing bedtime routine
3. Continue work on boxes (one drop off; maybe another load; more sorting/packing)
4. Do some cooking if time.
Daisy:
Only one: Finish the revisions since they are now so TRQ it is not even funny...
Extra goal: As stated above - finish little things instead of letting them carry over. The perceived "improvement" from thinking about them too long is not worth the actual time it takes...
Danne:
Write something for the chapter section every day
-Read one chapter or article a day
-Do some creative writing each day
Earnest English:
1. Research: I got revisions this week for an article I wrote. I at least need to email the editor back. Other than that, I don't have it in me to make goals about research. I'd like to do my morning journaling.
2. Health: I must eat lunch at work. I'm trying to eat better/more vegetables and fewer sweets and simple carbs. I must take exquisite care of myself and my ankle to the point that I feel like I'm wrapped in a loving self-hug all the time. I have to let myself be slow (there's no other way). I need to figure out whether I need to get to the doctor for the shot before I get on a plane. Eat regularly and well. Get good sleep. Take magnesium at night and other supplements religiously. Health has to be priority #1 even though it may not be as exciting as changing the world, one service opportunity at a time.
3. Read. Yes, that's a good idea. Read fun stuff while putting my leg up.
4. Family: Try not to be Crap Mom (see recent blogpost on that if you like) but don't push self too hard to be a perfect mom either. Focusing on my health and attitude helps the family. Pursue piano. Maybe go to homeschooling class with Spirited. Watch X-files with Husband. Try to enjoy here.
5. Herbalism: get the stuff for the Kava Kava drink ordered!
6. Keeping up with work: this week I'll get more to grade, and I need to keep up with it even though I will be out next week. I think I really need to move like water this week -- I have a lot scheduled. I need to keep up and not drive myself crazy and be loving to myself so I'll get well and do everything better.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell: (from Week 3)
Write at least 500 words and clean up a page of footnotes on the critical edition. I am still keeping this one on deck, despite my failures so far.
Finish outlining the short story.
Do better with commenting and responding on this post. Although I have read everyone’s comments last week, I haven’t responded. My apologies!
Good Enough Woman:
1) Help son finish/practice presentation that he'll give on Saturday (it's about getting a rocket into orbit in the game/simulation called Kerbal Space Program)
2) Figure out how to celebrate husband's b-day (in addition to family dinner).
3) Get daughter ready for camp in a non-stressful way.
4) Conference paper down to 10 pages.
5) Start putting together a few slides for conference paper (let's say four images)
6) Print Magic chapter.
7) one chapter/article of criticism
8) Write 500 words for intro
9) 40 pages of primary text
Heu mihi:
1) Shift priority towards talk by reading over chapter that I intend to focus on and doing some generative free-writing re. its key points and what I want to emphasize.
2) When (1) is done, brainstorm/draft a couple of paragraphs about ch. 4 and 5 that rough in the material that I want to bring in to the talk.
3) Grade 4 (short) papers/day.
4) Read friend's chapter for Friday's writing group.
humming42:
1 draft short bio piece
2 draft extended abstract
3 decide whether to submit fascinating abstract
JaneB:
1) sleep and food
2) gym once (this weekend, Sat or Sun. Meant to go yesterday, ended up being at work from 08:30 to 7pm and after that I'd just had enough of people)
3) reply to DrVisit about a joint paper.
4) freewrite about Picky Paper. I think I have an emotional problem with Picky Paper I just can't quite catch hold of it and drag it out into the light to take a good look at it and see if it's a mouse or a mammoth, as the strategies need to be different depending).
Karen:
1. Finish pulling apart paper.
2. 15 minutes freewriting at beginning of each work day
3. 250 words added (minimum) each day.
4. 3 x exercise
5. 10.30 screen time curfew, and evening work to be only set small tasks with time limit.
KJHaxton:
Marking. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
Kris: (from week 3)
1. Finish track record for the project I do have faith in.
2. 2.5 full writing days on the paper, with the aim of a complete rough draft.
3. Do my research/writing plan for the year. I must do this or I've no chance of pursuing my own research interests.
4. Nice things: dinner on beach with friends and family; yoga or jogging every day this week.
Matilda (from week 2)
1) Finish the paper.
2) Start to write the short article.
3) Write documents for my sabbatical 2017.
4) Have less snacks at night.
5) Exercise for 5 minutes three times a day
Scottish Writer (from week 2)
1) Finalise last Semester’s grades and get through exam boards
2) Hand over one big admin role to colleague
3) Draft of one grant application
4) 2x 1 hour article writing sessions
5) 2x 1 hour translation sessions
6) No work at the weekend.
Susan:
1. Read book and write book review which is now (a little) overdue
2. Start reading books for book prize committee
3. Get one journal off the shelf -- go through, read relevant articles, and put potential teaching or future project stuff in zotero
4. Keep up with exercise -- goal of 5 days is good.
5. Get sleep schedule regular
6. Get in some weeding. We've been having rain, which means weeds are *very* happy!
Email is a huge distraction for me. But more so just my tendency to remember things that seem urgent in the middle of other tasks. Instead of just writing these new tasks down, I immediately open up another file or tab or whatever. I need to just write stuff down. It often happens that I'm in the middle of one thing and then realize I need to do something else to get it done, but when it's unrelated, I need to write it down.
ReplyDeleteLast Week's Goals
1. Research: I got revisions this week for an article I wrote. I at least need to email the editor back. Other than that, I don't have it in me to make goals about research. I'd like to do my morning journaling. DONE and recommitted to my project this week along with concrete yet workable goals and big plans for the summer.
2. Health: I must eat lunch at work. I'm trying to eat better/more vegetables and fewer sweets and simple carbs. I must take exquisite care of myself and my ankle to the point that I feel like I'm wrapped in a loving self-hug all the time. I have to let myself be slow (there's no other way). I need to figure out whether I need to get to the doctor for the shot before I get on a plane. Eat regularly and well. Get good sleep. Take magnesium at night and other supplements religiously. Health has to be priority #1 even though it may not be as exciting as changing the world, one service opportunity at a time. MUCH BETTER
3. Read. Yes, that's a good idea. Read fun stuff while putting my leg up. YES
4. Family: Try not to be Crap Mom (see recent blogpost on that if you like) but don't push self too hard to be a perfect mom either. Focusing on my health and attitude helps the family. Pursue piano. Maybe go to homeschooling class with Spirited. Watch X-files with Husband. Try to enjoy here. YES!
5. Herbalism: get the stuff for the Kava Kava drink ordered! ORDERED!
6. Keeping up with work: this week I'll get more to grade, and I need to keep up with it even though I will be out next week. I think I really need to move like water this week -- I have a lot scheduled. I need to keep up and not drive myself crazy and be loving to myself so I'll get well and do everything better. DONE
Next week's goals
1. Research: Write at least 3x for half hour. Work on article revisions.
2. Health: Here I need to be good to my leg and take my supplements and generally be very good to myself when it comes to food and stress.
3. Read: Bring a book for the plane and to help go to sleep.
4. Family: Love them this weekend.
5. Herbalism: Nothing doing on this front.
6. Work: I'm taking grading with me on my trip, and I'd like to get at least five projects done per day. I also have some short pieces to grade, and I'd like to get those done also, but that might be a bit much. I also need to prep Friday while I'm gone.
Have a great week everyone!
EE, I like the way your goals are labeled by category. This seems to make the areas of intention even more transparent. And kudos on a good week last week in terms of TLQ goal completion!
DeleteI hope your travels go smoothly and that your book is good.
Yay for good family time! Sometimes it can be so hard to find that balance. And reading, the sweet joy of reading.
DeleteI am pretty focussed at work. After many years I finally have email under control but not checking it until I'd done my research and writing.
ReplyDelete1. Finish track record for the project I do have faith in. Done and looking vaguely legitimate
2. 2.5 full writing days on the paper, with the aim of a complete rough draft. Not a complete rough draft :-( This week!
3. Do my research/writing plan for the year. I must do this or I've no chance of pursuing my own research interests. Done, and identified as over-ambitious. So i got rid of some stuff! A wrench but felt good to be facing something realistic.
4. Nice things: dinner on beach with friends and family; yoga or jogging every day this week. Easy done. I am very good at committing to things I like to do.
This coming week:
1. Finish the paper and send to group for comments
2. Pitch a short piece to the media
3. Sort out commitments to grant I don't like.
4. Keep up to date with my admin & leadership responsibilities.
I'm going to call it 'out of office' syndrome (OOOS). When I've worked at home for a day or been at a conference or just teaching/in meetings all day, I can write off the next day because 'all the people' (in the entire universe) will knock at my door with questions, or things to discuss, or I don't know what but there it is. So when I'm busy (like the last week), I have to remember to account for the OOOS time. I keep forgetting which makes me busier and tireder and...yes. It's a distraction from all work.
ReplyDeleteThis past week. Yes, I marked all the necessary things by the necessary deadlines. I've got a couple more things to mark but not for the same deadlines.
I've also been making progress on the handcrafted stuff. I followed a pattern (my first ever pattern) to knit a hat which is sadly too small for me, but fits a teddy nicely. I've made a few squares for the cushions/blankets, and started on another hat...bigger this time. I've also ordered wool for a cardigan and another hat.
This coming week:
1. Establish order in the TLQ ranks - I need to make a priority list of what needs to be done first, chase down a couple of 'may be things' that need to be on the radar screen, and work out deadlines.
2. Make the hat.
3. Get a handle on the TRQ and generally make lists, deal with the easy items and clear space for TLQ in the coming weeks.
Your OOOS seems well diagnosed and is a good reminder for me since I head to a conference this weekend.
DeleteAs for the tiny hat, maybe there is a small child around somewhere that could wear it? Best of luck with the larger one.
I can be distracted by social media, but I've been doing a pretty good job of using quick check-ins as tiny 1-2 minutes mental breaks between tasks. I do have to work to keep this one under control though. A bigger problem comes from "forced distractions" at work. When my office door is open, colleagues will come by and sometimes stand in my door for 15-60 minutes. We are usually talking about work issues (policy, etc.), but I can lose nearly an hour of good work time this way. Shutting the door is not always an option (because of office hours, etc.). Plus, they'll just knock. Similar problems arise from unexpected requests that come through email. One of the best things about sabbatical was the lack of these external interruptions.
ReplyDeleteLast week's goals:
1) Help son finish/practice presentation that he'll give on Saturday (it's about getting a rocket into orbit in the game/simulation called Kerbal Space Program). DONE! He did a great job and felt proud, and I didn't micromanage him too much.
2) Figure out how to celebrate husband's b-day (in addition to family dinner). DONE! I did well with gifts.
3) Get daughter ready for camp in a non-stressful way. YES!
4) Get conference paper down to 10 pages. ALMOST! It's at 10.5, but under 20 minutes, so that's good.
5) Start putting together a few slides for conference paper (let's say four images). DONE.
6) Print Magic chapter. YES. Sent print job request to repro office.
7) one chapter/article of criticism. DONE.
8) Write 500 words for intro. DONE.
9) 40 pages of primary text. ALMOST (35 pages)
Frankly, I'm amazed I achieved so many of my goals this week. With hubby's b-day, my son's presentation day, and my daughter's camp prep, I almost threw in the towel on thesis work. But I maintained priorities and got stuff done. I even said "no" to a Friday meeting (and I didn't even offer an excuse! Just said "no"). So glad. And finished TLQ just in time for the Super Bowl. GO BRONCOS!
This week will be interesting. TRQ will be compressed and intense as I prep to go to a thesis-related regional conference. (And I've neglected some TRQ while prioritizing TLQ.) I'm also getting a cold, so I'm concerned about how that might affect my productivity this week.
1) Drink fluids and sleep enough to prevent worsening of cold.
2) Finish conference paper and slides (this will be TRQ soon)
3) Finish primary source (this is a big goal, but I need to finish this novel!)
4) Read Magic chapter and write notes for chapter revision and article
5) Read a secondary source article/chapter
6) Write 1000 words for intro
7) Acquire everything I need to celebrate Valentine's Day upon my return (I return from conference on V-Day)
your "No" is very inspiring. And wonderful that you had such a good week. aw
DeleteDistractions? They vary - I'm working on turning off email, unless I know that things I care about will be arriving. I'm pretty good at controlling facebook and twitter. But at any given moment, any one of these becomes a big distraction. When I'm not working, games can do it, on phone or ipad.
ReplyDelete1. Read book and write book review which is now (a little) overdue REVIEW HALF DRAFTED
2. Start reading books for book prize committee NO, but I got the committee organized
3. Get one journal off the shelf -- go through, read relevant articles, and put potential teaching or future project stuff in zotero NO
4. Keep up with exercise -- goal of 5 days is good. THREE DAYS
5. Get sleep schedule regular NO
6. Get in some weeding. We've been having rain, which means weeds are *very* happy! A FEW. But not nearly enough.
Analysis: well, lots of little interruptions, including that I thought a friend was taking the lead on a conference proposal, and she thought I was. . . so that's taken time. And I had an unexpected meeting with someone about a grievance I've filed, which was both good and difficult. And I have to get to bed earlier before I teach! Which is why the exercise is not as good as I wish.
In other news, the editor accepted my response to the reader's report, so I'm close to having a contract for my book!
Goals for next week:
1. Finish book review
2. Read two books for book prize
3. Get organized for next week's writing retreat (taking place in my house, but I'm declaring the long weekend a writing retreat!)
4. Do one journal
5 Exercise four times
6. Sleep regularity
Hurrah on the one step closer to a book contract! (and the good part of the grievance-related meeting).
DeleteMy experience is similar to Earnest English's: I tend to be internally distracted, most often by thoughts of other things I should be doing. I, too, cope by writing them down, but sometimes I'm then distracted by yet other items on my to-do list (which is actually a fairly complex categorized list in an outliner program which can be filtered to display just the things due that particular day, week, etc., or by other criteria). While I'm reasonably happy with my current program (Bonsai -- very old; originally meant to work with Palm devices), and reluctant to switch because I don't really want to learn a new program's quirks, if I were switching, I'd look for one with an "inbox" area that allows you to write down to-dos for later filing without having to deal with the whole list itself (and in fact, I could probably create a view like that in Bonsai; I should check)
ReplyDeleteGoals for last week:
1. Fit in regular exercise
2. Keep working on establishing bedtime routine
3. Continue work on boxes (one drop off; maybe another load; more sorting/packing)
4. Do some cooking if time.
Accomplished:
1. more progress than in previous weeks, but still not where I'd like to be/planned to be at this point.
2. mixed success, but here, too, I'd say that I'm becoming more successful
3. did the drop off, and ended up spending a good deal of time in my offsite storage facility, which can be tricky, since there's the potential for bringing up difficult memories -- I packed it during a very stressful time in my life. But this trip seemed mostly successful; I found some things I'd been wanting to dig up for a while. On the other hand, I spent much longer than I'd planned, and moved a *lot* of boxes, some of them while climbing up and down stepladders, and came home exhausted enough that I wasn't very productive the next day, which spilled over into staying up later than I should have and a less-than-productive Friday and working through Saturday. So I need to be careful. And I need to take a real day off sometime soon if I can manage it.
4. Didn't have time, but still have plenty of home-cooked or easy-to-prepare healthy food in stock, so that's not a problem.
Analysis: I seem to be perking along reasonably well, given the circumstances. The family situation remains uncertain, though it may have stabilized a bit this weekend (I'm waiting for a report from my brother, who spent the weekend with my father and stepmother, who seemed to need a break from me after a visit last weekend, so I've been lying low, which has its own stresses). So far, I'm staying reasonably on top of school work, but also being reminded that, even when I make that my major goal, how difficult that is. Once students start working on real projects, with all the unpredictable factors involved (e.g. taking a shorter or longer time to "get" the assignment requirements and come up with a viable topic and source list), it gets tremendously difficult to monitor their progress effectively. And of course that's all TRQ stuff. But I do feel I made some TLQ progress this week, and some is going to have to do.
Next week's goals:
Delete1. Fit in more regular exercise
2. Keep working on establishing bedtime routine
3. Continue work on boxes
4. Try to take a full day off
Congrats on your successful trip to the storage facility! It sounds like you were productive at digging in while also not getting emotionally "stuck" in the boxes.
DeleteSo many distractions! Twitter is likely my most significant distraction, but I have learned to recognize its impact and close that tab when I let it get the better of me. While I don’t multitask, I do find sometimes that it helps to have a mental break that lets me sneak up on a difficult idea or a sentence I’m trying to iron out (eternal thanks to JaneB for bringing light to the idea of sneaking up on your work).
ReplyDeletelast week:
1 draft short bio piece: thought about it
2 draft extended abstract: thought about this too
3 decide whether to submit fascinating abstract: decided not to, since nothing else got done!
On the other hand, I read two articles for the book manuscript, which also serve the lit review for the extended abstract. Both of these hovering pieces now have urgent deadlines, so for this week:
1 finish short bio piece
2 finish extended abstract
Looking forward to a busy (and successful) week ahead.
Write something for the chapter section every day
ReplyDelete-I worked on my PhD, but didn't necessarily write, every day
Read one chapter or article a day
-I read one article or chapter a day
Do some creative writing each day
-I did some creative writing on two occasions.
This week:
I need to finish the chapter section by the end of the week! I really really need to actually write and edit the text. Goal: write for three pomodori every day (only one today, to get started). Reread and submit on Sunday/Monday morning. Also, do not forget to prepare a conference proposal for Friday. Do some creative writing, if possible.
Distractions: Reading! I always have at least ten books I'm trying to read, many of which are not related to my academic research.
Danne, what are you planning to submit on Sunday/Monday? Part of a chapter? A whole chapter?
DeleteI'm sorry if you mentioned it before, but what aspects of the PhD are you hoping to finish this spring? Just wondering since I'm in the PhD boat, too.
Hi all,
ReplyDeletethe truth is that at the moment I am struggling with work and a strong sense that I just don't want to be here. I feel overwhelmed by expectations to achieve in a diverse set of directions, in addition to family issues (mainly parents), and I am really struggling to manage these demands and feel enthusiastic or positive about them. Being a perfectionist of course doesn't help either. So, every little extra request that comes my way feels like a burden, and a distraction that I struggle with as though it is 10 times the size it actually is. I know this, but can't quite seem to get out of this rut at the moment. I am trying to focus on exercise as a way of managing my mood (so have been exercising a lot) but unfortunately it doesn't change the reality of my current environment. So, rather than focus on distractions, I am trying to focus on recreating a spark of love for my work, so I WANT to do it first and foremost when I am at work.
1) deal to FS draft that I have been avoiding NO
2) work on CR ms that I have also been avoiding NO
3) find a way to exercise more during the week. Maybe goal of 8,000 steps a day? YES, and more.
I thought I might try a variation on Earnest English's categories this week, to try and manage my circumstances and feel more centred.
This week's goals
1. Physical health: exercise (walk) at least 4x
2. Mental health: spend half an hour a day on my own, without interruptions, every day
3. Family: go to son's sports day for half a day. Cook a really nice dinner once.
4. Work: TLQ - look at, examine and reconstruct if necessary, 5 year goals.
5. Also, TRQ- write request for a piece of equipment, which first requires email conversation with overseas colleague that may or may not be productive
5. Fun: I can't even think of anything here, but imagine it will probably cross over with my half hour alone each day.
allan wilson
You sound burned out. Any chance that you could get a night or two away (if you think you'd like that kind of thing)? I know that between work, the PhD, the family (for which I do most of the "kin-keeping"), I crave alone time, and often 30 minutes won't do it. Occasionally, I do a "hotel night" so I can have focused time on the PhD. But these nights offer a great chance, in general, for me to just be quiet and not talk to anyone. Other times, I just take an evening every week or two, and I sit at Barnes and Nobles and crank out a bunch of work until about 9:30. This gives me some "me time" (even though I'm busy), and when I'm surrounded by books, I feel better. Also, when I get a lot done on these evenings, I have less intense pressure elsewhere in the week.
DeleteRegardless, I hope you can locate the joy in your work and, perhaps, reduce the demands that are pulling you in multiple directions.
Thank you for these great ideas. Now you say it, being burned out does make sense. I really like your idea of going out in the evening for some quiet time (not sure what Barnes and Nobles is, but I am imagining a nice coffee bar somewhere). aw
DeleteBarnes and Noble is a US bookstore chain (the one that swallowed many of the local book retailers before Amazon began threatening even B&N's business model). Many of their stores do, indeed, incorporate some sort of cafe/coffee bar (in-house Starb$s in my area, but I'm not sure it that's true everywhere).
DeleteBut yes, any coffee bar would do (or even a nice public or university library, if it weren't too crowded in the evening).
I had a nice weekend. I left all work until Sunday evening (which led to a very late bed time on Sunday, but...). I napped. I read actual novels, starting with an old friend with a cathartically weepy bit I'd forgotten about (and a happy ending). I struggled to make myself leave the house, but I did some chores, and did eventually go out long enough to at least pick up a repeat prescription. Today I am starting a cold. Which is just NOT what I needed :0(
ReplyDeleteLike allan, things are not my friends, work is not much fun (although the stats practicals are going OK, there's something very centering and grounding about spending time with students, joking around, and helping them 'get' something. I like that me). I'm feeling old, I'm failing to lose weight or go to the gym or do any of the oughts, and now I have a cold but also have to teach 4 days a week with some nasty hours (09:00 then 16:30-18:00, for example). Please go away, cold.
last week's goals
1) sleep and food I slept and ate...
2) gym once (this weekend, Sat or Sun. Meant to go yesterday, ended up being at work from 08:30 to 7pm and after that I'd just had enough of people) didn't. Had trouble leaving the house, had unhappy gut, didn't. just didn't.
3) reply to DrVisit about a joint paper.did. Very short email, but written and sent.
4) freewrite about Picky Paper. I think I have an emotional problem with Picky Paper I just can't quite catch hold of it and drag it out into the light to take a good look at it and see if it's a mouse or a mammoth, as the strategies need to be different depending).no, although I think I know what the problem is, or at least, what two of them are
Distractions.... Well, last week was hard. One of my very dearest friends lost his three-week-old baby on Friday, and I spent Saturday night and Sunday with him and his wife, their friends, and family. The funeral was on Sunday. So yesterday I canceled class and pretty much took care of myself (which meant sleeping, watching mindless TV, and--for some reason--re-organizing my dresser drawers).
ReplyDeleteObviously I have more mundane distractions, too, but I'm feeling less interested in writing about them at the moment. So. On to check-in:
Last week's goals:
1) Shift priority towards talk by reading over chapter that I intend to focus on and doing some generative free-writing re. its key points and what I want to emphasize. DONE
2) When (1) is done, brainstorm/draft a couple of paragraphs about ch. 4 and 5 that rough in the material that I want to bring in to the talk. DONE
3) Grade 4 (short) papers/day. WELL, I DIDN'T DO 4/DAY, BUT I FINISHED THEM
4) Read friend's chapter for Friday's writing group. DONE, RATHER LAMELY
This week's goals:
1) Get a really rough, but complete-ish, draft of my talk together.
2) Start organizing things for upcoming conferences and summer research travel.
3) Work through Article H to the best of my ability.
4) Allow myself to neglect my Latin translation for a while.
Some distractions are worth dropping everything for,and that certainly sounds like one of them. I'm very sorry for your friends' loss (and your close brush with an especially painful kind of loss; hard to imagine what that would be like), and glad you were able to take some time with them, and then some time to regroup. Sometimes we just need to be human, in all our frailty/vulnerability, for a while, and to be with each other, and I'm pretty sure all our other activities are better in the long run for our doing just that.
DeleteI'm sorry, heu mihi. My very great sympathies go to that family and to all of their loved ones, including you.
DeleteThese are really difficult things, and it is wonderful you were able to be there for your friend and his family. I am so sorry for your loss. allan wilson
DeleteIn a word... Internet... Not social media of any kind (I hate them all!) or email, but reading news and science stuff. My solution at work was to leechblock my computer to the point where I only get 10 minutes of frivolous reading every 4 hours, and cannot access anything remotely interesting after that. That works really well :) Except for when I fall down the rabbit hole of e-journals full of fabulous papers...
ReplyDeleteLast week's goals:
Only one: Finish the revisions since they are now so TRQ it is not even funny... FAIL. I had a lousy week and a total meltdown about revisions, so I got an extension...
Extra goal: As stated above - finish little things instead of letting them carry over. The perceived "improvement" from thinking about them too long is not worth the actual time it takes...
DONE! This was actually a good thing and may help focus in the long term to if I keep my mind on it.
This week's goals:
ONLY Revisions - again and ongoing...
Lots of grading and other teaching things this week so I'm picking any others.