So the last few weeks have been the end of semester and assessments, and it feels like I'm still pushing through the a crowd of heavy weights pushing down on me. But what I am trying to do now is to find small moments to reconnect - to take a moment to speak with colleagues about how they are going rather than just the next thing to tick off the list, to go outside and notice the sunshine and new spring growth, to try and be really present with the kids rahter than bribing them to stay quiet while getting dragged to another work thing.
So this week, for a topic - what or who do you want to reconnect with? What small actions could you take to reconnect?
Amstr
-catch up on MF goal (3000 words)
-submit to 5-7 agents
-menu plan/grocery shop
-get hallway cleaned; schedule some time for dreaded house project
Contingent Cassandra
--complete 1st course description and make progress on 2nd book order
--walk a bit while on church retreat this weekend
--continue garden work
Dame Eleanor Hull
1) Self: daily gentle exercise and stretching in 2-3 small chunks, enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely.
2) Research: 7 hours on main project, focusing on product. 3 hours on translation.
3) Teaching: write/edit two assignments.
4) House/Life: tidy/organize in the basement.
5) Remember my session goals: Live with uncertainty and work the process.
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell
Do a three-things post it every day.
Start NaNo on Wednesday.
Spend five hours on the book.
Spend three hours on fiction.
Walk 90 minutes a day.
Work on the grant 1 hour a day.
Good Enough Woman
1) Write every day for at least 5 minutes.
2) Start Christmas gift lists
3) Finish two stacks of essays (one RPO and one WA) and all quizzes by Sunday
heu mihi
1. To 10k of novel.
2. Meditate x 3.
3. Read essay for proposed conference paper.
4. Finish ch. 1 of dissertation.
5. Prompts for remaining undergrad assignments.
6. Read ahead by 1 week.
humming42
1 finish one book review
2 make task list for upcoming projects
3 contact 2 people related to blog post
JaneB
1) keep up the good practices around evenings-and-mornings, and get off my phone earlier
2) finalise various travel arrangements, and make a decision about submitting an abstract for a conference in January
3) look over where GallimaufreyReviewPaper is up to, and email an update to everyone to check in
4) Put agreed BlackSummerProjectPaper dates into diary
5) Spend an hour on ProblemChild3's text, and make contact with FormerPDF to divide up the work on the figures that needs doing.
6) enjoy starting NaNoWriMo
7) survive all the class stuff, grading etc. etc. - without wasting emotion on it.
KJHaxton
trying to get by
Susan (held over)
1. Read more of the book for review
2. Get started on my research project
3. Move: walk at least three times
4. Enjoy myself at the conference.
Waffles
1. Send grant to the two people who reviewed it for the mock review to see if it is improved
2. Finalize IRB and submit
3. PTSD paper intro
4. Spend some time on F32 paper
5. Spend some time on one of the reviews
I think I have done a good job of reconnecting to my work and to my productiveness and this is what has helped me get back on track. I made less progress on some things this week partially because my mentor was here which means I had to sit at my stupid desk (I usually use her office or work from home when she is not here) out in the middle of the floor which is both bad for productivity and simply exhausting. But I did better than I thought I would have - so that is good.
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. Send grant to the two people who reviewed it for the mock review to see if it is improved - sent it to one. The other is out of town, so will wait.
2. Finalize IRB and submit - I met with my mentor later in the week than I had hoped, so this is still in progress. She also isn’t sure we should recruit the sample I had been planning to recruit - so that puts a damper on progress on this as well.
3. PTSD paper intro - nope.
4. Spend some time on F32 paper - yes, have it drafted up to the discussion.
5. Spend some time on one of the reviews - yes, made good progress here.
I also had the article from my diss reviewed in our writing seminar and I made all their suggested edits and sent it off to my chair. The people in my seminar were super enthusiastic about it - which was really nice.
This week:
1. Try to finish draft of F32 paper
2. Submit IRB
3. Really work on the PTSD intro this time.
4. More work on the review
5. Summarize YRBS findings.
Waffles
There are two things that I want to reconnect with in the short term: Reading literature and exercise.
ReplyDelete"Reading literature" seems a little silly, given that I'm a literature professor. I do read a lot of literature--but work reading seems completely different. It occurred to me this morning that I also read a lot of fiction to my son (we just finished our second reading of the first Harry Potter book, and will start Lewis's "The Magician's Nephew" tonight), but what I want are the long hours of reading *for pleasure.* I just don't do that very much, in recent years.
Exercise: I'm still doing yoga about twice a week, but running dropped off in the last two weeks because it was simply far too dark for me to do it before work and still get Bonaventure off to the bus on time. Seriously: When the sun rises at 7:20 and the kid's bus comes at 7:50, it's impossible. But daylight savings time just ended, so hopefully I can force myself out of bed at 6ish tomorrow and get in a run.
So the second feels achievable. Reading, though--there are so many things that I've undertaken, and that I enjoy, that compete for my time. I already can't get myself to meditate, like, ever. So adding another Every Night Activity seems more or less impossible.
--Especially because of NaNoWriMo! I came very close to completing *none* of this week's goals *except* my fiction-writing one, which I just blew right past on Wednesday.
Last week's report:
1. To 10k of novel.
SO VERY DONE. I'm at 17,163 words right now, of which more than 11k were written this past week.
2. Meditate x 3.
ONCE. Maybe I'll do it tonight, too.
3. Read essay for proposed conference paper.
I will apparently never, ever finish reading this essay. And really, why is this even on my list? I'll find out in December whether the abstract was accepted, and I can just read it then.
4. Finish reading ch. 1 of dissertation.
BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH. This is the longest damn thing in the world. And I actually skipped 17 single-spaced pages of exposition of the Song of Songs just to give myself a fighting change of finishing it.
5. Prompts for remaining undergrad assignments.
SORT OF: Did two; have two more to go. One really needs to be done by, oh, 2:30 tomorrow afternoon.
6. Read ahead by 1 week.
I have not yet finished reading for tomorrow.
This week:
1. Get to 24k words of NaNo novel.
2. Read ch. 2 of dissertation--or at least half of it. (It's 60+ mostly-single-spaced pages.)
3. Remaining prompts for undergrad papers.
4. Read up to Thanksgiving in upper-level class; through Monday for lower-level ones.
5. Meditate x 3.
Oh, and: Run x 3!
DeleteThat dissertation sounds purgatorial! :-(
DeleteTopic: I’ve been working to reconnect with my past--that sounds much more intriguing than it is in reality. While cleaning out reams of paper and electronic files, I have unearthed several idea files that brought back some of the excitement of research and puzzling through topics.
ReplyDeleteI also want to reconnect with my personal past, allowing myself time to enjoy some of the things I used to do. I’m working on improving my walking stamina, so that I can go back to longer distance walks and easy hikes. I am trying to finish some craft projects that have been neglected, sometimes for longer than I care to admit--like the Christmas stockings that I started over ten years ago!
Last week's goals:
Do a three-things post it every day.
Yes, I did manage to keep up. I find it far too easy to forget tasks unless I have the physical reminder in front of me. It also feels really good to strike things off the list as I get them done.
Start NaNo on Wednesday.
Yes. I have managed to keep up with it, too. That may not sound like much, but I have often given up this early in the month, so it is a good sign. I do have some accountability partners, so maybe I’ll make it this year.
Spend five hours on the book.
Four hours, some of which was outlining and planning, but it all counts. I revised the schedule in hopes of getting approval from the Provost for the sabbatical, since I did get a recommendation from my Dean.
Spend three hours on fiction.
At least ten hours. I know I can’t keep up that pace, but it was nice to immerse myself in it.
Walk 90 minutes a day.
Yes, broken into two 45 minute sessions. I am still getting better at distance, and have been standing at my adjustable desk for more time each day, which also helps.
Work on the grant 1 hour a day.
Only about 4 hours, but I asked that the materials come to me rather than me going to them, which should make getting the grant done much easier. I wish I’d thought of that before!
Next week’s goals:
Keep up with NaNo.
Five hours a week on the book.
Work on the grant 1 hour a day.
Finish one of the stockings.
Pick one writing project and begin to outline it.
Tai Chi for ten minutes a day.
Respond to other participants.
I hate to jinx it, but the pressure seems to be lifting this session. I need to do more to preserve some time for things that are important to me, but I’m getting there. I also want to work on connecting more with people, on overcoming my introversion. Here’s to moving beyond one’s comfort zone!
Excelsior, everyone!
So much walking! Well done you, I'm really impressed!
DeleteHey, if you want to be my NaNo writing buddy, my handle is "binge writer."
DeleteThank you, Jane. The encouragement helps!
DeleteI'll look you up, heu mihi. I'm under my name (not very inventive!)
Really great TLQ work, EAM!!! You are my role model. :)
DeleteI'd like to reconnect with the me that really cared about her research, and to reconnect with my physical body better. Not an easy topic though at the moment. Ignoring hard feelings is a valid term time survival strategy, right??
ReplyDeletelast week's goals:
1) keep up the good practices around evenings-and-mornings, and get off my phone earlier on work days, but not at all on non-work-days
2) finalise various travel arrangements, and make a decision about submitting an abstract for a conference in January submitted two abstracts. MAde travel arrangements for December trip, booked cattery for January travel and have emailed about booking the key hotel nights for then
3) look over where GallimaufreyReviewPaper is up to, and email an update to everyone to check in nope
4) Put agreed BlackSummerProjectPaper dates into diary yes, mostly
5) Spend an hour on ProblemChild3's text, and make contact with FormerPDF to divide up the work on the figures that needs doing. yes and no. I really dislike this paper right now...
6) enjoy starting NaNoWriMo mostly. Not getting off to a fast start this year, but it's nice to make the time
7) survive all the class stuff, grading etc. etc. - without wasting emotion on it. mostly. but not caring makes me feel like I can't be bothered, and I'm just very tired of work crap
analysis
I'm running out of the will to do stuff, but still plodding along, and only feeling notably physically unwell in patches now not constantly. I'll take that... And now it's reading week!
goals for next week:
1) keep up the good practices around evenings-and-mornings, and get off my phone earlier
2) look over where GallimaufreyReviewPaper is up to, and email an update to everyone to check in
3) Take one small BlackSummerProjectPaper action
4) make hopefully final edits to GrantINeverShouldHaveStarted
5) design poster for SocietyTHing
6) Spend an hour on ProblemChild3's text, and make contact with FormerPDF to divide up the work on the figures that needs doing.
6) enjoy NaNoWriMo
7) get a couple of weeks ahead with class stuff - complete last batch of lab reports which arrive tomorrow, sort out class datasets and copy handouts for the next set of labs, chase up the TAs, go over class data and check on the progress of all students.
Topic: In my randomness and inability to find focus in the past few weeks, I found myself committing to/beginning to reconnect with two things. This first is my commitment to live an embodied life. For me, this comes into being by recognizing when I feel achy, when I am tired, when I am/am not hungry and trying not to intellectualize the physical sensations I experience. I’m not sure that’s a good explanation, but I want to connect to my body and what it needs and does not need.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing is what I have long imagined as my next book project. I’m sure I’ve referred to it here with various code names, but I’ll call it Smallness. I’ve been trying to figure out how to structure this book, then today found a chapter list that I write about two years ago. So I’m planning to really reconnect with Smallness because the problem I’ve been vexed by has been solved.
Last week:
1 finish one book review: yes
2 make task list for upcoming projects: started
3 contact 2 people related to blog post: contacted 1
This week:
1 finish another book review
2 contact other person for blog post
3 update reading lists
4 draft outline framework for Perform paper
Topic: I did some reconnecting with work friends yesterday, lunch with one and a long chat with another, and it was hard to just enjoy it, because I have been feeling so much anxiety about imminent or already-past writing deadlines. I wish I could see people at the end of the day rather than in my more-alert moments, but they either go home or start teaching a night class at the point when I'd be up for going for a quick drink or something after work. Sigh. I have fantasies of living in France or Spain but I'm not sure I'm cut out for it: https://francesays.com/2017/08/31/respirer/
ReplyDeleteIn other news, we have reached the point where we have to put off selling the house till the spring market. We've just taken too long with the various elements of packing up stuff and making repairs. Since few people are actively looking for a house over the holidays, there's no point in trying to finish up our side of things this month. It does take some pressure off, but of course it also means there's another set of things to do (example: call to set up a time to get the stored rugs back, so our feet aren't so cold this winter; do something about the drafty kitchen windows). And I'm not excited about having the house on the market in "spring," which tends to be a snowy, slushy, messy season here. OTOH, it will certainly be easier to move in the summer, little though I like the prospect of six more months of my ghastly commute. I keep telling myself there is an end to it. Six months is not indefinite. On the first hand again, we worry about what the proposed tax bill will mean for mortgages and so for the real estate market, but we'll cross fingers for a decent outcome.
How I did:
Delete1) Self: daily gentle exercise and stretching in 2-3 small chunks, enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely. YES. I'm backing off on vigorous exercise for a bit, trying to deal with a persistent lower-back/hip problem, and it seems to be helping. The trick is still to do enough exercise that I can sleep. Three short walks per day are working pretty well.
2) Research: 7 hours on main project, focusing on product. 3 hours on translation. NO and NO. About 5 hours on the main one. No translation. I did get the main one sent to my writing group yesterday. Getting close. I just hope I don't miss getting into the 2018 volume I want to be in.
3) Teaching: write/edit two assignments. NO. I'm not even sure which two I meant! The one that really needs to be done is still waiting.
4) House/Life: tidy/organize in the basement. NO.
5) Remember my session goals: Live with uncertainty and work the process. YES. Living and working.
New goals: probably same as the last.
1) Self: daily gentle exercise and stretching in 2-3 small chunks, enough sleep, work on at least 2 languages, do the necessary cooking so I can eat safely.
2) Research: 7 hours on main project, focusing on product. 3 hours on translation.
3) Teaching: edit one assignment, grade two more (at least start).
4) House/Life: tidy/organize in the basement.
5) Remember my session goals: Live with uncertainty and work the process.
I think I want to reconnect to my scholarship, but I'm still feeling internally conflicted, in part because things already seem so busy. Same goes for fiction.
ReplyDeleteI've been connecting with my body (sort of) by trying to figure out what allergens are giving me itchy eyes. It's very difficult to sort it out, but even the attempt to do so requires me to pay attention to things I eat, products I use, etc.* Related, I want to get back to walking.
Lastly, I want to build connections with my son. With my daughter, things are easy right now because of the types of interests and activities she has, but I need to make an effort with my son so he doesn't feel pushed to the side.
Last week's goals:
1) Write every day for at least 5 minutes. Yes, on all but one day. I've been MUCH better about this though. Just five minutes, but still. I feel good about sticking to this goal.
2) Start Christmas gift lists STARTED
3) Finish two stacks of essays (one RPO and one WA) and all quizzes by Sunday. All but one set of quizzes, which I currently can't find but which I'm hoping reappear soon.
This week's goals:
1) Have one or two activities just with my son.
2) Write everyday for at least five minutes.
3) Finish one stack of essays by Thursday and another stack by Sunday (not sure about the second stack b/c I'm on kid duty all weekend, and I want to focus on them, but it would be good to make that progress).
4) Walk 2x, even if the walks are short.
5) More progress on Christmas list for extended family.
6) Read a few pages of the rejected article (former diss chapter) that I think I want to resubmit just to see how it makes me feel.
7) Do fun things with the kids this weekend so it feels at least a little bit special (husband will be out of town).
Good luck NaNo-ers!
*I have found that I really like homemade shampoo and conditioner.
Congratulations on the near-daily writing! That's great.
DeleteDo you have a recipe for shampoo and conditioner? I've toyed with the idea of making my own for a while, but it seemed complicated, and I couldn't find any advice re. homemade conditioner.
Connecting with kids is so phase-y in our house. It's easy with one for a while, but hard with the other. Then vice versa. I relate to having to be intentional about connecting!
DeleteCongrats on writing daily!
I feel like this time of year is not the best for figuring out what big projects are going to look like. There are so many extra things with holidays and school breaks. But I hope you'll have some time for reflection. I'm slowly letting myself be convinced by Jessica Abel's Growing Gills book that one big creative project at a time is the way to go. (sigh)
My check-ins are so off-cycle that I'm not quite sure which week is which (and I think I'll just wait 'til the next post to set new goals), but I like the topic, so: I'd like to reconnect on two levels (1) with family and friends, and (2) with movement. I'm actually making some progress on #2, and should be able to make a bit more now that the garden is put to bed for the season, so I need to continue working on that, and also work on #1.
ReplyDeleteGoals for last(?) week:
--complete 1st course description and make progress on 2nd book order
--walk a bit while on church retreat this weekend
--continue garden work
Accomplished: walked quite a bit while on the church retreat, and also did quite a bit of garden work (last week, and also this week).
So maybe I should set one goal for the bit of this week that remains:
--get the #$@! course description done.
I'm with you!
Delete