Several comments in the last few weeks have mentioned the dread of the
upcoming semester. As the cruise ship rounds the bend to head back to the
harbor, what plans do you have to capture the last days of the break? Is
there some way to hold the freedom to pursue TLQ goals, in the face of a
full complement of classes, committees, and colleagues? (I can’t help but
hear Scrooge in my mind, vowing to hold Christmas in his heart throughout
the year). If you have found useful strategies during the last two sessions,
please share!
As always, respond to the prompt if it speaks to you, report your progress
on your weekly goals, analyze what went well or badly, and set goals for
the coming week.
Dame Eleanor Hull
New goals:
Self/health: eat safely, regular yoga and cardio, walk by water at least 3
Self/health: eat safely, regular yoga and cardio, walk by water at least 3
times, do one longer hike.
Family: house visit, dad visits, sort stuff, ship stuff.
Work: try for six hours, either writing or teaching prep, as feels
Family: house visit, dad visits, sort stuff, ship stuff.
Work: try for six hours, either writing or teaching prep, as feels
manageable.
Move like water, float like mist, or be the rock, as appropriate.
Move like water, float like mist, or be the rock, as appropriate.
Elizabeth Mitchell
Finish the proofreading from the microfilm of the text.
Finish taking notes from the two remaining interlibrary loan books.
Pack for trip to the great Midwest.
Finish taking notes from the two remaining interlibrary loan books.
Pack for trip to the great Midwest.
Good Enough Woman (held over)
1) Draft a revision incorporating all reader feedback (except, perhaps,
the bibliography stuff)
2) Do at least 20 minutes of yoga per day. I've GOT to get the kinks
2) Do at least 20 minutes of yoga per day. I've GOT to get the kinks
out of my back and work on my tennis elbow or whatever I have
going on. It's some kind of RSI affecting my hand, forearm, elbow,
and shoulder. In fact, my whole right side is kind of a mess. Surely
yoga will help. I hope so b/c working on the computer is difficult.
3) Do all three syllabi.
4) Submit reading packet to reprographics.
5) Walk the dog twice.
6) Take some time to enjoy the back yard.
7) Spend some quality time with my son while my daughter is gone.
3) Do all three syllabi.
4) Submit reading packet to reprographics.
5) Walk the dog twice.
6) Take some time to enjoy the back yard.
7) Spend some quality time with my son while my daughter is gone.
Heu mihi
1. Sit x6
2. Read a dissertation
3. Read a book
4. Read 30 pages of Proust
5. 3 hours on Wonder
6. Brew beer
7. Arrange and print most pages of anniversary book
8. Prep 2nd and 3rd weeks of undergrad class
9. Have a sense of humor and be willing to let some of this nonsense go, please
2. Read a dissertation
3. Read a book
4. Read 30 pages of Proust
5. 3 hours on Wonder
6. Brew beer
7. Arrange and print most pages of anniversary book
8. Prep 2nd and 3rd weeks of undergrad class
9. Have a sense of humor and be willing to let some of this nonsense go, please
Humming42 (held over)
1. Write 1000 words for Tiny Project
2. Write and submit two abstracts
3. Reply to Tiny Project person
4. Get caught up on grading
2. Write and submit two abstracts
3. Reply to Tiny Project person
4. Get caught up on grading
JaneB
1) self-care: focusing this week on drinking enough water, on taking time to
eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day (at least back stretches), "sitting".
2) analyse at least 3 samples in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
3) go through the rest of my notes from meetings two weeks ago and take
small actions, plan/record large ones, related to my various papers and grant
applications in progress.
4) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
5) Prepare for societything meeting
6) keep ProblemPaper2 re-re-re-work moving
7) spend an hour on teaching prep
eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day (at least back stretches), "sitting".
2) analyse at least 3 samples in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
3) go through the rest of my notes from meetings two weeks ago and take
small actions, plan/record large ones, related to my various papers and grant
applications in progress.
4) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
5) Prepare for societything meeting
6) keep ProblemPaper2 re-re-re-work moving
7) spend an hour on teaching prep
OceanGirl101
1. Start writing theoretical bits of Ch 2 (2-3,000 words for the week
if possible)
2. Read for Ch 2 and 7 and continue to outline Ch 7
2. Make PT appt for arm injury
3. 1 hr lawyer/estate stuff
4. colonoscopy (Fri, ugh)
5. Exercise x 5
6. Fun thing x 2
if possible)
2. Read for Ch 2 and 7 and continue to outline Ch 7
2. Make PT appt for arm injury
3. 1 hr lawyer/estate stuff
4. colonoscopy (Fri, ugh)
5. Exercise x 5
6. Fun thing x 2
Plant Girl
1. Finish packing (I'm almost there...)
2. Run many, many errands.
3. Run 3x if schedule permits.
4. Move on Friday/Saturday. (UGH)
1. Finish packing (I'm almost there...)
2. Run many, many errands.
3. Run 3x if schedule permits.
4. Move on Friday/Saturday. (UGH)
Susan (held over)
1. Two sets of expense forms for last week's travel.
2. Write application for admin job
3. Do one more edit on Violence, leaving mainly footnotes for when I return
4. Read articles for prize (only 3, manageable)
5. Finish book for review, draft review
6. Begin process of contacting potential collaborators
7. Pack for vacation
8. Keep exercising
9. Get good sleep
2. Write application for admin job
3. Do one more edit on Violence, leaving mainly footnotes for when I return
4. Read articles for prize (only 3, manageable)
5. Finish book for review, draft review
6. Begin process of contacting potential collaborators
7. Pack for vacation
8. Keep exercising
9. Get good sleep
Waffles
1. Finish presentations
2. Practice presentations
3. Clean house to prep for catsitter
4. Pack!
5. Have fun in SF!
2. Practice presentations
3. Clean house to prep for catsitter
4. Pack!
5. Have fun in SF!
What Now?
1. Finish revising the essay!
2. Clean the house by Wed. (company coming)
3. Exercise x 3
4. A school thing, a financial thing, a medical thing, a volunteering thing,
and a temple thing -- not sure how the week got this busy!
2. Clean the house by Wed. (company coming)
3. Exercise x 3
4. A school thing, a financial thing, a medical thing, a volunteering thing,
and a temple thing -- not sure how the week got this busy!
Topic: I don’t have any fantastic tips, but I do tend to shift mindset about this time of the summer. I try to go outdoors as much as possible when the weather is nice, even if I have to take a laptop and charger with me. I also try to walk outdoors for breaks. Although I do have a couple more months of possibly good weather, it will get cold before I know it, and I will have to force myself to get up and suit up for a walk outdoors. I have a history of hunkering down inside, so there is inertia to overcome, but I want to establish the habit, because I am so disconnected from the natural world.
ReplyDeleteLast week’s goals:
Finish the proofreading from the microfilm of the text. Done
Finish taking notes from the two remaining interlibrary loan books. Done
Pack for trip to the great Midwest. Not done
Analysis: I didn’t finish the packing, because we don’t leave until this coming Thursday. That’s evidence that I am discombobulated. I finished taking noted from the two books I had on loan, which was pretty easy, because one didn’t really intersect with my topic as much as I had inferred from the summary. I also dug out the photocopies I made far too many years ago to say without blushing, and finished the proofreading. I had scheduled finishing the proofreading by August 1st, but I am not going to beat myself up for sliding past that deadline.
Next week’s goals:
Finish packing.
Minimize time on campus.
Enjoy the long weekend.
Take some work, but don’t obsess.
Practice good self-care.
Another week of slight goals, but I have been called in to campus for part of the day on Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday, and that always throws me. Excelsior, everyone!
Have a good trip, and congrats on finishing the proofing!
DeleteI hope your travels go smoothly.
DeleteAs the fall semester begins, will you be going to campus to work in that office every day? Will you work from home sometimes? Are you expected to be on campus?
Thanks, Dame Eleanor. GEW, I will go in to that office a few days per week, but I want to work at home some days as well. I refuse to let people expect me to be on campus, but I do have one Senate committee I chair which will meet once in September one in October, and I'll go in for those meetings, too.
DeleteLast week's goals:
ReplyDelete1. Finish revising the essay! DONE!
2. Clean the house by Wed. (company coming) DONE -- the public spaces, anyway
3. Exercise x 3 -- made it twice
4. A school thing, a financial thing, a medical thing, a volunteering thing,
and a temple thing -- DONE.
Last week was really busy and at times stressful, but it felt SO good to submit the article I'd been working on. This week is going a bit topsy-turvy because of health situation for my mother-in-law, so we're rushing around to get my stressed-out partner on a plane in a couple of days. In the meantime, I have a huge volunteer project that I took on without realizing how big it was going to be. Plus I need to be in get-ready-for-school mode. So here's my goal for the week:
1. Keep my head above water!
You nailed all your goals! As you try to stay afloat this week, remember how well you did last week. And congrats on getting the article submitted. I always heave a sigh of relief when I finally hit that button. All the best for dealing with the stress of the coming week.
DeleteCongrats on the article. I think its important to celebrate these milestones!!
DeleteTopic: I'm basically considering that the summer is over, since I'm on contract starting a couple of days from now. Thus, scheduling a few things with friends feels like luxury, a little more social activity before I'm really in the thick of things. My classes will be big enough but not huge, and they are fun topics for me, so I'm not dreading teaching, just the commute resuming. There's absolutely no movement on the house, so I do have to face the long drive again for some indeterminate amount of time.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth and any other librarians out there: my father has several old computers in good working order, old enough to have both 3.5 and 5.25 floppy capability. Do you know of any libraries that could use them for accessing old stored material? I know sometimes special collections get writers' "papers" on old media and may not have equipment that can read them.
How I did:
Self/health: eat safely, regular yoga and cardio, walk by water at least 3 times, do one longer hike. YES, YES, YES, NO.
Family: house visit, dad visits, sort stuff, ship stuff. YES to all (though more sorting remains when I can get back there).
Work: try for six hours, either writing or teaching prep, as feels manageable. BIG NO.
Move like water, float like mist, or be the rock, as appropriate. YES. It all went pretty well.
New goals:
Self/health: Yoga and cardio at least 5 times each (try for 7), weights 3, make appointment for eye exam.
Research: 6 hours revisions, 2 hours language, 60 pp reading.
Teaching: syllaboi for two classes.
Life Stuff: several things too dull to list.
Considering you were traveling, you did quite well. I find it nearly impossible to do work stuff when I am visiting family, and almost as hard when traveling at all.
DeleteI can understand dreading the commute. I had a 45-minute drive each way at the last institution, which made life so wearing. I hope that interest in the house picks up for you. I had to laugh out loud at life stuff too dull to list--isn't that often the case?
As for your father's computers, libraries do need working computers for old media. Not only are they useful for accessing literary manuscripts and other works saved to old media, but also for transferring archives and other works to newer formats--in these cases, the original format is not as sacrosanct, but there are gigabites of old media out there needing to be reformatted.
If you have a regional library system with a central office (for example, local to me is the SUNY system central office, as well as the Capital District Library Council, which handles public, school and special libraries and archives), I would ask them, since it might well be smaller places, archives, or even historical societies that would have the need. If there is nothing like that, there should be a state library association affiliated with the American Library Association, which covers all kinds of libraries. I would be happy to look into contacts for those, if you want to email me privately.
It would help if I gave you my email *facepalm* lapidaryprose at gmail dot com.
DeleteThank you! I've sent you e-mail from my RL self.
DeleteIf I could get the commute down to 45 minutes, I'd be thrilled. At this point, up to an hour is fine. I just can't face going on with 1.3+ hours! Traffic has got worse since I started this, and further, as I get older I'm not willing to drive as fast as I did twenty years ago.
Yikes, I'd be unhappy with that long a commute, too.
DeleteI feel like I never really found much space for TLQ this summer - although I did do some "important" stuff in the areas of research and writing, it was all ALSO urgent therefore TRQ. And time is running away on me...
ReplyDeleteI think what I need to take forward is that I can't put self care into boxes like "summer" (especially now as "summer" is getting smaller and smaller each year). And before the end of the "summer" I want to blitz my desk and my inbox - things which on the face of it are neither important nor urgent (I'm not losing things, nothing in my office is smelling or leaking or an immediate collapse hazard), but which will give me a little bit of that New School Year feeling. I probably also need to find an excuse for a new notebook. New notebooks ALWAYS improve my levels of optimism (and feel-good-brain-chemicals).
last week's goals:
1) self-care: focusing this week on drinking enough water, on taking time to eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day (at least back stretches), "sitting". not great. Ended the week with a cold, which at least has passed on quickly. Did read a lot of novels, which... is sort of self-care?
2) analyse at least 3 samples in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting yes
3) go through the rest of my notes from meetings two weeks ago and take small actions, plan/record large ones, related to my various papers and grant applications in progress. still not done. Every time I get them out someone interrupts me... and on the weekend I got interrupted by the urgent need to read novels
4) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting oops, no, becoming urgent...
5) Prepare for societything meeting ugh. A little a day...
6) keep ProblemPaper2 re-re-re-work moving UGH. It all went wrong and I hate it and have been ranting about it at my blog
7) spend an hour on teaching prep yes, a couple of hours. BUT today I heard I may not be on that module anyway...
the coming week:
I only really have three days (and have "spent" one of them already) because I'm off to visit my sister's family for a couple of days at the end of the week. At least the weather is cooler... a BIT cooler (still humid & icky-headachy, but less bad than it was earlier in the summer).
this week's goals:
1) self-care: focusing on drinking enough water, on taking time to eat the food I choose, on moving a little extra each day (at least back stretches), "sitting".
2) analyse at least 3 samples in preparation for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
3) go through the rest of my notes from meetings two weeks ago and take small actions, plan/record large ones, related to my various papers and grant applications in progress.
4) make travel plans for FavouriteIslandsMeeting
5) Prepare for societything meeting
6) have conversation with former PDF about ProblemPaper2
7) spend an hour on teaching prep
First, reading novels is very important self-care, and much better than several of the true time-wasters I fall into. Also, self-care definitely needs to extend beyond "summer," although I have certainly struggled with maintaining that myself.
DeleteI have yet to find any work that progresses in the face of constant interruptions--the closest was proofreading, and even then, my irritation overcame the benefit, so you have my sympathy on that, as well as the frustration with ProblemPaper2. I hope the weather continues to moderate and that you can relax a bit at your sister's.
I’m kind of relieved to see the ship back to shore and resume the responsibilities of the everyday. While I share the dread of the 3 Cs (and anticipate far too much committee in the coming months), I need some structure to my days. I don’t regret it, but I really did not have a very productive summer.
ReplyDeleteLast two weeks:
1 Write 1000 words for Tiny Project: no
2 Write and submit two abstracts: yes
3 Reply to Tiny Project person: no
4 Get caught up on grading: no, TRQ
Grade are due in about 36 hours, so I will soon be done with summer teaching. I finally found the conference presentation of Sweet, and that submission deadline is mid-September, so I will be working on that while preparing for the new semester.
This week:
1 read over Sweet and determine next steps/schedule
2 finish and submit current book review
3 edit submitted book review
4 start building online course
It has been a tough summer for you, Linda. As Dame Eleanor has said, teaching takes so much time that your summer was not really a break. Although it has been a few years since I taught, I do remember vividly what a black hole it can be. I have found it difficult to structure my days durng this sabbatical, so I sympathize.
DeleteI'm glad you found the conference presentation--hunting for things like that are presently my bane. I hope that Tiny starts to get easier for you, as well; perhaps working solidly on Sweet will prime the pump.
Thanks, Elizabeth. Your perspective helps me be more forgiving of myself than I have been able to be. I do hope I'll find my stride again quickly.
DeleteGreetings from the California coast!
ReplyDeleteLast week:
1. Finish presentations - DONE
2. Practice presentations - DONE
3. Clean house to prep for catsitter - DONE
4. Pack! - DONE
5. Have fun in SF!- IN PROGRESS!
Am currently at our writing retreat - my goals are modest:
1. Revise aim 1 paper and have it near finished by the time I get back
2. Have a plan for election surveys
3. Make table of findings for YRBS paper
In terms of finding space to get TLQ things done - for me early mornings work. I met someone recently who is super productive and she doesn’t check email till noon so she gets a good morning of work in. Her goal is to have all meetings in the afternoon and to protect her mornings for work. That is my goal as well as it capitalizes on my best thinky/brainy time.
An excellent suggestion! Thank you. My mornings are my best time to work as well. I've read that one should track for a few days when is the best time for "thinky/brainy" (love that phrase) work, then preserve that. I am so easily distracted, ignoring email all morning would be hard, but an extremely helpful strategy as well.
DeleteGreat job on goals! I'm glad you're having fun in SF.
This is a strategy I use too during the semesters- no email or internet until I get two writing sessions done (on my non-teaching days only). It really works to preserve time. And I find a writing partner to meet up with. We schedule 2 writing times a week, typically in hard times when I might not work on my own (Friday or afternoons).
DeleteI should note that part of my strategy too is to meditate (using the headspace app on my phone) just before I start working. Actually, first I make my list for the day and then I meditate (if I don't make my list, my thoughts of what I need to get done intrude).
DeleteWaffles, I've found that meditation helps as well. I find it hard to shut out the to-do list, so I will try your suggestion.
DeleteOceangirl, I think writing partners are very helpful. I can't usually find RL partners, but I am in a couple of writing groups who do accountability checks every 40 minutes for an extended period, and it helps immensely.
Having spent a week on a cruise, I love the metaphor. What was relaxing about the ship was the feeling of being suspended in time, with no decisions to make. Everything was slow. I think it's that sense of pace that I'll try to hang on to.
ReplyDeleteThe other things I want to hang on to from the summer are things about work pacing, doing more reading.
Goals from two weeks ago:
1. Two sets of expense forms for last week's travel. ONE done, not the other
2. Write application for admin job YES
3. Do one more edit on Violence, leaving mainly footnotes for when I return YES (there's more than footnotes, but I did another edit)
4. Read articles for prize (only 3, manageable) DONE, prize awarded
5. Finish book for review, draft review NO
6. Begin process of contacting potential collaborators YES
7. Pack for vacation DONE
8. Keep exercising YES
9. Get good sleep YES
The thing about my admin job (today is my last day! YAY!) is that I had no free weeks -- there was always something that came up for me to do. But I got most of the things done that absolutely needed doing, so that's good. Also, my mother had a problem with her eyes which has required 2 trips to a specialist 40 miles away, which is a minimum of 4 hours, and the last time 5 hours door to door...
My vacation was restful and peaceful -- I loved being disconnected from the world, and (literally) floating through the water. The scenery was gorgeous, I ate well but also was pretty active (so my fitbit tells me) And I was with an old friend, and her daughter and one of her daughter's friends -- a nice intergenerational group of strong women.
Goals for the week ahead (slightly abbreviated, because I have to drive my mother south for a memorial service for one of her high school classmates -- a friendship of over 70 years.)
1. Revisions on WITCH (minor, but necessary - it may be a "lovely article" but it isn't quite ready for prime time.
2. Finish syllabi, start building course websites
3. Read 3 more journals
4. Print out Violence, figure out what more needs to be done
5. Read article for review
6. Keep walking
Glad to hear that you enjoyed your cruise! And I hope you can keep your sense of relaxed pace.
DeleteCongrats on finishing the admin job! It's always nice to have those in the past.
DeleteAnd the cruise sounds great, especially in the company of strong women. The sense of serenity is very attractive, too.
I am trying to embrace letting the start of the semester be easy. I remind myself that this is what I do each fall, I know how to do this, it too will be ok. I will use some of the tricks mentioned above- once school starts, I will institute the "semester policy"- no email or internet until two sessions of morning writing are complete (on the three days I can write). Like others, I am also trying to savor time outdoors and time with friends. And the funny thing is, I will likely be much more happy with my writing progress over the semester- sometimes I get more done when I have less time to do it. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteLast week
1. Start writing theoretical bits of Ch 2 (2-3,000 words for the week YES but not sure if word count met
2. Read for Ch 2 and 7 and continue to outline Ch 7 YES
2. Make PT appt for arm injury YES
3. 1 hr lawyer/estate stuff SORT OF
4. colonoscopy (Fri, ugh)YES
5. Exercise x 5 SORT OF
6. Fun thing x 2 YES
I met most of my goals last week. This week the plan is:
1. Write convergently on Ch 3 and Ch 7, including data tables. 5 days x 4 hrs per day
2. Do an external tenure review
3. Meet with co-authors about paper, read and make comments
4. Meet with illustrator about maps, drawings for book
5. Start PT for arm
6. Fun x 2
7. Exercise x 3
"I get more done when I have less time to do it. Why is that?" Because it removes some pressure to do it perfectly, and it feels like "enough" to do it at all!
DeleteI have turned off my notifications for work email, which makes it slightly easier to ignore, but I need to work on ignoring it until I've finished the work that takes more brainpower.
DeleteDEH has a great point. With all the time in the world, one can rewrite, edit, and polish till the melting of the glaciers. If one only has 30 minutes, what gets done in those minutes will often suffice.
I am sorry, but in the hectic atmosphere of moving and new faculty orientation, etc., I forgot to post days ago. I did manage my goals last week more or less, and this week am just working to settle in. We are completely unpacked (yay me) and have food and somewhat unreliable internet, but things work. Some things I haven't yet accomplished that I want to work on the rest of this week include:
ReplyDelete1. Finalize syllabus for first class, including printing out some worksheets, etc., for the first week of classes.
2. Submit some reimbursement requests (which requires learning where the dept photocopier is and how to use it).
3. Go to a workshop on our CMS, which I have used before but am not a pro at.
4. Finally, try not to flounder while my husband is out of town. As someone with mental health issues I don't do well when my primary support system is missing, so I try to reach out to friends, but as we all know, academics often have friends very far away. So my text messaging will go up for sure!
I'm so impressed that you are all unpacked!
DeleteI hope you found support from your friends while your husband was gone, too.