So this is the last week of the session, dictated by my kids' school term and our imminent holiday on Saturday, but I know it's not quite the end for everyone else. So I'll post everyone's session goals below so people can do the usual reflection on what worked/didn't work, in the knowledge that there can be an extension to the session if anyone wants to keep going. Feel free to post goals for this final week or weeks, maybe with an eye to 'parking on a downhill slope' for the next session.
Dame Eleanor asked last week if we could all have badges for 'surviving Janfarch'. More than badges: everyone can treat themselves to a virtual (or real) Easter egg. What would be your perfect Easter egg? Dark or milk chocolate? Hollow or filled? Or what other gift would you like to reward yourself with?
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JaneB
1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* Maintaining good habits - something creative every week, D&D related time every week, reading regularly, intentional movement, something social with a non work person even if it's a typed conversation.
* Specific things - reading & journalling through the "self care for autistic adults" book I didn't do last session.
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* Habits - 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, 1 small additional environment thing a week
* Specific things - researching for the changes I want to make to my downstairs living spaces this summer, keeping up with garden trimming as and when spring comes along, creating some better financial habits
2) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* successful teaching delivery (which has to happen, but it will take a good chunk of time each week so it's going in...)
* productive engagement with teaching redesign process (whilst pushing for my needs to be met e.g. being allowed to take time to think about decisions not make them on the fly, information in writing, etc.)
* stay in my lane! (especially with the further reduction in hours and the big research project having finally started).
* support senior grad student - submission is early March - and external Research Master's student - submission is mid March - plus other students, but these two are the priority until late March.
4) RESEARCH
i) measurable progress on at least two papers - two, because this session is almost 100% teaching weeks for me (there is the inter-semester marking week, and the week when the second years are on their overseas trips, but those are realistically going to also be structured by teaching-related needs.
ii) find out my commitments in the small cog in a big project situation and meet them as I can around my own capacity
Julie
1. Research (TLQ)
i) Write article for end of January deadline.
ii) Write longer version of grant application for 1st March deadline.
iii) Spend remaining small grant money.
iv) Figure out some research for after 1st March.
2. Teaching
i) Marking: finish current batch, do next batch mid-February.
ii) Keep teaching prep as minimal as possible.
iii) PhD students: R has submitted, so just viva guidance; I is writing up, needs carrot; M has extended yet again, needs big stick.
3. Admin
i) Usual round of moderating other colleagues' marking, being a good citizen etc while also saying no as much as possible.
4. Kids
i) Meet with teachers, advise on subject choices, try not to lean too heavily on them.
ii) Usual ongoing work of parenting - try to do this with minimal shouting/resentment.
iii) Encourage family time: films, reading together, make travel plans.
5. House
i) Essential financial stuff
ii) Small jobs, but no impossible goals.
6. Fun stuff/self-care
i) Sleep!
ii) Exercise
iii) Healthy eating.
iv) Read.
v) Creative stuff
vi) Make travel plans for Easter and summer.
Daisy
Exercise regularly
Finish one new paper, one old one (feels like there should be a borrowed one and a blue one too…)
Shepherd department through hiring process for critical position (more than one if we get lucky)
Get my lab and sample archive organized
Teach well and refresh key lectures
Support grad students to finish projects
This week’s goals
Exercise 4 times
Start sample archive project
Sample processing
First week’s lectures and labs
Meet grad students and make term plans
Susan
1. Polish and give big public lecture on January 15
2. Submit almost final text of Famous Author to press on Feb 1, and do whatever further edits are needed after my editor and reviewers read it.
3. Get maps done for Famous Author
4. Get image permissions for Famous Author
5. Take care of whatever I need to do on Big Collaboration (we're waiting on a few more contributors to cut their essays to the required length, and then it's in production, so it will be dealing with the copyedited ms.
6. Pick up work on the Rest of My Life project when i recover from January.
7. Keep up with exercise, do more walking
8. Read for pleasure
9. Do fun things
Heu mihi
1. Good habits: Continue with exercise regimen; practice inversions three times a month; reintroduce meditation into my life to any extent
2. Read 1 Italian book (I've just ordered "L'amica geniale" from our local bookstore!)
3. Finish reasonably polished draft of article due in April (for workshop)
4. Final revisions to book manuscript
5. My actual job: Create online teaching supports for grad students; work on data to advocate for an administrative change
6. Finish two in-progress knitting projects and make progress on my big new fun one
Dame Eleanor
- make measurable progress on two research projects
- manage teaching and GTAs effectively
- gym and yoga 5x/week (each)
- be adequate at committee assignments
Contingent Cassandra
--Make substantial progress on Study Leave project (which has multiple components and possible outcomes, so one of the things I need to do soon is some more detailed prioritizing and planning)
--Continue exercise habit
--Work on other self-care activities, especially identifying leisure activities that are truly restorative
--As time allows, make progress on making my home more livable for me, and workable for having guests over (I've lived in a one-room apartment for the past 17 years, and, while it has its attractions, and at this point feels like home, it's also both overcrowded with stuff and in need of some repairs, replacements, and updates, starting with the fridge and stove).
Easter egg: definitely dark chocolate. Filling not necessary, but if there is one, more chocolate! There may be snow tomorrow, so I need something to get me through that (it won't stick, and the bulb flowers are in bloom; magnolias are in bud; the days are light now, so it will be fine, just chilly).
ReplyDeleteHow I did this session: wow, look at this restraint:
- make measurable progress on two research projects. YES, for small amounts of measurable. I have some slides for a conference paper, and very helpful feedback from a friend who read a draft of a recalcitrant chapter.
- manage teaching and GTAs effectively: YES, so far as I can tell! It's strange and interesting having TAs and not doing everything myself.
- gym and yoga 5x/week (each): MOSTLY, let's just say yes and call it good!
- be adequate at committee assignments: YES, so far, but I let my name go forward for another one next year and I'm hoping that the cup will pass. What I really meant was, "don't try to do too much," and I didn't anticipate how much this not-a-museum thing would require (but at least I got the Distinguished label out of it!).
How I did last week:
- swim 2x, cardio 3x, yoga 5x: swim x3 (yay!), yes, yes.
- half an hour of research x5: ummmm . . . honestly not sure; I didn't do too well recording what I was doing last week. I did some reading, I'm sure of at least three days of scholarly reading.
- schedule a make-up thing for class: Yes, and it went well.
- process grad applications: Yes, not all of them yet, but progress.
- read/comment grant draft: NO
- make arrangements for at least one of three upcoming conferences: NO
Looking at the rest of April (though I'd really rather not; just call me Cleopatra): I have two more classes to teach and four days of activities to set up and supervise; an abstract to revise for a proceedings volume; those conferences for which to register and book hotels; some other things that could be lumped under "communications," "grading," and Life Stuff (bills; dentist).
Well, you certainly are distinguished! And that is a good session.
DeleteLots of great stuff done, and I'm still so impressed with your excellent exercise habit!
DeleteGood luck with the conference planning!
Daisy, the exercise is mainly because I feel so awful if I don't do it!
DeleteSo much done! And I do envy the exercise, partly because if I do anything slightly too much I feel terrible, so it's too easy to not do things in case, and as a larger person there's so much shame around all these things as well. Sigh! i'd love to be able to reliably Do A Thing and have it make my body feel a certain way!
DeleteEaster egg: Dark chocolate, maybe a truffle filling of mocha or something? Don't know, haven't had an easter egg in years, so...
ReplyDeleteHow I did:
Session:
1. Polish and give big public lecture on January 15 WELL, DUE TO FIRES IT WAS MARCH, BUT DONE
2. Submit almost final text of Famous Author to press on Feb 1, and do whatever further edits are needed after my editor and reviewers read it. YES, STARTED ON FURTHER EDITS
3. Get maps done for Famous Author YES
4. Get image permissions for Famous Author STARTED
5. Take care of whatever I need to do on Big Collaboration (we're waiting on a few more contributors to cut their essays to the required length, and then it's in production, so it will be dealing with the copyedited ms. YES, UNTIL WE GET COPYEDITS I"M DONE
6. Pick up work on the Rest of My Life project when i recover from January. NOT AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE
7. Keep up with exercise, do more walking YES, Not REALLY
8. Read for pleasure YES
9. Do fun things YES
In general, my goals were all both do-able and required. The fires in January really slowed me down, and while we only officially lost a week, we all felt like we lost a month of work. And Janfarch has been A LOT. (I am carefully limiting my news consumption, but still...)
LAST WEEK:
1. Busy work:
letter supporting student honors project YES
Write abstract for one of fall conferences YES
Finish working on images for Big Collaboration YES
2. Expenses for last two conferences NO
3. Read and figure out what I have to do for review of big grant from the UK NOT DUE UNTIL MAY, procrastinating
4. Read dissertation chapter YES
5. Read through editors comments on Famous Author, plan revisions YES
6. Do revisions of first 3 chapters of Famous Author YES
7. Return to exercise - 3x weights, 2x yoga, 1 walk to work 2x NO NO (but lots of walking yesterday, so that may count)
8. Get into healthy sleep cycle SORT OF
9. Keep reading for fun YES
AND ALSO: Letter for student applying for grad school
It was an okay week, and I got going on the revisions, which are mostly straightforward, but not always simple because I am learning to write in a new way for me... I've got a list of the other tasks on my agenda, and will just plug away at them, getting things in by due dates.
All in all this session worked because my goals were manageable, mostly. Some were stretches, but...
Definitely lots of good things for the session despite the disruptions of fires and other things... Good luck with revisions and all the little tasks that go with those.
DeleteIt's great to be at the revisions stage, even if they're difficult! Well done keeping your goals manageable--and then meeting them!
DeleteIt sounds like it's been a productive session, despite all the everything! You've done a great job of showing up and doing even when it's hard or tedious or you're time limited, and have honestly been inspiring company when I don't want to do that myself!
DeleteAS A SEPARATE MATTER, I'm happy to casually host through April or maybe into May, as terms wind down, and at least provide a place to set goals, touch base. Not sure how inspired I'll be, but... I will start a new post if you want to put in goals for the coming week.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan!
DeleteThank you for hosting this session Julie! I enjoyed the historical and visual additions, definitely a nice treat!
ReplyDeleteFor my Easter egg I would like dark chocolate, preferably with a truffle filling… I think that is a lovely end to the session, I’m actually going to get one for me to celebrate!
Last week’s goals, not too bad for a busy end of classes week…
Edit student chapters SOME
Set exams DONE
Finish term marking DONE
Analytical stuff and sample prep DONE
Grant application IN PROGRESS
Session goals are a different story…
1) Exercise regularly
Did really well for a month, and then fell off the wagon entirely. Starting over now…
2) Finish one new paper, one old one (feels like there should be a borrowed one and a blue one too…)
Would have been better off with borrowed and blue… Did not do either of these things, but helped with a co-authored paper that will be a good one, and wrote a lot of background work that will go into future papers. Unfortunately there is no paper fairy that helps with that…
3) Shepherd department through hiring process for critical position (more than one if we get lucky)
Yes, this was huge and dramatic and extremely labour-intensive but we did get a person, and all fingers crossed they should be pitching up here in the next few months. We did not get lucky so we are short two people for the coming year.
4) Get my lab and sample archive organized
Not a smidge of this happened…
5) Teach well and refresh key lectures
Yes, mostly taught well, and decided on a reorganization for two courses, and updated some materials and labs. One of my classes were great, the other was one of those where it was just pulling teeth the entire time, some groups just work out that way.
6) Support grad students to finish projects
Happy to say one is defending this week! Another one for whom I was on the committee finished as well, and two honours thesis students I was involved with finished well too, so that one I’m happy with.
Overall I am happy with the session. I did a lot of external stuff and music/kid things so it was worth the crazy schedule for those weeks. I would like to sit down with my courses and do some reorganization before the lessons from this term evaporates completely from my brain. Overall, solid B+ I think…
Thanks for all the company from everyone and to Julie for hosting!
I think co-authored paper could count as borrowed! Now you just need blue: cobalt? aquamarine? lapis lazuli?
DeleteThose classes where you pull teeth are SO exhausting!
DeleteOh lord the tooth-pulling... One definite plus of this trimester has been that our current crop of first years include a solid core of students who turn up and engage - not always cheerfully, not always productively, and I don't think we've ever had so many students with executive functioning issues, but the next class comes around and they're there and engaging and it's a new start, and it makes SUCH a difference for me!
DeleteEaster egg: Dark. And filled...with more dark chocolate! Nothing but dark chocolate all the way down.
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe a glass of something lovely on the side.
Session:
1. Good habits: Continue with exercise regimen; practice inversions three times a month; reintroduce meditation into my life to any extent
YES to exercise, YES to inversions thrice monthly (even if they're all landing in the last week of each month), NO to meditation--it remains an aspiration
2. Read 1 Italian book (I've just ordered "L'amica geniale" from our local bookstore!)
YES! Volume 1 is finished. Volume 2 is on the shelf, waiting.
3. Finish reasonably polished draft of article due in April (for workshop)
YES--I actually just reread it today and finished the formatting. One little note to double-check and I'll send it off. Hooray!
4. Final revisions to book manuscript
YES, still waiting on a book to check the Latin of one source, though
5. My actual job: Create online teaching supports for grad students; work on data to advocate for an administrative change
YES, NO. Soooo many other things intervened to make this "data to advocate for administrative change" business just fall completely off the plate. To wit: a personnel kerfuffle, a 10% cut to our department's TAships; a graduate admissions pause (which has been lifted, but maybe not in time to salvage an entering class for this year), international students at my university losing visas/student status (none of *our* students, but our students still need support and advice so that they don't fall into that category), a memorial for our deceased student, a major talk (yesterday!), and, also yesterday/today, a colleague being harassed for talking about Israel and Palestine (in a completely curricularly and contextually appropriate) way. Essentially this semester has been one damned thing after another, and I've had to be involved in all the damned things.
6. Finish two in-progress knitting projects and make progress on my big new fun one
FINISHED one, worked on the fun one, ignored the cardigan that I'm not really crazy about.
And while I'm here, last week:
1. Get everything, everything in order for Very Fancy Writer visit next week--including reading another one of her (short) books - YES
2. Submit final MS to press! - YES!
3. Read ahead for class (teaching new book next week) - YES
4. Get information together for program fundraiser (so much dread around this) - YES
5. Reread and do whatever I can to Alignment, which is due on the 15th - NOT REALLY, but that's okay.
6. Print MS to review - YES
I actually did an enormous amount of work this semester (which is still almost 5 weeks from over, alas). In addition to what sometimes felt like perpetual crisis management, I signed my contract and finished my edits, wrote/finished an article, read two complete dissertations, read a chapter apiece for two other students, reviewed all of our grad students' teaching evaluations from last semester, organized a teaching workshop and a major author visit (which was amazing, btw), and also taught my class. Still pending are the manuscript review and an abstract for a collection essay (due end of May), as well as a short presentation for a Kalamazoo roundtable.
I want to collapse.
Well, I've *started* the MS review, and have two books to check out for the abstract; does that count as a downhill slope? We're still so mid-stream around here that it might not make sense for me to think in those terms; this doesn't feel like a session's end at all--especially because it's still really cold (snow yesterday, although it didn't stick)!
I am tired *reading* what you have dealt with this semester. And the stuff from the outside is really exhausting because it never ends but is entirely unpredictable. But the book and the article too! So three cheers for you! Definitely a nice glass of something to accompany your easter egg. (And since your husband is a minister, Easter itself is exhausting, so maybe get two!)
DeleteYes, that is a LOT for one term! I hope the final weeks are calmer.
DeleteSo many things! You are amazing to still be going and I'm sure your grad students and colleagues really appreciate you (even if they don;;t say it). I hope the spring soon turns up, and we can slog through the rest of the session together...
DeleteEaster treat: dark chocolate, and probably a bunny rather than an egg (I grew up with chocolate bunnies for Easter). I'm also partial to some flavors of jelly eggs (especially licorice).
ReplyDeleteHow I did on session goals:
--Make substantial progress on Study Leave project (which has multiple components and possible outcomes, so one of the things I need to do soon is some more detailed prioritizing and planning)
Yes, I’m actually making pretty good progress. And I got approval this week from the governing board of the organization on which the project focuses to digitize some items in their archives and put out a call for volunteer transcribers in the near future, so that’s a big step in the right direction
--Continue exercise habit
Yes. I seem to have a combination of possible activities that work, and that I’m doing on a reasonably regular, if not exactly regimented, basis
--Work on other self-care activities, especially identifying leisure activities that are truly restorative
Not so much on this one. While I’m feeling more relaxed than usual simply because I’m not juggling teaching with everything else, I really haven’t taken a lot of time fully off. I do continue to enjoy gardening and walking as times for my mind to wander, and I’ve done a bit of leisure reading (but also too much news reading, which is understandable under current circumstances, but not always helpful or healthy)
--As time allows, make progress on making my home more livable for me, and workable for having guests over (I've lived in a one-room apartment for the past 17 years, and, while it has its attractions, and at this point feels like home, it's also both overcrowded with stuff and in need of some repairs, replacements, and updates, starting with the fridge and stove).not really. I’d really like to spend some time this way before the fall semester begins.
Would it be easier to focus on one thing in your apartment, like just deciding what stove you want?
DeleteConsidering your health issues, I think you've had a very successful session. Best wishes for the surgery and recovery!
I like DEH's suggestion--pick a change, however small, and that might be enough. There's plenty of time for the rest (if you even/ever want to do it!).
DeleteThat sounds like a good session, and it sounds as if your Study Leave has gone really well. Good luck on thinking about your home: studio apartments are challenging!
DeleteIt sounds like you've managed a good balance of the different kinds of self-care this leave, despite the health stuff and ::arm wave:: All The Stuff. Hope everything goes really well over the next few weeks!
DeleteAlso I just bought a large dark chocolate (Lindt) rabbit for my sister - we have chocolate bunny traditions too - and even through the foil it smells so goooooood...
DeleteJulie, thanks for a great session---and especially for the prompt from week 8, "what is saving your life right now?" "Sliced turkey" was part of my somewhat flippant response, but seriously, when I start thinking "what am I going to cook/eat this week?" in hectic weeks, I remember answering that and say fine, buy more turkey and gf bread and just have sandwiches, and that's one thing off my mind!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being part of this. I meant to come back earlier this week and post, but not sure what has happened, between holiday prep and lots of other last-minute stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy Easter egg of choice would be dark chocolate, like so many people, either orange or salted caramel.
So, how I did:
1. Research (TLQ)
i) Write article for end of January deadline. - YES
ii) Write longer version of grant application for 1st March deadline. - YES (turned out to be 21st March instead)
iii) Spend remaining small grant money. - IN PROGRESS
iv) Figure out some research for after 1st March. - NO (later deadline)
2. Teaching
i) Marking: finish current batch, do next batch mid-February. - YES
ii) Keep teaching prep as minimal as possible. - MOSTLY
iii) PhD students: R has submitted, so just viva guidance; I is writing up, needs carrot; M has extended yet again, needs big stick. - R passed viva with minor corrections: I is racing to finish final drafts by the end of the month; M is missing in action, but therefore largely beyond my control.
3. Admin
i) Usual round of moderating other colleagues' marking, being a good citizen etc while also saying no as much as possible. - MOSTLY
4. Kids
i) Meet with teachers, advise on subject choices, try not to lean too heavily on them. - TRYING
ii) Usual ongoing work of parenting - try to do this with minimal shouting/resentment. - REASONABLY, I THINK?
iii) Encourage family time: films, reading together, make travel plans. - YES
5. House
i) Essential financial stuff - YES
ii) Small jobs, but no impossible goals. - BIT OF DECLUTTERING
6. Fun stuff/self-care
i) Sleep! - NO
ii) Exercise - SOME
iii) Healthy eating. -SOME WEEKS?
iv) Read. - YES
It has been a productive session, but most goals were things that had to happen. Next session will be harder in terms of motivation/setting realistic deadlines. But very glad to have the grant in, finally!
v) Creative stuff
vi) Make travel plans for Easter and summer.
A lot has been happening! Sometimes it's harder to juggle many small things, especially with everything that turns up in the email every morning & the bonfire that is UK HE right now... thanks for being here every week and for sharing your pictures
DeleteLate again! Sorry, it's been a trying week, including Head of School being found to have failed to sign and forward another important and time constrained document for a different graduate student, and ended with the news that the University is opening a voluntary exit scheme again - third time in just over a year. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie for the session, much appreciated!
I took ShoutyPants to the vets yesterday for his vaccinations - just as I'd reached the delicate point of disentangling his very spiky murder mittens from my shirt as I lowered him into his crate, the postman knocked on the door really loudly, ShoutyPants panicked, and I ended up somewhat shredded. And I couldn't find any plasters (band aids?) and was worried about being late so I ended up going to the vets with a lump of papertowel wrapped around the finger that refused to stop bleeding with duct tape... Shoutypants was surprisingly good at the vets, not too shouty at all, made no attempt to attack the vet or the tech or parkour around the exam room, and he wasn't too loud in the car. And he'd forgiven me withint five minutes of us being home. It took ME an hour after getting home to stop having shaky hands from the adrenaline/anxious around the whole thing, and I needed a nap before I could focus on work! Plus typing is still quite painful. Totally not Shoutypants' fault.
Anyway. Review of the session!
1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* Maintaining good habits - something creative every week, D&D related time every week, reading regularly, intentional movement, something social with a non work person even if it's a typed conversation. D&D and reading have gone well, intentional movement has mostly gone well, creative has been a sometimes thing, and outside of D&D and calls to family I've been really lacking on the social front
* Specific things - reading & journalling through the "self care for autistic adults" book I didn't do last session.no
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* Habits - 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, 1 small additional environment thing a week hah hah, no, but at least I've done some things off the list each week and I did mess up then reclaim the landing.
* Specific things - researching for the changes I want to make to my downstairs living spaces this summer, keeping up with garden trimming as and when spring comes along, creating some better financial habits nope, nope, nope
2) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* successful teaching delivery (which has to happen, but it will take a good chunk of time each week so it's going in...) I guess so - only one after-Easter week of teaching (and that's all assignment support sessions) and a mountain of marking left.
i didn't miss anything at least.
* productive engagement with teaching redesign process (whilst pushing for my needs to be met e.g. being allowed to take time to think about decisions not make them on the fly, information in writing, etc.) well, not really, but it's only slowly getting underway, and there's been Issues around communication which are outwith my control. I'm trying.
* stay in my lane! (especially with the further reduction in hours and the big research project having finally started). I've been working on it consciously, day by day. I hate it, but its necessary.
* support senior grad student - submission is early March - and external Research Master's student - submission is mid March - plus other students, but these two are the priority until late March. they both submitted as intended and I read a LOT of chapters. A LOT. Other PhD student immediately started turning in a lot of text, and one of my Research MAster's students will be writing this summer once they get some work mojo back after dealing with some really gnarly domestic issues.
4) RESEARCH
Deletei) measurable progress on at least two papers - two, because this session is almost 100% teaching weeks for me (there is the inter-semester marking week, and the week when the second years are on their overseas trips, but those are realistically going to also be structured by teaching-related needs. I guess so? Two co-authored papers which were already in the final stages of acceptance came out, and we made some progress on a couple of others (Consultancy Project is nearly ready to go out to minor authors, Former PostDoc and I are actively working on the final round of analysis for a paper that's been on hold for several years)
ii) find out my commitments in the small cog in a big project situation and meet them as I can around my own capacity I still don't know, it's very frustrating, and it's also all tangled up with the slowly unravelling consequences of the "managed exit" of a colleague-friend which has been very mismanaged. Very mismanaged. I've engaged as I can, begun to build relationships with the people in my workpackage who I didn't already know, and... things are just slow to get going. Which is kind of scary nearly six months into a project, but not my circus, I am just a monkey in this one!
So not a great session for me, but I'm still here, plodding along, and that'll do.
And my easter egg is dark chocolate all the way down, with dark chocolate coated sea salt scattered almonds inside if we're fantasising, with a few chocolate covered soft caramels on the side because caramel.
DeleteSo so sorry about the chaos on your campus. It's so exhausting, and makes everything harder (especially when hte head of school doesn't do their job!) I think you've done pretty well!
DeleteAnd so sorry about ShoutyPants struggle with you, getting them to the vet is SO hard.