I'm strategizing how to make the most of a semester with leave from teaching responsibilities. I received a grant to buy out both my classes, ostensibly to finish two (related) book projects. This does not mean I never have to show up to campus. (In fact, I will still be on two major committees, responsible for an undergraduate organization, and overseeing two student research projects.) So while I have a reasonable sense of how to structure my time over the summer, say, it's less clear to me what to do now: how to negotiate getting my work done with being a decent departmental citizen and hopefully feeling less rather than more stressed. How to make sure I can still have the occasional lunch/coffee/whatever with a friend, without such social events encroaching on my research plan. In my head, a day not on campus might look like this:
8:30 coffee/breakfast/read for project #1
9-10:15 work on project #1
10:15-11:45 work on project #2
11:45-12:30 take a walk/lunch
12:30-1:30 read theoretical stuff for project #2
1:30-3:00 work on project #2
3:00-3:30 household stuff
[LG home/handle email or dinner prep/hang out?]
I think days I need to be on campus (i.e. committee meeting) I will also build in library time. If I get antsy, I might try afternoons at coffee shop/art museum/public library. I'm going to try to stay completely offline during the day and shift whatever online reading I do to my Tiny Boy rocking chair routine. We'll see how it goes.
I know Undine recently had a post about sabbatical thoughts (thanks!). For all you academics, please do send any tips my way! I feel like I'm pretty good about 'time management' issues but could always use some tweaks!
8:30 coffee/breakfast/read for project #1
9-10:15 work on project #1
10:15-11:45 work on project #2
11:45-12:30 take a walk/lunch
12:30-1:30 read theoretical stuff for project #2
1:30-3:00 work on project #2
3:00-3:30 household stuff
[LG home/handle email or dinner prep/hang out?]
I think days I need to be on campus (i.e. committee meeting) I will also build in library time. If I get antsy, I might try afternoons at coffee shop/art museum/public library. I'm going to try to stay completely offline during the day and shift whatever online reading I do to my Tiny Boy rocking chair routine. We'll see how it goes.
I know Undine recently had a post about sabbatical thoughts (thanks!). For all you academics, please do send any tips my way! I feel like I'm pretty good about 'time management' issues but could always use some tweaks!
Just reading over your last posts, and appreciating your ambitiousness ... I agree that 2017 felt a little like Y2K (that same sense of trepidation rather than celebration), but I keep trying to look for meaningful work that pulls me forward. Hope you find a rhythm soon.
ReplyDeleteNo plan survives contact with the enemy, but much more gets done with a plan than without one. I imagine it will help to have time clearly demarcated by the kids' time at school. It helps me to make detailed plans for the week (read articles by X and Y, take notes on them, draft one paragraph), although I can only do that for about a week at a time, because I'm never sure what else is going to crop up (footnote in X sends me off to read Z, who spawns a whole new reading list).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Justine!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm in the process of making more concrete plans for each of the projects; one is clearer than the other at this stage. I know how quickly I can draft/edit, but doing conceptual work is harder to pin down...