#JanuaryRestartChallenge

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Thirteen 

Sometimes the major item on your day’s to-do list is protest.

[medieval-canadian]

January Restart Challenge Day 12

ok here’s today!

goals:

head to campus for 10h30

attend job candidate meeting 11h-12h

read excerpt from Rolleston’s Celtic Myths and Legends (pp. 182-233)

locate a copy containing Keats’ poems of 1817

write “identity” section of paper

end-of-day review:

i had a fever today, and so was convinced by my friends to go home instead of trying to tough it out at school when there wasn’t any need for me to be there. i still got a tiny bit of work done though, which was nice. here’s hoping that this was the peak and tomorrow is better!

lessons learned:

don’t try to force a fever brain to actually follow logical thought. it’s not gonna happen. go home, take a nap, watch some netflix, read some irish mythology, and then drink neocitran and go to bed.

[madscientista]

January Restart Day 11: Review

Clean out metabolic cages (for the last time for a while!!)

Teach lab mate how to collect blood from aorta

Learn to use fluorescent dissecting microscope

Schedule time on dissecting microscope tomorrow morning

Complete revisions of AHA app, pending pictures from microscope obtained tomorrow

Pack for tomorrow

I’m proud of myself for getting through this much. That said, experiments are easier to plan and motivate myself through because once they’re started, they just keep going, and they give a sense of completion and accomplishment quickly instead of the dragging out of endless edits and everything that comes from writing. Not that writing isn’t important and doesn’t come with a different type of satisfaction from seeing things come together and getting back to the bigger picture, but it’s slow and can become a grind.

[shadoramarie]

January Restart Challenge: Day 7 Today I meal prepped for M-F half of breakfast, complete lunch and dinners for me and my boyfriend. On the menu this week: Breakfast: Bacon and Eggs (bacon is done!) Lunch: Ravioli with Chicken and mushrooms (alternating sauces of Alfredo and sausage tomato) Dinner: Bagel club sandwich. Snacks of carrots, bananas, banana bread, smoothies, nachos and cheese, apples, oranges, and dark chocolate covered strawberries! It has been a great success and will take the guess work out of my meals during the week. It will prevent me from wandering into fast food and prevent me from spending unnecessary funds because I am too lazy. Let's see how long I can manage to keep this up.

[pensandknittingneedles]

01/18/2017 - January Restart Challenge: Day 5

Today was a good day.  I had a horrible time focusing, but I ended up finishing more things than I have been, though it felt like pulling teeth.  I was too distracted to note how long I spent doing anything.  I’m just glad I did it!!

- print and sign termination report x2

- edit intake 12 and 13

- draft intake 14

- draft intake 15

- call to transfer phone plan from mum to me

- lead intake 15

- read 1 paper

- walk the pup

- write 100 words - sort of cheated, I took notes on the paper lol.

[in-viro-veritas]

January Restart Challenge: Day 1

Yeah…I’m another latecomer hopping on this challenge, but I seriously need it. Snow + SLG rush + unexpected things getting thrown my way have put me off balance just three days into the semester. With a day off today, I’m going to put my life back in a semblance of order.

High Priority:

- Independent Study proposal - Chinese homework - Zebrafish-related paperwork - shower - get room to functional level of clean - outstanding SLG recruitment paperwork

Medium Priority:

- laundry - genetics notes - submit reimbursement - clean litter boxes - grocery list/meals planned for week

Low Priority: - post items for sale - tutoring ad - repair dresser drawer - clean closet

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Nine

Today is my first day “back.” Trying to dive in and reassess how I spend my time. 

Today’s goals are: 

Email intergroup team about meeting (high priority)

Clean up inbox (low priority)

SEM reading (High priority) 

Persuasion reading (High priority) (snuck this in right under the deadline!)

FCOM reading (medium priority) - (this wont happen today.)

Add deadlines to calendar (medium priority) 

Despite personal challenges academic life presses on- and good news includes adding my final dissertation committee member and laying out plans for a new research project. 

Good luck with all your work goals today! 

Over caffeinated and underfed, 

- WWG 

Photo feature: Espresso from my favorite local coffeeshop 

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Eleven

Today I absolutely must complete two readings, write a paper, and prepare a draft for my structural question modeling professor. 

Wishing you all good work spaces, hot beverages, and a productive day! 

Update: All things on my major list are done! Now tackling the additional tasks I’m relieved I have time to sneak in. 

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Eight 

I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to join you all for yesterday’s productivity check in. I spent most of the day traveling back from the funeral. And then this morning, our dog died. 

For 15 years Noel loved us with unwavering devotion. 

Going into this challenge I had no clue the heartbreaks that were right around the corner. Today I need to find a way to balance grieving and work - because work will not wait for me to feel okay. 

Today I’m asking myself to just get 4 hours of work done.

High priority: 

Respond to advisor emails

Email intergroup manuscript team 

Clean up email inbox

Read two articles 

Download stats software

Medium priority: 

Clean flat

IRB edits 

Add deadlines to calendar

-WWG

Reflection: 

 I wrote out my list...ate a meal...stared at my screen...and went back to bed. That being said - once I got up from my nap I felt more like a person. And I’m pleased that I got anything done really. Here’s hoping for a stronger tomorrow. 

[medieval-canadian]

January Restart Challenge Day 13

second to last day! wow.

goals:

attend job talk 15h-16h30

read straub chapter (23)

pick up la légende de geneviève de brabant (schneider) from ILL

return kabir and williams

read matthew arnold’s on the study of celtic literature excerpt (9)

work on paper (i only did a tiny bit...)

pick up quarters

end-of-day review:

not super productive today, but not unproductive either. i really look forward to kicking this cold once and for all.

lessons learned:

my officemates LOVE to talk about boys................

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Four

Attempting to run around and get the house ready to leave, us ready for the funeral, teach, attend class, and get tasks done may kill me in the next 48 hours. 

God. 

Trying to get back on track with writing purposeful and prioritized lists. Today I am aiming to: 

Send out a series of important emails (High priority)

Edit Intergroup paper and send to authors with submission deadline (High priority) 

Complete one reading (Low priority)

Practice for tomorrow’s lectures (Medium priority)

Check on data analysis software (Medium priority)

Clean house and pack bag for funeral (High priority)

I hope you’re all doing well!

End of day update: 

      I got all of the important things done! And a colleague offered to help me cover my classes for tomorrow- that changed my life. So grateful not to have that on my plate right now. This weekend I need to put more focus on readings...somehow. 

Photo feature: Dr. John Watson, cat and diva extraordinaire, during last night’s work session. 

[medieval-canadian]

January Restart Challenge Day 6

goals:

significant progress on beowulf paper

that’s it that’s everything i need to do

oops actually i have to go to a job talk at 15h00

end-of-day review

i really need to work on task initiation

lessons learned

honestly not sure??

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Five

Today we go to visiting hours. Tomorrow we bury family. 

Right now the only thing on my list is to send a couple of high priority emails and be with my family. I am eternally grateful for a colleague who offered to take care of my students today, @professionalstudentthings for watching my cats, and all of you for your support. 

Wishing you not only productivity but happiness today. 

-WWG

[medieval-canadian]

January Restart Challenge Day 2

i had a slow start again this morning - i’ve been feeling slightly off for the past few days and i’m hoping it resolves itself quickly and painlessly. i remembered yesterday’s lesson and was on campus by 11h00; i’m planning on sticking around until at least 18h00.

goals for the day:

return 2 library books & pick up hold (15 mins)

finish reading the man of mode (1.5 hrs) (not finished but i did read it)

read medieval literature and postcolonial studies (3 hrs)

return above to ILL (10 mins)

outline beowulf essay !!!! (1 hr)

respond to classmates’ position papers (30 mins)

also today: lunch with Susan for TA (1.5 hrs)

end of day reflection:

again, my issue here is more about not knowing how long things actually take. i thought i could read the whole play in under 3 hours but i was very very wrong. 

lessons learned:

i am actually a very very slow reader and i need to start budgeting my time accordingly. reminder to self: do not schedule work after dinner because it will not get done no matter how hard you try. 

also reminder: tie your hair. otherwise you pick at split ends for hours. it’s not good for your productivity OR your hair

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day Two 

Current Status: Oh-dear-god-I’m-tired

Alas,it is my busiest day. Today I tried to get better about writing more realistic to-do lists.

First, I identified how many hours I have “free” to work (5) and then I listed out what needs to be done in order of importance.  

Send out Dissertation emails (High importance) 

Intergroup paper edits (High importance) 

Grading and administrative duties (Moderate importance)

Bonus: Complete one reading

Today is a bit frustrating - it’s a 15 hour work day with only 5 meeting and/or class free hours. But everything on my to do list is important and it feels good to set goals that are within my reach. 

May the gods of academe be gentle with you all today! 

Photo: Get to Work Book pops up again here! But also, to the left are Semikolon book flags, and they are AMAZING. 

[wonderwomangrad]

January Restart Challenge: Day 6

No work was done in the past two days. I've screened my emails for "emergencies I may need to respond to" and spent the rest of my time with family. 

 Two twelve hour days and an grieving entire family was needed to orchestrate and execute this final goodbye. No clue how I'll play work catch-up once I'm home, but that's a worry for another day. 

 Hoping you are all doing well. -WWG