Comments | academics_anon: Work/Life Balance

chatnoire in academics_anon

Work/Life Balance

Feb 05, 2007 09:39

I work 40+ hours a week, I’m taking 6 credits (one is a seminar, one is a studio) - I already get up at 5:30 in the morning, and I cut off all my hair so it takes less time to get ready. I leave the house at 7. That means I have 45 minutes to spend on work in the morning. I get home at 9 on M, T, W, and by that time, I’m too exhausted to sit ( Read more... )

grad-student-life

Comments 66

sensaes February 5 2007, 17:34:50 UTC

Clones, perhaps?

Make that telepathic clones.

Seriously, however, something's got to give. Pick one and ditch it.

mtb0001 February 5 2007, 18:14:48 UTC

When I was in the dissertation stage and working full-time (and hubby was working full-time while doing an online MBA), we hired a guy to come clean for us twice a month. We also did lots of cooking on Sundays of things that could be frozen and reheated for healthful lunches and dinners during the week. The last year of my diss, I took up contra dancing, and I credit the stress release with helping me finally get done.

chatnoire February 5 2007, 19:49:07 UTC

The cooking thing sounds like ti could work. We already hire a dogsitter, so a cleaning person might be a nice addition (so I don't have to stress about the cleaning - that becomes my number one procrastination)

The dancing sounds fun.

Thanks!

sshi February 5 2007, 20:47:26 UTC

I recommend the cooking thing also - instead of just cooking for two at the weekend, we have started cooking a great big pot of whatever-it-is, which provides four freezable dinners with not much more extra effort. Useful when we have two full-time jobs, a PhD and an undergraduate degree on the go.

Also, an alternative to a class of some sort is scheduling in a complete Day Off every now and again and going and doing something interesting (museum or gallery or whatever you like). It makes a world of difference for your attitude the rest of the week and I'm convinced that I'm *more* productive than the times when I haven't had a day off for weeks.

kelaina February 5 2007, 18:17:56 UTC

A very wise friend of mine just showed me how to properly read for all my classes. This may save you time.

For each paragraph, read the first sentence, and the last sentence. Those two sentences should sum up the entire paragraph. Then (if you take notes) you can rephrase it anyway you'd like.

As for time management...I'm not sure how strict you like to be in plotting out your time (I vary between extremely anal-retentive to very lazy--comes w/being bipolar), but I use an assignment calculator to plan reading, writing papers, and research.

It may help, it may not. Either way, good luck to you--I'm extremely impressed at your dedication and capabilities.

chatnoire February 5 2007, 19:47:33 UTC

That assignment calculator looks interesting, thanks for that!

And the first/last sentence thing - that might work, I'll try it.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

vera_pavlovna February 6 2007, 05:20:06 UTC

I also wanted to offer you (chatnoire) some skimming advice. My apologies if you already know any of this or if it's not applicable to your field ( ... )

divinerose February 5 2007, 18:18:11 UTC

I don't have anything else to add that hasn't already been said, but I just wanted to say...Thank You.

Reading this post, and the responses, make me feel so much better that I am not the only one going through this.

sevenjades February 5 2007, 18:26:46 UTC

The first thing that caught my eye is that you're in two graduate programs. Why? Can you do one after you finish the other, and use the down time during the summer, perhaps, to catch up, take a break or complete some work projects (if your job permits such a schedule ( ... )