The all-out slugfest on my time and psyche continues as I tread through my dissertation and move toward my defense. But let’s keep on keeping on.
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog is inspired by Something New by Zendaya. I don’t give this track enough play.
ONE MONTH DOWN, ONE MONTH TO GO
After I returned from my trip to New Orleans effectively ending my winter break, I noted that I had 2 months until Spring Break. Two months to get a shit load of work done. Two months to produce significant progress on drafts of two chapters. Now that a month has passed (actually 5 weeks, but we’ll evaluate from Jan 6 – Feb 6th), I’ve decided to take stock of my progress. Day to day it can feel like I’m spinning my wheels, but when I take time to reflect, I realize just how much I’ve achieved. I have produced detailed (10+) page outlines for all three dissertation chapters – this doesn’t include the Introduction chapter (I’ll worry about that later). I have produced a dozen new figures which illustrate my results. I have zeroed in on two or three problem areas – let’s call them choke points – that need to be remedied in order for me to wrap things up. And I’ve applied to several positions post-graduate school, some of which have resulted in interviews. I’ve accomplished a lot. And because of those achievements I am able to devote the next 3 weeks to writing, troubleshooting, finishing my analyses, and preparing for LPSC. The goal is to get enough done so that I can actually enjoy a work-free (aside from a little light reading) Spring Break.
COPING – A HEALTHY BALANCE
A lot of people would be scared now. The never-ending balance between work and life gets even trickier leading up to one’s defense. I have found myself working until 6 or 7 pm some days, but I’ve tried to mitigate that as much as possible. Truth be told, sometimes I just get excited when I make a new figure that promises to better communicate my findings. However, I’ve made an honest – and successful – effort to spend my evenings doing things I enjoy (and also reduce stress). These include Netflix (ol’ reliable), movie nights, Legos, creative writing, socializing, assorted fun activities (bowling, Top Golf, etc.). I’ve relied heavily on friends and hobbies to see me through – and so far, it’s working well. I’ve also increased my weekly cardio by 45 minutes AND I’ve committed to healthier eating habits (more fiber, more water, and less carbs). This balance has reduced my base level anxiety and kept me panic attack free for over 2 weeks now.
Advice: Balance doesn’t necessarily mean equal amounts of time and energy on all things. Some days you might work longer than others. Or you might find yourself going several days without socializing. The important part is that you recognize when you’re out of balance and make an effort to avoid it becoming a habit.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Another year, another black history month. I usually use this month to do some light reflection on black history and culture in America. However, I’ve never done anything specific in terms of attending an event, etc. But the celebration – and perhaps more importantly – the understanding of the black experience isn’t tied to just one month. There’s also something to be said for living up to Martin Luther King’s ideals – creating a more compassionate society where people are judged based on their character. I’ve decided to invest in that philosophy going forward via a few avenues. 1) I’m going to be unapologetic about injustice. Growing up in the American south, it was unheard-of to speak up about perceived injustice / biases such as sexism, homophobia, racism. However, nowadays, I have no problem speaking out when I see any non-inclusive behavior. I’m over staying silent and submissive. 2) I want to dedicate myself to serving underserved populations. Whether it’s teaching in the classroom, serving as a mentor, or facilitating science, I want to make sure I’m serving people who have historically been disadvantaged particularly in the realm of education and science. This includes women, women with children, people of color, older students, etc. 3) I want to engage with people from different places or who have different perspectives. I want to make sure I’m not living in a bubble. Growing up, I was surrounded by a monoculture – people who all had similar beliefs but whose beliefs were different from mine. Now that I’m older – and presumably wiser – I want to engage with other people. I want to understand a different aspect of human society and learn something new about people outside of my world. I think these tasks will ultimately help me become a better contributor to society.
Advice: Being a better steward to society comes in different varieties. You could devote your energy to people, the environment, education, etc. It’s all connected. However, you have to make the conscious choice to do so. What do you want your contribution to society to be?
CURRENT SHOWS
Recently finished: Roman Empire (s1); Detective Conan (s27); Sex Education (s2); The Mandalorian; The Planets on NOVA
Currently watching: AICO: Reincarnation; Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (s2); Roman Empire (s2); The Witcher
Thank you for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, March 12th – smack dab in the middle of spring break. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 