December 10 – Wisdom
Wisdom.
What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)
At least the largest decision I took in 2010 is that I wanted to change my way of working.
I felt I was getting tired, had lost track of my priorities and had lost grip on my project.
So I made a few changes.
1. I understood it is MY project
I started to take matters into my own hands and push the project forward. I now ask my advisors for advice, but I don't ask them what I should be doing.
I determined my priorities and I've made a list of research ideas to work on.
And I'm enjoying this feeling of independence.
2. I started to use a planning
I started splitting up my to do list into several lists at different levels, as I've described in this post. For every day I have my most important thing to do, on which I focus.
3. I'm trying to find a work-life balance
I'm still working on this one. But I've already done progress. I go to the gym for group fitness at fixed times so that I have to leave my office in time. And I've noticed that I now can leave my office in the evening without feeling guilty or thinking I should have done more. If I can work on my most important thing to do, then I feel I've accomplished something by the end of the day.
How staying longer at work resulted in getting less work done
on Thursday, December 9, 2010
Yesterday, I stayed in my office from 8am until 7:30 pm and -oh horror- I got much less work done than on other days.
I knew I could stay longer in my office because I was planning to go straight from my office to my choir practice. That's why I stayed late.
Since September, I haven't been staying long in my office. I've been scheduling aerobics classes at relatively early hours to make sure I leave my office in time. All this is the result of my attempts to find a work-life balance as a PhD student.
Knowing that I'll leave my office at a certain time, usually 6pm, forces me to plan my day, and fit my work in my schedule. I've tried and tested this, and I am getting as much done as when I was staying in my office from 8am to 8pm before September. I even feel like I can focus better during the day.
Yesterday, I thought during the day several times that I could do this and that in the meanwhile (unimportant tasks) "because I was staying longer anyway". Around 5:30 pm my concentration was gone, and I started to instant message my boyfriend. And then I started to read some blogs and have dinner. And suddenly I had to leave and run for choir practice, leaving the paper I wanted to read unread on my desk.
I've learned my lesson :)
I knew I could stay longer in my office because I was planning to go straight from my office to my choir practice. That's why I stayed late.
Since September, I haven't been staying long in my office. I've been scheduling aerobics classes at relatively early hours to make sure I leave my office in time. All this is the result of my attempts to find a work-life balance as a PhD student.
Knowing that I'll leave my office at a certain time, usually 6pm, forces me to plan my day, and fit my work in my schedule. I've tried and tested this, and I am getting as much done as when I was staying in my office from 8am to 8pm before September. I even feel like I can focus better during the day.
Yesterday, I thought during the day several times that I could do this and that in the meanwhile (unimportant tasks) "because I was staying longer anyway". Around 5:30 pm my concentration was gone, and I started to instant message my boyfriend. And then I started to read some blogs and have dinner. And suddenly I had to leave and run for choir practice, leaving the paper I wanted to read unread on my desk.
I've learned my lesson :)
Reverb10 - Day 9:Party
December 9 – Party
Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.
(Author: Shauna Reid)
I've had several fun parties according to the trusted recipe: fun friends, good music, great atmosphere and some Belgian beers (or ice tea, when I'm designated driver... I take my responsibility very serious then).
Other than that, I need to write that 2010 was the year in which I discovered that doing a PhD is a big party - if you want it to be like that .
You can be negative, and complain about your slow progress, lack of supervision, workload, difficulties in prioritizing and the like. I'm not telling you that you can't complain about those, every now and then you should complain and you definitely should remain realistic about your goals.
But there's so much more positive and fun things about it!
Think of this: in which job could you dig into a topic of your interest for such a long time? Where can you come and go and decide on your schedule and tasks as much as when doing a PhD? Where do you get the opportunity to travel and meet amazingly interesting people?
You see, doing a PhD is like a party for your brain. :)
Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.
(Author: Shauna Reid)
I've had several fun parties according to the trusted recipe: fun friends, good music, great atmosphere and some Belgian beers (or ice tea, when I'm designated driver... I take my responsibility very serious then).
Other than that, I need to write that 2010 was the year in which I discovered that doing a PhD is a big party - if you want it to be like that .
You can be negative, and complain about your slow progress, lack of supervision, workload, difficulties in prioritizing and the like. I'm not telling you that you can't complain about those, every now and then you should complain and you definitely should remain realistic about your goals.
But there's so much more positive and fun things about it!
Think of this: in which job could you dig into a topic of your interest for such a long time? Where can you come and go and decide on your schedule and tasks as much as when doing a PhD? Where do you get the opportunity to travel and meet amazingly interesting people?
You see, doing a PhD is like a party for your brain. :)
Reverb 10 - Day 8: Beautifully Different
on Wednesday, December 8, 2010
December 8 – Beautifully Different.
Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.
(Author: Karen Walrond)
Today's prompt is a hard one on me. Not because I cannot find in which way I am different, but rather because I am continuously the odd duck, wherever I go.
During my school days, I never had the feeling of fitting in. Then, at university I didn't feel I was like the other engineering students.
Over time, I have come to terms with the fact that I am different. I realize that my broad range of interests can be seen as a positive quality, and I have decided I want to stimulate my interest. No longer I want to hide my artistic side when I am amongst engineers, and no longer I want to hide my geekiness when I am with musicians.
I have tried to narrow myself down, but it is against my personality.
Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.
(Author: Karen Walrond)
Today's prompt is a hard one on me. Not because I cannot find in which way I am different, but rather because I am continuously the odd duck, wherever I go.
During my school days, I never had the feeling of fitting in. Then, at university I didn't feel I was like the other engineering students.
Over time, I have come to terms with the fact that I am different. I realize that my broad range of interests can be seen as a positive quality, and I have decided I want to stimulate my interest. No longer I want to hide my artistic side when I am amongst engineers, and no longer I want to hide my geekiness when I am with musicians.
I have tried to narrow myself down, but it is against my personality.
Reverb10 - Day 7: Community
on Tuesday, December 7, 2010
December 7 – Community
Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
(Author: Cali Harris)
Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010?
I had a very good experience at my first conference last year in 2010.
I was afraid that no one would be interested in my research because I just started it. I was afraid that I would not be taken seriously because I am new to research (and only 25, and female).
But it turned out to be just the opposite way around. Having "TU Delft" on my name-tag was enough for people to come up to me and talk to me. Or they would just come and talk to me, just interested in my research and curious what brought me to the conference.
I felt accepted by my scientific community.
What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
Professionally, I would like to connect more to fellow PhD students in other fields and around the world, and share thoughts and ideas on research and how to do a PhD. There are many similarities valid for all fields in the skills you need to manage a big research project like your own PhD. I would love to learn from others, reflect on their and my experiences and improve my ways.
Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
(Author: Cali Harris)
Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010?
I had a very good experience at my first conference last year in 2010.
I was afraid that no one would be interested in my research because I just started it. I was afraid that I would not be taken seriously because I am new to research (and only 25, and female).
But it turned out to be just the opposite way around. Having "TU Delft" on my name-tag was enough for people to come up to me and talk to me. Or they would just come and talk to me, just interested in my research and curious what brought me to the conference.
I felt accepted by my scientific community.
What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?
Professionally, I would like to connect more to fellow PhD students in other fields and around the world, and share thoughts and ideas on research and how to do a PhD. There are many similarities valid for all fields in the skills you need to manage a big research project like your own PhD. I would love to learn from others, reflect on their and my experiences and improve my ways.
Just ask
on Monday, December 6, 2010
For 2011, I have a challenge for myself. I hope some of my fellow researchers will join in too.
Just ask what you want.
Have you been thinking to yourself: I wish I could go to this conference, I wish I could present there, I wish I could meet this person?
It came to my mind recently, that most PhD students need to create chances.
Taking chances is a first step, and I have been able to put myself to this point. I am naturally shy and I would prefer to stay in my safe research environment. I can feel perfectly happy with a pencil, scratch paper and a few interesting papers.
Last year, however, I discovered the wonderful feeling of getting positive feedback from peers and senior researchers. I must have been smiling and radiating throughout the entire summer, as my first two conferences gave me quite some confidence in my work.
I am glad that I have discovered what opportunities it can bring me to take chances, but I want more.
For 2011, I want to create more chances. I want to simply ask what I would like to do.
I have made a few steps in this direction already. The next two conferences I will attend, are conferences I have chosen, and have asked my advisors if I can go there. I have an abstract in process for another convention, and today I asked about a conference in 2012 already for which abstracts are due early 2011.
Another major step is that today, I dared to walk into the office of my advisor and ask him if he read the documents I sent him. We had a scheduled meetings this morning which got postponed to "sometime during the day".
Normally, I would have stayed in my office, anxiously waiting until he would show up and tell me he had some time to discuss. Now, I spent 10 minutes talking to myself and saying: just go ask!
And this I would like to do more in 2011: Just ask!
Even if the answer is "no", at least I will have tried.
Just ask what you want.
Have you been thinking to yourself: I wish I could go to this conference, I wish I could present there, I wish I could meet this person?
It came to my mind recently, that most PhD students need to create chances.
Taking chances is a first step, and I have been able to put myself to this point. I am naturally shy and I would prefer to stay in my safe research environment. I can feel perfectly happy with a pencil, scratch paper and a few interesting papers.
Last year, however, I discovered the wonderful feeling of getting positive feedback from peers and senior researchers. I must have been smiling and radiating throughout the entire summer, as my first two conferences gave me quite some confidence in my work.
I am glad that I have discovered what opportunities it can bring me to take chances, but I want more.
For 2011, I want to create more chances. I want to simply ask what I would like to do.
I have made a few steps in this direction already. The next two conferences I will attend, are conferences I have chosen, and have asked my advisors if I can go there. I have an abstract in process for another convention, and today I asked about a conference in 2012 already for which abstracts are due early 2011.
Another major step is that today, I dared to walk into the office of my advisor and ask him if he read the documents I sent him. We had a scheduled meetings this morning which got postponed to "sometime during the day".
Normally, I would have stayed in my office, anxiously waiting until he would show up and tell me he had some time to discuss. Now, I spent 10 minutes talking to myself and saying: just go ask!
And this I would like to do more in 2011: Just ask!
Even if the answer is "no", at least I will have tried.
Reverb10 - Day 6: Make
December 6 – Make.
What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?
Thinking about this question, I realized I have "made" a lot of things during the last year when it comes to my work, but not enough when it comes to the creative person in me.
What I've created, what I've devoted all my energy to has been mainly my research.
I have written papers, I have made specimens, I have produced ideas.
But what would happen if I make more time for creativity in my life?
What would happen if I start writing poetry again, if I start composing music again? I must admit that, since it has been so long ago, I have become afraid to do this. I have become afraid that I will not meet the standards that I used to have.
And I know that, since I haven't had practice for such a long time, I will not meet these standards. So I took the easy way and did not free up some time and space to let out this creativity.
Recently, I read somewhere that creativity is a habit you need to form.
I know this is true, since I used to just allow myself 20 minutes of writing time per day in which I learned to develop my poetry style. I used to save my saturday mornings to work through composing exercises.
Creating more time for creativity is one of my challenges for 2011.
I'm already curious to see how this will influence the creative thinking I need in my research.
What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?
Thinking about this question, I realized I have "made" a lot of things during the last year when it comes to my work, but not enough when it comes to the creative person in me.
What I've created, what I've devoted all my energy to has been mainly my research.
I have written papers, I have made specimens, I have produced ideas.
But what would happen if I make more time for creativity in my life?
What would happen if I start writing poetry again, if I start composing music again? I must admit that, since it has been so long ago, I have become afraid to do this. I have become afraid that I will not meet the standards that I used to have.
And I know that, since I haven't had practice for such a long time, I will not meet these standards. So I took the easy way and did not free up some time and space to let out this creativity.
Recently, I read somewhere that creativity is a habit you need to form.
I know this is true, since I used to just allow myself 20 minutes of writing time per day in which I learned to develop my poetry style. I used to save my saturday mornings to work through composing exercises.
Creating more time for creativity is one of my challenges for 2011.
I'm already curious to see how this will influence the creative thinking I need in my research.
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