It's been a few weeks since I've checked in. I'm in the midst of crunch time for this semester. I had some great luck, with one teacher condensing two papers into one, and then another two into the final presentation. And then another teacher moved a paper back a week. The net result is that, instead of 2 papers due the 14th, then 4 big papers due April 21st, with another two small ones due the 28th, it's now one small one due the 14th (already done) another two big ones due the 21st (which I've started working on) and another big one and two small ones, due the 28th, one of which I've already completed most of. I've stopped working on it for now, as I need to focus on the two big one's coming up in 10 or so days.
If I spend 3 hours on them every day, it should be all right. But I haven't been, and so I've been getting worried. However, today I clocked in a full 3 hours, and I'm hoping I can keep up that pace. It doesn't seem like too much, but there are a lot of other things that need to happen every day as well, so actually being able to block out 3 hours of focused work consistently can be difficult.
Today felt good though. I didn't get everything done, but I got many things done, and I don't think I could have easily gotten more done. I used my time well, and that matters more to me than checking off everything on my daily list. I just need to check off all the important things, which I did.
What feels the best though, is getting the papers done without too much stress. I may be counting my chickens before they're hatched, but I think I've planned enough in advance and started working hard enough in advance, that I'm not going to be feeling awful during the last few days, cramming all the paper writing in last minute, pulling 12 hour days.
The kind of focus necessary for creative academic writing, I can only do for about 3 hours before I start slowing down. I can do simple stuff, editing, formatting, gathering resources, reading scientific articles, for considerably longer than that, and I can even write for longer than that, but it starts becoming much less efficient, and I start feeling worse. I feel like when I can write earlier in the day, while my brain is fresh, I'm getting around twice the amount of writing done, per hour of time put in. Even later on in the day, as long as I haven't exhausted myself mentally. And it's higher quality work. By splitting it up among several days like this, and taking regular, quick breaks, I end up not burned out at the end, and I can then keep working on things, as long as I switch up what I'm working on.
There's plenty of other stuff to do, like cleaning, cooking, read assignments, life admin stuff, so I can keep working right up to when it's time to go to bed.
One of the most challenging elements is keeping my life simple. There are a lot of things I really want to do, but have to say no to, at least for now. But by keeping my focus on just a few things, I'm keeping myself from getting overwhelmed and burned out, which is what happened last semester.
Hopefully it keeps working through the next three weeks, and then I can take care of some of those things I have to say no to for now.
And in general, this practice of simplifying, of saying no to most of the things so I can do a good job with a few and not get burnt out, is a great teaching for me. I think one of the reasons I've always been overwhelmed and not had enough time in the past, was trying to do to many things at once. The crazy workload has been giving me practice on how to focus down and figure out what level of work is sustainable. One of the keys of that is keeping track of just how much I have to do, and when. That's given me the motivation to say no to all the things I really want to do, but don't have time for. And doing that has given me my life back. Even though it's still a lot of work, it's not miserable. It's manageable. I'm doing well. And that's great!
With love and warmth,
-Isaac
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