The last 5 months have been a whirlwind. I am happy to report that I successfully defended my dissertation, completed the minor revisions, and officially graduated. Like the continual broken record, I'll say that I wanted to post so many times, but for lack of time and adequate words, I refrained. I took on some extra service projects at work that have been time consuming (to say the least), which along with my teaching responsibilities have just filled in the time that I would have been spending on my dissertation, if I still had that thing to work on. The holiday break was very short, and I found myself beginning the semester feeling very depleted. Now, it is around the midpoint of the semester. My college has "spring" "break" this week (notice the deliberate quotations on each word), yet I've found it difficult to try to unwind since I still had work to do. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook and take everything one day at a time, but it's difficult when the calendar looks insane for the coming weeks.
This week has some level of nostalgia, though. Last year at this time, I was taking a writing retreat which honestly was instrumental in helping me to finish my dissertation. I've reflected on old Facebook posts on my time at the ocean, which motivated me to get that thing done. Although I don't have the time right now to devote to it, I've found myself wanting to revisit my dissertation and think of a publication strategy. I just wish that I had the mental space, physical energy, and time to begin doing that.
Lately, I'm trying to be more purposeful about living each day and enjoying it for what it is, rather than just trying to survive and get through the semester to my real first break in 10 years-- the summer. It's been a challenge, but I'm especially trying to do it for my kids. I feel that I've lost so much time with them in this journey, and I'm still trying to come to terms with whether or not it was worth it (100%). I'm looking forward to having that time to reflect.
I've also been trying to take the advice to not get overly stressed out about work. I've realized this semester that I have to set boundaries. I can't be available 24/7 by e-mail. I have a life too, and I have limitations. I need to take care of my overall health. I've been trying my best to be the best professor I can, given the fact that I began this semester with a decent case of burnout. As a person of faith, I ask God to help me every day, although I need to get better about that as well.
I guess that right now, in retrospect, I have no words of wisdom to offer other than I'm glad that I finished and persevered, despite all that I went through in the last 10 years (and last semester in particular). I think that I haven't fully processed everything yet...
This week has some level of nostalgia, though. Last year at this time, I was taking a writing retreat which honestly was instrumental in helping me to finish my dissertation. I've reflected on old Facebook posts on my time at the ocean, which motivated me to get that thing done. Although I don't have the time right now to devote to it, I've found myself wanting to revisit my dissertation and think of a publication strategy. I just wish that I had the mental space, physical energy, and time to begin doing that.
Lately, I'm trying to be more purposeful about living each day and enjoying it for what it is, rather than just trying to survive and get through the semester to my real first break in 10 years-- the summer. It's been a challenge, but I'm especially trying to do it for my kids. I feel that I've lost so much time with them in this journey, and I'm still trying to come to terms with whether or not it was worth it (100%). I'm looking forward to having that time to reflect.
I've also been trying to take the advice to not get overly stressed out about work. I've realized this semester that I have to set boundaries. I can't be available 24/7 by e-mail. I have a life too, and I have limitations. I need to take care of my overall health. I've been trying my best to be the best professor I can, given the fact that I began this semester with a decent case of burnout. As a person of faith, I ask God to help me every day, although I need to get better about that as well.
I guess that right now, in retrospect, I have no words of wisdom to offer other than I'm glad that I finished and persevered, despite all that I went through in the last 10 years (and last semester in particular). I think that I haven't fully processed everything yet...
