It's almost February 15th, 2021, which means I get to muse about planning, yearly planning, etc.
As most of you know, I'm a very systematic planner. Even in the face of COVID19, which threw every plan I had out the window. Even in the face of chronic illness, which did the same
As most of you know, I'm a very systematic planner. Even in the face of COVID19, which threw every plan I had out the window. Even in the face of chronic illness, which did the same
To me, planning is a tool to maintain a semblance of control in my life. Because I know that all bets are off right now, my planning is quite relaxed, to-the-point and non-committal. Do I have to teach 2 courses this fall? Those DO go in the plan. Do I have to resubmit R&Rs?
My yearly planning process through the Everything Notebook has the advantage (for me) that I can be as ambitious or non-ambitious as I want or need.
There is stuff that MUST go in there, but there are also things that can be rescheduled/terminated. raulpacheco.org/2016/12/my-yea…
There is stuff that MUST go in there, but there are also things that can be rescheduled/terminated. raulpacheco.org/2016/12/my-yea…
When I write about Planning raulpacheco.org/resources/plan… I do so with the firm commitment to not increasing workloads or feelings of anxiety, neither mine nor my students (who are the ones I'm inspired by to write my blog).
The reality is that there are always competing demands.
The reality is that there are always competing demands.
Folks relatively new to my Twitter feed may not realize the health (and life) struggles I have faced over the past 8 years (including almost dying for the fourth time in less than a decade - a combination of overwork and chronic illness). I say this...
https://twitter.com/raulpacheco/status/1228499200033218560
... because I, too, have felt that awful, nagging feeling that we need to fight and combat at a systemic level: I felt behind ON EVERYTHING. Because of my poor health and excessive workload, I almost ended in the hospital (and closer to a tomb I've ever wanted to be, as well)
Those who have followed me for a very long time and have taken the time to read my blog in depth will know that I have advocated for change in academia for a very, very long time. Among these changes, the key one I think is our Taylorist approach to work.
https://twitter.com/raulpacheco/status/1354016257675300864
I don't write about productivity "hacks" or "tips" per se. I write about how I try to make things easier for myself and for my students, research assistants and colleagues. The strategies, techniques and tactics I present on my blog are not tailored to anyone, they're general.
Back to the competing demands. Whenever I give a workshop, or a talk, participants ask me how they can plan for competing demands (and the challenges that life throws at them). Though I have many care duties, mine are not similar to parenting (or parenting+taking care of parents)
I don't think I can give anyone advice on their particular situation. I don't even like giving advice, to be quite honest. What I can suggest (because I see how this process works with other academic parents I know, and individuals facing challenges) is to lower expectations.
For example: emotionally, January is a TERRIBLE month for me. My second mother, my Aunt, passed away on February 1st, 1999. To this day, this remains an incredibly traumatic event for me. I'm used to feeling despondent and demotivated every single January, up until February 1st.
Thus, I plan to start working after February 1st. I also know that December is extremely traumatic as well for me because of the loss of my Grandpa, my Auntie, and other people I have loved. I plan to do the bare minimum in December.
My year, now, has 10 months, period.
My year, now, has 10 months, period.
I think we need to be kinder and gentler with ourselves, and if we need to do something within a time period of our lives that is traumatic, we must find ways to minimize the number of things we commit to. Or request deadline extensions. Or say "NO" to things. Saying "NO" is hard
This year started with many challenges for me (COVID19 not included!) but what I decided was to make firmer commitments for February 15th onward.
Anything I've achieved so far this year has been out of pure sheer luck (and good health now!), and a bit of planning ahead.
Anything I've achieved so far this year has been out of pure sheer luck (and good health now!), and a bit of planning ahead.
My point being: February 1st, February 15th, March 1st, are all good times to start planning. I view planning as an aspirational tool that gives me some semblance of control within uncertain times. Maybe this approach will be useful to you. Everything else? Cherry on top.
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