Recent slacktivity
Well, I have become quite slacktive* lately. I think I've finally worn myself down. 'How can this be possible,' you might be wondering, 'since you've been on summer vacation for nearly two months now?' Well, in part, this is true; the spring term ended (for me) on May 11, which means I haven't had any deadlines to meet in the last few weeks. But the end of the term did not signal the end of the work for me. Once the term ended, I took a couple days off and then dove headlong into my summer reading list (in preparation for writing my thesis in the fall), and have kept the pace pretty steady since then.
Until last Thursday, that is. The summer seemed to be clipping along fine (from a research standpoint), I was getting a lot of reading and writing done, until Thursday. Since then, any reading I've attempted has resulted in simply running my eyes past conjoined symbols on flattened tree pulp, meaning... I've gotten nothing out of it! Oh, I've still gone to the office a couple days and tried to get things done. But, in the last week, I think I've read a total of 80 pages (which is not very much when you consider that I spend all day, every day reading). Finally, my slacktivity resulted in some frustration, which has meant near inactivity! I guess 10 months of 60 hour weeks has finally caught up to me.
But this is ok in the grand scheme of things. I told Barb at the beginning of the summer that I would still go to the office, but that the pace would be slower, which would mean spending more time together. I (and she) found out quickly that I don't have a slower speed. I only have two: full throttle or no throttle. (I think my parents would characterize my childhood days the same way.) So, summer time has not brought the drastic increase in quality time I promised at the beginning of the summer (although there has been a minimally noticeable increase). Conversely, my recent slacktivity has translated into much quality time together, which has been great. We've been able to start a new project together (you're reading it...), hang out with some friends, go swimming, eat breakfast together (I'm usually out of the apt. by 7.00), etc., etc. A good trade-off for not getting much research done. The upshot (I expect) will be that all this relaxing (the last week, plus the 3 coming weeks we will spend in Canada) will translate into increased energy when I finally get back to the books.
Happy Canada Day to all! We've got big plans for our first Fourth of July, American-style. Check back for updates after the weekend.
*slacktive: a minimal degree of activity somewhere between complete inactivity (0) and full activity (10), probably around 2-3.
Until last Thursday, that is. The summer seemed to be clipping along fine (from a research standpoint), I was getting a lot of reading and writing done, until Thursday. Since then, any reading I've attempted has resulted in simply running my eyes past conjoined symbols on flattened tree pulp, meaning... I've gotten nothing out of it! Oh, I've still gone to the office a couple days and tried to get things done. But, in the last week, I think I've read a total of 80 pages (which is not very much when you consider that I spend all day, every day reading). Finally, my slacktivity resulted in some frustration, which has meant near inactivity! I guess 10 months of 60 hour weeks has finally caught up to me.
But this is ok in the grand scheme of things. I told Barb at the beginning of the summer that I would still go to the office, but that the pace would be slower, which would mean spending more time together. I (and she) found out quickly that I don't have a slower speed. I only have two: full throttle or no throttle. (I think my parents would characterize my childhood days the same way.) So, summer time has not brought the drastic increase in quality time I promised at the beginning of the summer (although there has been a minimally noticeable increase). Conversely, my recent slacktivity has translated into much quality time together, which has been great. We've been able to start a new project together (you're reading it...), hang out with some friends, go swimming, eat breakfast together (I'm usually out of the apt. by 7.00), etc., etc. A good trade-off for not getting much research done. The upshot (I expect) will be that all this relaxing (the last week, plus the 3 coming weeks we will spend in Canada) will translate into increased energy when I finally get back to the books.
Happy Canada Day to all! We've got big plans for our first Fourth of July, American-style. Check back for updates after the weekend.
*slacktive: a minimal degree of activity somewhere between complete inactivity (0) and full activity (10), probably around 2-3.
posted by David Wiens at 7:16 p.m.
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