I am getting really close to being done with this quarter. I can almost taste it. Since I am getting so close, I want to write a brief summary of what I learned this quarter and then I want to make a list of the (mostly) non-school stuff that I am going to do over this break.
The most important thing that I learned this quarter is that I have a limit to how much I can focus on at one time. I took four classes and I had a research residency. It was too much. I was able to meet all of the minimum requirements for the classes and I don't think that I will do poorly in any of them, but being overburdened certainly prevented me from getting everything that I could have from any of the classes. I was just trying to meet the basic requirements and learn the things that I would need - essentially, I wasn't being the same student that I have been in other quarters. As I was working on my final presentations and papers, I noticed that due to time constraints, I wasn't putting out work that was my best work. I don't like that feeling, and I have definitely learned that the downside of trying to do everything at one time is that you don't do any of those things very well.
The second thing that I've realized is that it takes me a significant amount of time to "come down" after the end of each quarter. I have this jittery feeling. That could be because I still have things to do before the quarter is truly over for me, but I remember this feeling hanging on through previous breaks. In previous posts, I have presented the idea that part of the PhD process is being "socialized." Part of this feeling is, I think, related to my increasing socialization. I always feel like there is something else that I should be doing. This is not a feeling that I like and it is a part of this process that I am actively trying to not internalize. I like to relax, and I don't want to spend the rest of my career being unable to leave my work at work - at least most of the time.
Now, for the fun stuff! Here is a list of things that I am going to start doing as soon as I turn in the last required paper, final or project for this quarter:
1. Work on only one thing related to school - funding opportunities
2. Yoga
3. Jog again
4. Decorate for the holidays
5. Bake cookies!
6. Read the third book in the Millenium Series
7. Shop for holiday gifts
8. Finish knitting the project that I started last winter break
9. TAKE THE WEEKENDS OFF! (Or at least I will try...)
Once I do a little decorating, I'll post a picture or two. :)
