For as long as I can remember, December 28th has always been The Day.
The Day that I start getting twitchy about not doing work. The Day that I can no longer justify sleeping 10 hours a night because "I need to catch up from the semester." The Day that I crack a textbook/paper/whatever to try to make some (teeny tiny) progress towards my massive winter break to-do list.
In college this typically consisted of working on essays for summer research applications. In grad school it varied, depending on the year. Some December 28ths I needed to study for prelims, others I worked on a paper. On one Very Special December 28th, I worked on job talks.
Now my December 28ths generally consist of picking at syllabi. I really do enjoy the syllabus writing process, so it isn't that bad. This December 28th I am working on a new prep. This class promises to be very, very fun, so I am greatly enjoying picking out course readings and suggested problems.
N.A., of course, thinks I'm insane, but he has learned not to question my need for December 28th. His magic work number typically falls some where between Jan 2 and 6th, depending on the year.
Do you have a magic work number?
10 comments:
I used to go in the day after Christmas just to do something or else I'd be antsy and inconsolable.
Oooo.... hardcore!
I would only go in for a little bit, and then start working my up spending more time back in the lab/office getting stuff ready. I had to ween myself back onto work after the break, which for me usually started around the 8th of Dec.
I'm back in the office today. But only because my net connection is down at home. ;)
I don't do jacke dicke over the end-of-year break.
You do enjoy a glass of Jameson though?
This year I took about week off from the 18th to 26th. That was full of travel and family events. Once that was over I can't really just sit around and do nothing for long. I was back in the office on the 27th.
I understand getting twitchy about not working. I can't do long periods of inactivity.
Wednesday plus/minus a day.
This year it was the Solstice for mopping up some things left over from the Fall semester plus some prep work. Based on the date stamps on certain files, it looks like I was a week ahead, since last year it was around the 28th!
Syllabus was buffed during final's week and I got them back from the printer around the time grades were due. I did a lot of the work on restructuring one of my classes while proctoring the last hour exams and finals, but I also spent some peaceful time looking at the Christmas tree and thinking about a new approach to the first day of class this spring.
We only shut down for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve so I have two 4-day work weeks. Which is great for relaxing, but its been killing an experiment that I want to run that is going to take 5-6 days, so that will start next week.
I get antsy like Bashir when I haven't done anything in the lab for a while.
unlikelygrad: I would drive through the worst winter precipitation to get to internet.
CPP: except post all of youtubes? :)
Bashir: We need to work on enjoying vacations! Easier said than done, obviously.
Doctor Pion, you are always a model of efficiency!
GR: I can totally understand that. My undergrads are gone until mid-Jan, so we have really lost some momentum.
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