Quote:
Originally Posted by scorpiosis37
Exactly. I was not trying to question you, Seesaw. I was responding to how you said you felt overwhelmed with everything already on your plate and working 40-45 hours a week. I was just saying what I say to my students (and wish had been said to me) when I was applying to my PhD program. I didn’t know that I’d be putting in double the hours (a PhD is like 2 full time jobs), and that my stress would increase so much more than working a regular job. I’m still glad I got my PhD (I’m a prof now, so I needed it) and wish you the best on your applications. Academia can be wonderful.
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Blah, I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I just meant to assure you all that in regards to the PhD, that I had a lot of moving parts that I can't go into detail here so I didn't want to get into a side discussion on that because, without going into depth and breaking anonymity, I can't really say exactly how it all works.
For me, it won't keep me in academia, because of the field and implications for practical use. So I do not intend to stay in academia. Although it's possible that I may keep one foot in academia and one foot doing some lucrative consulting, which is common in this field.
My biggest concern is the original issue with managing my energy levels. I know I can do it, I just have to build back up the stamina. I use to do far more than this, and I did my MFA program, which, for my MFA, was 12 hours a day of dancing and teaching, not really including rehearsals, and then worked on top of that, and somehow also found time to sleep? Plus did homework and had fun. So...yeah, have to think about how I managed all that, aside from the fact that I was younger.
In writing this I realize that even now, I function at a very high level. At my last job, I worked 60+ hours a week. I think it's all about planning, etc. It's funny to talk about this because a lot of what I do now involves project management, which is why I have things so scheduled out, because to make sure I meet deadlines for all my clients and do the things I want, if I don't block out time for each thing during the week, it won't get done. I think managing a PhD program and my consulting will likely be the same way.
I can see right now, in just sussing this out with you all, that there are some changes I need to make in how I manage my time, and I manage my time very well, but I can make improvements that will help my productivity and help me accomplish the things I want to accomplish.
I really think it goes back to that sports analogy of building mental stamina...I wonder if there are any specific exercises you can do to build mental stamina and concentration?
And I need a new office chair. So I can actually be comfortable sitting here for so long every day, lolz.
Seesaw