It seems like I go through these cycles where for a while I will hardly get any research done, and then will suddenly start working really hard. It’s like I’m a 2-state system:
State 1:
- Go in late, come home early. Take days off.
- Twiddle around at work, reading news sites or blogs.
- Uninterested in astronomy.
- Hang out with people on weekends.
- Really slow progress on research.
State 2:
- Go in somewhat earlier, stay late. Go in on Saturdays.
- Fairly productive at work.
- Interested in my research.
- Withdraw from social activities.
- Lots of productivity.
I don’t like either of these extremes. I don’t want to spend all of my time working, to the detriment of socialization. On the other hand, it is not cool to be a State 1 slacker either. I have been in State 1 for several weeks now, and I think my collaborators are going to start wondering soon why I’m not contributing very much. I need to strike a balance.
Um, this doesn’t mean y’all should stop trying to distract me from work. I would take that personally. :)
I’ve found kind of a middle ground between Stage 1 and 2:
1. Go in somewhat early, stay late, go in Saturdays
2. Putz aruond at work, reading blogs, email mit-gcf-fun
3. Withdraw from social activities
4. Very slow progress on research.
I’m not quite sure if that’s the solution you’re looking for though.
Hey, Jeff, if you ever read the comments on your blog posts from two weeks ago, shoot me an email and let’s catch up!
OK, OK, on topic…
I find the most common catalyst from 1->2 is a deadline, but sometimes it’s just that I’ve subconsciously accumulated enough information to overcome whatever problem kicked me into State 1 in the first place.
Catalyst from 2->1 is usually a lack of direction or a problem I can’t figure out - and it’s often subconscious.
As for a middle ground, I’ve been working on “State 2 without the “Stay late. Work Saturdays.”" That way, I still get my evenings/weekends, and State 2 is prolonged. It’s certainly hard to tear myself away from being productive, though, and it doesn’t make State 1 go any faster.
you should post now. especially now that you have something interesting to write about. like a gorgeous brainiac girl.
where are you? cambridge wants you back. he’s hungry for pancakes.
A gorgeous brainiac girl? Who is she? Where is she? I can take her…
update! update! or are you too busy making out with someone whose dad gets diarrhea?
omg, making out is *so* against the rules
What’s this about making out with a gorgeous brainiac girl???
omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg