Slow and Steady, Crafting a Spring Plan
When the January cozies are upon us and I am easily swayed by arbitrary goals.
It’s January. I’m schlepping around in my pajamas drinking too much hot cocoa, or keeping warm at our local bookshop cafe with an espresso and a notepad. Classes begin next week. If I don’t figure out the semester now, I’ll be scrambling and overwhelmed later. And yet, getting myself to prep the semester is a mix of eager anticipation and wanting to crawl back to the sofa and cozy up with my dog.
Last year, I set an intention to read a good dose of fiction each day, and it stuck. My method is simple: finish one book and then begin another. But, because I get sucked into the storylines and characters and whatnot, ending one book makes me resistant to start the next. So, I tell my myself to read two pages of the next book. Just the two. Brain agrees because it’s easily seduced and seems happy enough with this arrangement, and then I’m off on another book adventure.
Two pages is an arbitrary goal, and yet this is what I do when resistance gets in the way: Just write a couple lines. Just read two pages. Just listen to music and sketch out three ideas. Each time, I end up doing more and it’s instant gratification with the smallest steps. An easy win.
With this mindset, I sat down and decided to just draft a really broad semester plan. I teach design, write about design, and practice it… so a certain amount of creative energy is always needed. Looking at the semester this way gives me a clear idea of what’s coming up in the next few months.
There’s messiness an ebb and flow to every timeline, no matter the project or goals. The 15-week semester timeline (twice per year) is my reality, as I teach, coordinate two graduate programs, and keep my research going. Usually I carry on with my writing and research despite my other responsibilities — not alongside them — and I also frequently underestimate the time and energy required all around. I know some people tend to prioritize either teaching, research, or admin/service, or get things done whenever a deadline approaches. Though these ways can work, it has not been sustainable for me, particularly with long-term endeavors; it can lead to burnout.
Then, the “a-ha!” moment hit me. These are ALL projects. Acknowledging each one has their own rhythm has been a game changer. Might this be a sustainable way to plan?
Below is table of my projects taking place this semester. I’m sharing it here in case this approach is useful to you. It’s intentionally vague because if I start including details, this post will go on forever and then it’s no longer a 3-minute read in your inbox 😊
Will this work as a sustainable semester plan? I hope so.
In writing this, I also follow the January #AcWriMoments theme of welcome, and honestly, this shift in thinking is already a welcome change from last year. I also enjoyed Nina Lager Vestberg’s recent post about identifying activities to recharge oneself during the semester.
From this point, I’m off to determine my weekly goals and eventually the day-to-day stuff. All of this planning is on paper, to keep me from wandering into the many digital rabbit holes that eagerly await me (with hot cocoa in hand, and snoozing dog next to me).
