I love setting goals. I really try to make goals that are challenging yet attainable. It sucks to continually set unrealistic goals that you never reach; you always feel like a failure. I think this is a really important skill that takes work to learn.
Shortly after finishing all my summer travel, I thought about what I wanted to accomplish this fall. The Crummy Tedious samples have been hanging over my head since 2005 (I've worked on them in fits and spurts) so I decided I really wanted to finish them. I figured I could get them done by Oct 15, which I set as sort of a tentative goal -- I really wanted some motivation and I knew I could do it as long as nothing much else came up.
Guess what? Other stuff came up. I decided to put together the symposium proposal. I got comments on my manuscript from a colleague that required some thinking and complicated revisions. I decided to apply for two small student research grants that are due in about a week.
I know it's important to do all of these things. I understand that there will always be many balls in the air and that it will get much worse as I advance in my career. I'm not complaining about any of that. The manuscript and grants are important, so I certainly want to get them done. I'm going to the lab today to work on some more Crummy Tedious samples but I probably won't do any more after that until the grant proposals and manuscript are finished. It's just sad to realize that I can't possibly achieve my (self-imposed) goal.
6 comments:
But you have made progress towards getting them done!
You are 92% done (at least according to your sidebar)! And that's quite an accomplishment. I was just reading something from JaneB and she posted about 'focusing on what she has done as opposed to what she hasn't' as the key to happiness. I think you've made significant progress and you've done many other things, too!
You've done some amazing things while still progressing on your goals. I agree with Amanda & JaneB, focus on what you have accomplished!
Thanks guys. It's so nice to get such positive responses from my diary. :) I probably would have left similar comments if any of you had written the same post, but damn, I want those samples done!
Dude, you are so close to being done. You should be really happy with your progress! And all of this when you have so much other stuff going on!
I totally need you to come manage my life for me. Set deadlines for my crummy, tedious, dirty, boring work...
I know what you mean about being bummed out when you realize you won't meet your self-imposed deadlines! This paper draft I just finished was supposed to be submitted in a month, but there's no way that's going to happen now. It's disappointing. I'm waiting to get some artwork framed as a reward for finally finishing, whenever that will be!
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