the encouragement lounge: Dear Paperback Writer...

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Dear Paperback Writer...

Hi There,

Thanks for posting. Here was your comment:

"As you know, the whole process of setting time aside to study is still a hinderance for me. I used to close the door of my office to study, but I'm finding that even doing this I'm still distracted. I think the best for me (currently) is to have a completely different environment when I want to have some good quality study time."

Good call to try to move to a different environment if that is what is working best for you!

If you'd like, please tell me what happens when you are working at home with the office door shut, and you still have trouble concentrating. Take me through a scenario... and let me see if I have any ideas.

Thanks again for writing,
Harriet

1 comment:

Paperback WriterApril 30, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Hey Harriet,

Funny. It didn't register that I had logged in with my google account.

Anyway, even with my door shut policy, I am still in my office...which isn't strictly my office. I share this office with my husband. Also, in this office are my bookmaking supplies and of course, the bills that I have to pay. Not all my distractions are in this office, but there are enough to throw me off.

Add to the mix on weekends, my house doubles in capacity with an extra adult, three kids and a dog; all of whom I happen to love, but keeping quiet with three kids under the age of five is not in their vocabularly.

My husband tries very hard not to disturb me, but sometimes he does peek his head in to make sure I'm doing all right. Sweet, but it does break my concentration.

That's when I decided that I need a new change in environment.

CBW
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Working adult students, on my mind...

I hope this blog will be helpful to friends and others involved in a variety of endeavors. However, I created the blog with students in mind and continue to develop it with that specific group as my focus.

I believe that with the increase in evening, weekend, and low-residency programs, students are working more and more in isolation. If we were all full-time students on campus, we would have the informal support that comes with being able to go down the hall and talk with a colleague, etc. But instead, we are working late nights and weekends at home in front of the laptop.

With that in mind, I hope the encouragement lounge provides brief moments of respite and energizing connection. This does not at all replace valuable face-to-face contact. Many aspects of the academic journey can only be addressed via in-depth conversations with colleagues and teachers. And I would always rather sit down and talk with someone than to communicate online. Nonetheless, my aim is to give you one more channel for quick hits of support.