the encouragement lounge: that thing you don't want to do

Monday, April 20, 2009

that thing you don't want to do

You know that thing you don't want to do... perhaps it is compiling your reference list, or reading the longest article on your list, or whatever? Regardless of what task it is that you are dreading... you probably keep putting it off. You tell yourself you'll get to it tonight after you finish your other reading... and then another day goes by and you don't finish it.

My most effective strategy for dealing with the dreaded tasks, is to write them in my planner, just as I would a meeting or other appointment. Then somehow, when I get to that time, and I see that this task is what I have scheduled, I feel more compelled to do it. AND, what a good feeling to get it done!

cheers
Harriet

photo by Harriet L. Schwartz

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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.