the encouragement lounge: Reader Week 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

Reader Week 2009

Part 1: Make the most of waiting!

Welcome to Reader Week! Today's post is offered by Donna in Pittsburgh:

I hate waiting. So I always have my journal or a book with me because I never know when I might be waiting for someone or something. If I am waiting at the doctor's office or waiting for my car, I read or write. I started doing this at the hairdresser as well while I am waiting for the gray to bevcovered!!! I can only read so many fashion magazines!!!!! I have the ability to block out my surroundings, so that helps as well.

2 comments:

UnknownJune 29, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Donna. . .Like you, I always have a book or a project with me just in case I have to wait. Last time I was at the dentist, he said to me, "I can always count on you to be reading something interesting. You are my patient who reads all the time!" Before his comment, I'd never thought about my "productive waiting" as unique. Doesn't everyone bring something to do when they go to the dentist's office? Remembering his comment and reading your post today encourages me to think about this practice as a proactive strategy (rather than as one of my strange peculiarities -- although I'm sure I do lots of things that appropriately fall into this category). Thanks for sharing.
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Paperback WriterJune 29, 2009 at 6:03 PM
I always have a book and journal with me. My cousins call me the bookworm because of this. Not that I mind, of course. Sometimes I might have two books with me if I'm almost finished with one.
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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.