Academic resolutions

Geeky Mom (who is, by the way, the #1 hit on Google for "geeky mom") had a great idea in a recent post: academic year resolutions (an idea followed up by George and I think someone else whom I can't find now). I decided that I really needed to do this, to think specifically about what I want to achieve this year, rather than let time slip by me unnoticed, which is what I usually do. After all, the beginning of a new school year is much more of a new start for me than January 1, when not very much changes (even the beginning of spring semester is surrounded by plenty of continuity). However, I think that I need to focus a little more and just stick with fall semester for  the moment.

So, what are my resolutions? or goals/plans?

Teaching:

• to stay on top of my class prep/grading so that I'm not frantic and I'm not making students wait for their work (plan: to map all assignments/grading into my planner from the start, so I know what's coming and when things have to be done, and then actually to LOOK at my planner!)
• to have conversations with colleagues about how I can improve student response to my teaching here (plan: schedule some conversations!)

Research:

• to make significant progress on the book, by
  • compiling all the book material I currently have written, printing it out, putting it (roughly) in order, and seeing exactly where I stand
  • writing a book proposal and sending it out to publishers by the end of the fall semester (in time for third year review!)
  • writing/working on my research regularly - at least 5x a week (even if only for 15 minutes at a time) (this is a perennial resolution, it seems...) (plan: write research time into my planner as part of my schedule, as an appointment with myself that I can't break)
• to maintain a research profile/agenda apart from the book, by
  
  • submitting a proposal to K'zoo (and possibly one other conference)
  • revising and submitting the essay that's been accepted for publication

Self:

• to make my physical health a priority (plan: cut out a lot - not all, but a lot - of sweets and to exercise at least 3x a week - more appointments with myself!)
• to track where my money goes more closely, and work on spending less of it (plan: not absolutely sure, but it should probably involve balancing my checkbook more frequently...at least being more mindful of what I'm doing)
• to continue to work on surviving this whole long-distance marriage thing, and figuring out ways that we can stop being long-distance (plan: still looking for the magic bullet on this one!)

I think I need to print out this list and put it somewhere where I'll see it regularly (perhaps a few somewheres...). And I'll check in periodically to report progress (or lack thereof).

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get started....

Comments

[shelly]

For that first bullet, at the beginning of every semester, I take a Word doc that I have inserted a table in, and I put in the dates for the entire semester, so it's a one-page document that contains a calendar for the entire academic semester. In red, I note all days that assignments/papers are coming in so I have an idea of what to expect grading-wise. It's kind of a snapshot overview and it's helpful in planning personal stuff. (Like - nope, can't go to the lake this weekend because thirty WL papers are coming in.)

[New Kid on the Hallway]

Shelly, that's exactly the kind of thing I need to do - though I need to put it all in my planner, with my other to-do stuff, b/c if I have it on a separate sheet I won't look at it!

[Cats & Dogma]

Good luck on these, especially the personal ones. Those are the hardest ones to keep track of, since there's no tenure clock (or tenure) on managing your life.

[hilaire]

Those are great goals. I love a new year. Good luck!

[Philosophy Factory]

Do you ever get the feeling that if all the academic long-distance relationships could exchange jobs around the country, we'd all end up with our sweeties? I have this feeling that there is some philosopher in the Red State who is coming to my state to see their beloved, and if only we could trade jobs all four of us would be happier :).

[sheepish]

These are great! I hope you don't mind if I steal more than half of them for application to myself. Fortunately, I have another week's worth of bad behaviour before I need to resolve anything though.

Also, Philosophy Factory's LDR academic idea is stunning in its brilliance.

[Undine]

Excellent goals! You've inspired me to work on some of these myself.