Wednesday, December 27
Is everyone else feeling the pressure to work too? Even though it's break?

Are you all feeling as guilty as I am that I am not working as much as I should?

Maybe that is why no one has been posting in a bit. I mean sure, end of the term, grading, holidays -- it's a crazy time.

So I hope you are all enjoying your holidays, and not worrying about how you should be accomplishing more. Because I am, and it sucks. I do not recommend it.

Also, PSA, please send in more picture secrets, yah? They are fun!

9 comments:

Ms.PhD said...

I am feeling the guilt. And working some. And then giving up because I am too tired, burned out, depressed. And then working more when the guilt wins.

fraud, in denim said...

It's so nice to see a new post, Strawberries!

I'm okay with what I've accomplished so far. It took me a week to recover from my first semester, and another week for loose ends, holidays, celebrations, etc., and now I'm slowly getting back into working. I have three mid-January deadlines and at this moment it all seems do-able. I am spending time working, but I'm also actually getting my dry cleaning done and mailing birthday presents and working out every day and even considering a leisurely trip to the thrift store for some new work clothes.

As perverse as it is, I think that working during this time is even more satisfying because so many people aren't. I love going into the office and being one of the only ones there. But I also love striking a balance and living life outside of work too.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you broke the silence, strawberries! I'm also glad to read that I'm not the only one sitting in a near-empty school and getting some weird sense of satisfaction out of this. Yesterday the security guard came to check in on me because he had seen the light in my office...

Anyway, I'm still toiling away at grading and getting everything out of the way that had been piling up during the semester, but at some point I know - I KNOW - creativity is going to hit me. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Turquoise Stuff said...

Thanks for posting, Strawberries! I've missed this community.

I'm not feeling the pressure, fortunately. But that doesn't mean that I'm not working. I'm with Fraud and others on this. I like the feeling of working when others are not. It makes me feel like I can get ahead *cough* catch up.

Anonymous said...

woohoo, comments! i was all sad because my bloglines didn't show the comments feed, but i guess that just doesn't work or something...

i have missed a. secret community too!

i am so in ms.phd's shoes. i sometimes like working when no one else is around, but not during holidays when there are so many fun things to do! i can only do that working when there is no one on sundays...


but alas, i have to work. so here i am, procrastinating.

39 and Hip said...

I spent a fair amount of time at school on Christmas Eve. Sometimes it's bad having a Jewish advisor...

Anonymous said...

I have been doing a little work, perhaps not as much as I should. It seems every day I have a little internal battle with part of me saying "It's a holiday! You don't need to work!" and the rest saying "But you need to get that marking done..."

I get a good feeling from being one of the only ones in the office, too. It's nice to be able to think that you're actually accomplishing things while everyone else has given up and gone to bed.

Anyway, the guilt has won today so I had better get back to marking. Thanks to all you a.secret folks for the great distraction :)

Anonymous said...

Salmon, I know lots of Jewish academics (who doesn't) including myself.. and I have NEVER experienced any of them (including me) ignoring Christmas when it comes to dealing with others. How bizarre and unfortunate.

39 and Hip said...

Salmon, I know lots of Jewish academics (who doesn't) including myself.. and I have NEVER experienced any of them (including me) ignoring Christmas when it comes to dealing with others. How bizarre and unfortunate.

Yeah, that last bit was meant to be somewhat snarky. I realize it's not the norm to be on campus all day on Christmas Eve, regardless of religion.

To be fair, I did have to go in anyway, because I work with organisms that unfortunately don't understand the concept of a holiday, ha! But I was thinking of just popping in and feeding them and then going home (what a concept). But alas, that's not what happened.