v4us's way through the life

Friday is my new Saturday

This term I've happened to have Friday off, but I'm suppose to teach on Saturday. I might sound slightly frustrating for 9to6 folks, but It's not uncommon for University teachers, when you have a lot of holes in your teaching schedule. However, i do a lot of research without weekends, but this is only because i do love it.

Nevertheless, This simple shift of working days has made me way happier and relaxed. I don't know the reasons, but here are my observations about it:
  1.  You can sleep more and do some fresh papers reading (i do read fresh issue of Time magazine on Friday) in your bed and not being distracted by phone calls and IM from fellows and students. They do believe that you are actually doing your work as 9to6 people.
  2. You know that you are suppose to be at work tomorrow, so you have no reason to delay some housework till Saturday (Aka Sunday :-) ) 
  3. Again, ordinary people works on Friday, so a lot of places looks way more uncrowded and relaxed... 
  4. Lazy (but working) Fridays trick my creativity for some reasons.
  5. Being undisturbed .... oh...
  6. To be honest, it just love it, and i don't know why... Maybe because it feels like I can work or I do what ever i like... Oh, it is exactly the same for me... 

Have you ever experienced shifted workweek yourself ? How have it worked for you?

Don't drive yourself very hard

Recently, I felt so exhausted and depressed that I have had to take a pause in my life and give my brain/body/soul a time to rest. During this time, I thought about what cause all such feelings: “Is it external conditions such as my salary, requirements, uncertainty?”, “Is it internal conditions, such as disappointment and disillusionment?”. The answer has appeared to be very very simple: I drove myself very hard, cause I have an image of my future in my head and I don’t sure that it tangible with the effort that I do apply, thus I work harder and worrying harder in continuous uncertainty environment.
Meanwhile, I read an article in Fortune magazine inspired by “Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck--Why Some Thrive Despite Them All” book. The main idea of the article is “Consistence and moderation in your goals will lead you to your aim faster and safer even in permanently uncertain world”. 

Quoting conclusion of the article in my words:
Most everything is utterly and ultimate out or of our control. However, when you doing consistent steps toward your goals /aims you have a tangible point of focus and foothold, that keep you (your team) moving forward despite confusion, uncertainty and even chaos.

From now, I’m going to try to apply it to my life, just persuading my aims in small (for me, not for other) , but persuasive and consistent steps: writing research every day, writing few paragraphs of thesis, etc. And most of all, I’ll try not to worry about future, cause I’m uncertain even about tomorrow, not saying about next week.
What do you think about it?

Burnout Prevention and Recovery

Burnout Prevention and Recovery

  1. STOP DENYING. Listen to the wisdom of your body. Begin to freely admit the stresses and pressures which have manifested physically, mentally, or emotionally.
    • MIT VIEW: Work until the physical pain forces you into unconsciousness.
  2. AVOID ISOLATION. Don't do everything alone! Develop or renew intimacies with friends and loved ones. Closeness not only brings new insights, but also is anathema to agitation and depression.
    • MIT VIEW: Shut your office door and lock it from the inside so no one will distract you. They're just trying to hurt your productivity.
  3. CHANGE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. If your job, your relationship, a situation, or a person is dragging you under, try to alter your circumstance, or if necessary, leave.
    • MIT VIEW: If you feel something is dragging you down, suppress these thoughts. This is a weakness. Drink more coffee.
  4. DIMINISH INTENSITY IN YOUR LIFE. Pinpoint those areas or aspects which summon up the most concentrated intensity and work toward alleviating that pressure.
    • MIT VIEW: Increase intensity. Maximum intensity = maximum productivity. If you find yourself relaxed and with your mind wandering, you are probably having a detrimental effect on the recovery rate.
  5. STOP OVERNURTURING. If you routinely take on other people's problems and responsibilities, learn to gracefully disengage. Try to get some nurturing for yourself.
    • MIT VIEW: Always attempt to do everything. You ARE responsible for it all. Perhaps you haven't thoroughly read your job description.
  6. LEARN TO SAY "NO". You'll help diminish intensity by speaking up for yourself. This means refusing additional requests or demands on your time or emotions.
    • MIT VIEW: Never say no to anything. It shows weakness, and lowers the research volume. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do at midnight.
  7. BEGIN TO BACK OFF AND DETACH. Learn to delegate, not only at work, but also at home and with friends. In this case, detachment means rescuing yourself for yourself.
    • MIT VIEW: Delegating is a sign of weakness. If you want it done right, do it yourself (see #5).
  8. REASSESS YOUR VALUES. Try to sort out the meaningful values from the temporary and fleeting, the essential from the nonessential. You'll conserve energy and time, and begin to feel more centered.
    • MIT VIEW: Stop thinking about your own problems. This is selfish. If your values change, we will make an announcement at the Corporation meeting. Until then, if someone calls you and questions your priorities, tell them that you are unable to comment on this and give them the number for Community and Government Relations. It will be taken care of.
  9. LEARN TO PACE YOURSELF. Try to take life in moderation. You only have so much energy available. Ascertain what is wanted and needed in your life, then begin to balance work with love, pleasure, and relaxation.
    • MIT VIEW: A balanced life is a myth perpetuated by liberal arts schools. Don't be a fool: the only thing that matters is work and productivity.
  10. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Don't skip meals, abuse yourself with rigid diets, disregard your need for sleep, or break the doctor appointments. Take care of yourself nutritionally.
    • MIT VIEW: Your body serves your mind, your mind serves the Institute. Push the mind and the body will follow. Drink Mountain Dew.
  11. DIMINISH WORRY AND ANXIETY. Try to keep superstitious worrying to a minimum - it changes nothing. You'll have a better grip on your situation if you spend less time worrying and more time taking care of your real needs.
    • MIT VIEW: If you're not worrying about work, you must not be very committed to it. We'll find someone who is.
  12. KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. Begin to bring job and happy moments into your life. Very few people suffer burnout when they're having fun.
    • MIT VIEW: So, you think you work is funny? We'll discuss this with your director on Friday, at 7:00 P.M.!
via evenmere.org

According this post I'm a MIT guy :-)

Slightly Pathetic end of the summer: Cold and Coldrex

I've got some mild cold here in Estonia, but this is summer time, so it feels weird. However, I do have a lot of stuff to do and I won't let it ruin my Summer time in Estonia ;-)
P.S. So, i'm reading books on Pirita beach and doing few other family duties here.

(download)

Nighthawks -- Is it a grad student life? my life?

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via upload.wikimedia.org

Night, long hand writing of text and thoughts, C++ programming, MatLab, Herbal tea... a lot of thoughts in my mind about next day. And no way how to escape from it. I do enjoy what i do, and i really like my life, but sometimes i feel trapped inside it, as people in dinners in Nighthawks picture of Edward Hopper.

During some night working hours, I look to this painting and thinking about these people. What do they want form the life and what is their reason to be there at such time. And you know, I just get feelings that we are exactly the same, tired of our work that we love and sometimes stuck with out current trend (and/or way) of life. For me, it is iconic picture of PhD. student life, and probably the picture of all generation of ambitious people.

OK, It's time for me to go to bed and this is time for you just to think again about your own life. Is it your density to drink the same cup of coffee forever?

The best present for your friends is .... a post card

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Today, I've gotten one post card from a friend in Canada. Unexpected  one, and ... you know it has made my day (actually evening) better.
You can see a peace of a park with a statue on it. My friend lives  across the street from this park. And this really simple thing makes me to understand his daily life better and feel to be a part of it....  Like to see him, going to grocery to buy chocolate milk ;-) ... But why?

Post cards remind us some common things that we see in tour daily world, or in "dream" one. But they are something new for our friends, they do help us to conduce (or show) our view of the world to someone important for us. And All these make *post cards* to be the best and inexpensive present for your friends. IT will remind them that you remember them and will show some interesting part of the world.

So, I just want to say you: "Next time, when you are thinking about someone important, just send a post card for him/her". It will be a pleasure for you and for him/her :-)