I seem to read a lot on my Kindle app these days (it’s just convenient) but I have been trying to switch to paper at night. This past week I’ve been reading Sy Montgomery’s book Spell of the Tiger about the “man-eaters” of the Sundarbans. I’ve enjoyed it, though it’s kind of fascinating how she created the book out of very few actual encounters with tigers — a lot of it is about the landscape where they live, and the people who live there, and their mythologies and practices. The tigers manage to stay pretty well hidden (well, except when they attack — but that is a different matter).
Not quite in the tiger category but…We have been dealing with old house problems. I smelled something funny the other day and sure enough, there was water in the basement. Something is leaking so hopefully the plumbers are here today.
I have been trying to train for the Broad Street 10-miler, which is coming up soon. I did another long-ish run yesterday (7.2 miles) since it fit and it wasn’t raining, but we shall see. I feel like the weather is highly variable for this particular race and I reserve the right not to skip it if it’s 50 degrees and rainy (which it has been a few years).
I realized today as I was doing some planning that at least two children’s end-of-year concerts are not on my calendar. I’m not sure why, but this is why it’s good to review things. I can’t immediately find the dates anywhere (probably why they’re not in my calendar) so that is on today’s to-do list.
This week’s content: Over at Before Breakfast, I interviewed Cedric Thompson Jr., a NFL player turned Instagram content creator. He’s got lots of funny and thought-provoking videos, and I enjoyed learning about his career pivot, so be sure to check that out. I also shared a reminder that The Day Isn’t Over After Dinner — a theme of the “Golden Hours” book that will be out in…like…2027.
Over at Vanderhacks, I suggest people “Create a work bucket list” as one way to get more excited about their professional lives. I share a reminder, as you’re doing your weekly planning, that “Monday isn’t the only day,” and it’s possible to spread priorities over the week. Behind the paywall, I suggest ways to “Put that spring cleaning energy to good use.”
Thank you so much for supporting me and my work.
Photo: Tulips! Not from this year, and we won’t make it to Holland Ridge Farms, but I do like looking through the pictures.
The work bucket list idea fell kind of flat for me. I’ve already accomplished all the items professionally that I have any control over. It would be nice to get an R01 (or multiple R01s!), but since I have even less control over that now than I did before there is no way I’m putting that on any bucket list. Each day I go to work I am faced with disrespect from staff who think they can do my job better than I can, and admin who every two weeks comes up with a new way to squeeze more work out of us for less money (then they tell us we should be grateful). Sorry. Most people don’t get to flit around like you do.
Sounds like it’s time for a new job. My sense is that you’re a professor. My husband is a professor and switching universities helped him reengage with his work. Uprooting our family, moving across the country, and finding a new career for me wasn’t easy, but it was ultimately worth it. We moved last July and are still settling in, but he feels so much more optimistic. And if switching universities sounds terrible to you, then it’s probably time to leave academia. There are a lot of good jobs out there. You just need one of them.
No, Tessa, she’s just like that. No matter what job she would get, she would still be like this. Best to not engage.
On my work bucket list was to land a remote role and, I did it!
I should start thinking of some other items. What comes to mind initially is I would love to work in an area with more international focus. Something to ponder over a lazy, weekend morning!
@Amy – I hope you come up with some interesting ideas! And that’s great that you wanted to land a remote role and found one. It’s really cool to see work hopes come true.
I’ve been thinking a lot about work lately. I have a very good, stable and reliable job but definitely feel some doldrums where I can’t see what lane to take for a refresh and keep interested. I know I have to work and this is a good situation but sometimes it’s feeling like a slog. When you’re 20+ years in how do we keep it fresh? And this bucket list might be a way. It could also be a reflection of that has already been done. But will think on it.
But i also wonder about the broader psychology of work when you’re past the mid-point and all the shiny parts of looking at promotions but continuing and finding some sense of purpose. I don’t want to blow up my current situation and I don’t need to go look for other jobs – at least not external to where I am. But I also do not want to be ticking off the days to retirement.
@Jen – I do think things can be challenging in the middle. Work doesn’t feel shiny and new but yes, as you put it, you don’t want to be counting days until retirement. I think this is where a work bucket list can be helpful – just to dream up things that might be interesting or exciting. Maybe some will lead to things and others won’t, but it can keep life a little less dull.