Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Karmacat

Firewalker wrote: »

Is it possible that OH is right and that I never stop?

:rotfl:FW, not only is it possible, I think its a given!

Craftyscholar

Firewalker wrote: »

I still managed to: read two academic papers, read my PhD student’s thesis (220 pages), send my student a message about her viva, discuss arrangements about my sabbatical with boss-man, send a message to my project officer in Brussels...oh and cook...

Is it possible that OH is right and that I never stop?

Firewalker

Probably:)
Are the boys still pulling their weight?

Firewalker

Thanks for asking - I was thinking to update on this one. Yes - the approach worked. If you want things done, break them down in doable tasks, have a list of these tasks with regularity and responsibility printed out and displayed prominantly and follow through (control the development of habits). Works really well - and I don't do things only because I'll do them so much better:rotfl:.

Firewalker

thriftyscotslass

Firewalker wrote: »

....and I don't do things only because I'll do them so much better:rotfl:.

Firewalker

That's my girl :T

peaceandfreedom

Hi Firewalker,

I've been reading your diary from lurkdom and have just started reading your blog so I am working my way through it from the beginning. It is fascinating and very helpful. It is fantastic that you are doing so much reading and thinking - doing our thinking for us really - and sharing your research so generously. I'll keep reading with interest.

One thing that would be really useful on the blog is if you add an archive so that is easier to find the first posts and work your way through them. Wordpress supplies an Archive widget that you can just activate in that left-hand sidebar - just drag it into position and set the settings you want. Perhaps put it after Recent Comments but before Blogroll.

Thanks again and keep up the good work. :T

Firewalker

Peaceandfreedom, thank you so much for your kind words - means a lot. As to archive - done! I have started publishing more - currently I publish an article every day but in couple of week time may go down to one every other day. Need to think about it.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Today was a bit of a funny mix, really. It all started really badly – for the first time since I started getting up early today I didn’t manage to do it. Mainly because we have a visitor – a colleague and friend I went to university with so long ago – and last night I didn’t get to bed till about 12.00. Now this is late – if I am to get up at 6.00 am and start writing I need to be in bed by about 10.30 pm.

Is it possible I have got used to getting up early and starting to write? Today, having got up at 8.00 am my head was not clear, I was feeling sluggish and no amount of coffee seemed to help. Not that I am allowing myself much coffee these days – keep getting stomach ache from it. My first sentence to OH was ‘I really have to decide whether I want to be an academic or I am moving out of academe?’ Whilst this was coming out of my mouth I decided that I am tired and that today I’ll read and write for the blog but not anything else.

Then our visitor came down and we got talking. I started telling him about the theory I am developing and the book I am going to write during my sabbatical (which is starting in couple of weeks btw). My eyes brightened, the excitement started coming through and my question was answered – yes, I want to continue being an academic. I love what I do and I am really good at doing it – I just think that the universities have lost it under pressure. But this is another story.

The rest of the day was spent writing more posts for the blog, doing research on money, finance, thinking about politics and finance and the like. But one great thing I did is to change the name of one of my computer folders – I noticed that the folder is called ‘Creative attempts’. Now, how we think about things matters immensely to our commitment. So I am not ‘attempting’ things any longer, I am doing them and doing them really well. The folder is now called ‘Creative projects’.

Now back to blog, I suppose.

Firewalker

Cheery_Daff

Good name change FW! :T And don't despair because of one cloudy-headed day! (and remember - you can give the blog a break for a day if you're not particularly enthusiastic about it - be kind to yourself!)

Karmacat

"I love what I do and I'm really good at doing it" - go you! A visitor is bound to disrupt your routine, be kind to yourself - and enjoy the visitor!

claudiac_2

FW, maybe you should consider NOT writing for the blog every day - that is a big commitment on your time with all the research and reading you obviously do for your articles. And if you are planning to write a book soon then time will be even more valuable I would imagine.
I also get up early every day, but if I sleep in I always feel out of sorts and disorganized for the rest of the day so I know what you mean!
BTW - I am really enjoying the blog so just don't give it up please.