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Time Management, Family, and Quality of Life Issues. Anne Condon U. British Columbia. Guiding principles. Life Make the most of it - it's wonderful! Enjoy my family and be good to them Respect friends and colleagues Be gentle to the environment Work Make the most of it - it's wonderful!
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Time Management, Family, and Quality of Life Issues Anne Condon U. British Columbia
Guiding principles • Life • Make the most of it - it's wonderful! • Enjoy my family and be good to them • Respect friends and colleagues • Be gentle to the environment • Work • Make the most of it - it's wonderful! • Work on theory problems (hopefully solve some) • Figure out how to predict RNA structure • Be a good teacher, advisor, citizen
Current passions • Solving a cool theory problem with Lisa Hellerstein • Figuring out how to predict RNA secondary structure • Developing ideas for an intro to CS textbook • Gardening ... it's spring! • Planning a family escape to Nelson, B.C. in July
Current Chores • Writing/grading my final exam • Finishing up an external review report • Revising two submitted papers • Reading a Master’s thesis • Catching up on paper reviews • Working on my son’s manners
Typical teaching day** ** Mon/Wed are teaching days Tues/Thurs mornings are research time Fridays are meetingless days :)
Using time effectively • Schedule "synergistic" tasks together • Build a research group in which people help each other (setting good example yourself); extend to your academic community • When "on a roll" with something, keep with the momentum even at the expense of other things • Conversely, when a task seems like a grind, push a little, but then switch to something more productive
Handling the “chores” • A strategy for saying "no" is to first say "let me think about it”; then assess and consult • When you do say "yes", be clear up front about the scope of the job and the level of commitment you can bring • Use the opportunity to take on something new as a chance to let go of something else • Work with people who seem to be good at getting things done; it does rub off
On family • find the things that you enjoy and can share with your family • find the things you can do in parallel (oversee kid homework crises while cooking) • foster kids' independence in daily tasks • share responsibility around the house • figure out which things can "give" - no need for perfection! • remember your time becomes yours again as your kids get older - balance is regained!