Reverb10 – Day 10:Wisdom

December 10 – Wisdom
Wisdom.
What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)

At least the largest decision I took in 2010 is that I wanted to change my way of working.
I felt I was getting tired, had lost track of my priorities and had lost grip on my project.

So I made a few changes.

1. I understood it is MY project

I started to take matters into my own hands and push the project forward. I now ask my advisors for advice, but I don’t ask them what I should be doing.
I determined my priorities and I’ve made a list of research ideas to work on.
And I’m enjoying this feeling of independence.

2. I started to use a planning

I started splitting up my to do list into several lists at different levels, as I’ve described in this post. For every day I have my most important thing to do, on which I focus.

3. I’m trying to find a work-life balance

I’m still working on this one. But I’ve already done progress. I go to the gym for group fitness at fixed times so that I have to leave my office in time. And I’ve noticed that I now can leave my office in the evening without feeling guilty or thinking I should have done more. If I can work on my most important thing to do, then I feel I’ve accomplished something by the end of the day.