By now you know that you are not alone in your PhD Depression. You've met me, and you're starting to meet each other as readers of this blog as well as friends and followers of the PhD Depression facebook and twitter pages. But it's good to remember that it's not only this group that suffers from the constant pressure to perform.
This pressure even gets to our most revered childhood heroes, as I read about the other day.
What's important is that we acknowledge it, accept it, and deal with it head on. Among other things that you may be doing, you're doing those things by coming here and joining this community. Thank you for your support of me, of each other and of yourself.
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Monday, September 7, 2009
Tip #9b - How to make good goal lists
Ok, so here's part two of the goal list tip and it's implementation time (if you haven't read part one, check it out now):
Here are some examples of how I organized my goal lists:
(To avoid giving out too much information about myself, I've modified
the lists slightly. If you haven't read my "about me" and my reasons
for anonymity, check them out now)
My life this year goal list:
My disseration work goal list (6 month list):
You could just say:
My version would look like:
...so that's a way to convince yourself and your advisor that something that sounds somewhat simple (I'm assuming it does to a rocket scientist), is actually a many-part series of steps.
My daily goal list (for month 2 of the example above):
Each day, I like to aim for completing something that seems like it should take me only a couple of hours. It's the same principle of the whole goal list - plan to do something small and be proud of yourself when it's complete. Most likely you will hit a snag and it will take longer than you expected, but you will hopefully still be able to accomplish it. If everything goes smoothly, then move on to tomorrow's goal and be excited that you're ahead of schedule!
You might say:
...but that makes it sound like you're doing nothing...
I would say:
You'll notice that the second goal list stresses the importance of the one small goal you're completing that day. It doesn't add much more work than you probably would have done, but highlights all of the work you will be doing. Also, if you look back at the 6-month goal sheet, you'll actually be completing in 10 days (1 day/paper) what you promised would take you much longer (about a month, there's one goal on that list you won't be completing in those 10 days). This will give you some cushion for various problems - if you're having trouble finding papers, or if you're not understanding a paper, or if something later takes extra time.
Final thoughts on goal lists...
I know all of these things sound stressful - I have a really hard time making myself accountable for things because of a fear that I won't accomplish them - but you don't have to think of this as a reason to beat yourself up. Just try it and stick to it and see if it doesn't actually remove some of the stress from your life. Knowing what needs to be done every morning when you wake up can be such a relief compared to the overwhelming feeling that you need to be doing *everything* when you wake up.
Homework:
- How to start your goal list - Focus on all of the things that you want/need/should/could/would do in any aspect of your life. Let them flow out without censor and get them down as they come to you, before you forget them. Write anything and everything now, and worry about choosing appropriate goals from the list later. You can do this in one sitting or over some period of time. Personally, I like doing it in one sitting because then I can get a train of thought going. But sometimes, when you've opened the floodgates you will find yourself suddenly inspired the next day or later that week (or maybe forever!), and you will find yourself saying "That'd be a pretty cool thing to try", if so, make sure to add it to your list.
- How to narrow down your list - Once you have your goals down on paper (or screen), start organizing them into a thorough and detailed plan. This plan will eventually be a few large bulletpointed items, followed by smaller subgoals that are the steps to completing large item. Now is the time to condense your list to a few major goals. Pick 5 or so major goals from your brainstormed list and as many subgoals as you'd like.
- How to organize your goal list - Keep your brainstormed list as a super long term goal, and check back on it every once in a while. There are various ways to organize your lists, but I think most lists should generally be a few large bulletpointed items plus many small subgoals. They don't always have to look like this, sometimes long term goals can just be one large goal, but shorter term goal lists should start to show the fine details and subgoals needed to get there. Projected goal completion dates are also useful and sometimes even a calendar layout can help. See my examples below.
- What to do if you're stuck on your research goals - If you don't know what to write for your work goals, don't get overwhelmed. You're lucky to realize that now so that you can talk to your advisor before you head down a path almost certain to lead you to PhD Depression. When you talk to your advisor, you might even bring a half completed goal list and explain what you're trying to do. Tell him you'd like to flesh out whatever goals you're missing - ask things like what should your overall goal for the year be (completing a requirement, submitting to a journal, etc)? What should you complete in the next 6 months to help you get there (collect data from 10 subjects, outline your dissertation, etc)? This is a great conversation to get you guys on the same page and can prevent future misunderstandings or unmet expectations.
Here are some examples of how I organized my goal lists:
(To avoid giving out too much information about myself, I've modified
the lists slightly. If you haven't read my "about me" and my reasons
for anonymity, check them out now)
My life this year goal list:
- PhD goals:
- Defend dissertation by August 2010
-Read two papers a week, add summary of papers to current writing
-Submit paper in December
-....
- Defend dissertation by August 2010
- PhD Depression Blog goals: (Yay! I completed two of my goals already!)
- Average 3 entries a week
- Figure out survey posting
- Reassess blog success/utility in July 1st 2010
- ....
- ...etc...
My disseration work goal list (6 month list):
You could just say:
- Make super sonic hyper tonic rocket blaster (made up thing...as far as I know)
My version would look like:
- Examine blueprints for regular rocket blasters (1 month)
o Find 10 blueprints (1 week)
o Compare blueprints (3 weeks)
-Note the main points of variation in design
-Compile list of main points of variation - Explore super sonic hyper tonicness (1 month)
o Find 10 recent articles published in good journals (1 week)
o Develop a list of the advantages and drawbacks versus regular sonic hypo tonic (1 week)
o Brainstorm ideas for combating the drawbacks and enhancing the advantages (2 weeks)
-Research the best method for implementing these ideas - Create novel blueprint for rocket blaster (2 months)
o Integrate each of the best variations from the 10 examined blueprints (3 weeks)
o Add super sonic hyper tonic-ness (3 weeks)
-Incorporate ideas for enhanced advantaged and decreased drawbacks
o Present to advisor for approval (2 weeks)
-Reevaluate with input from advisor - Build super sonic hyper tonic rocket blaster (2 months)
o Find parts (2 weeks)
o Weld parts (3 weeks)
o Run small test and adjust blaster (3 weeks)
o Layout test (1 week)
o Run test (1 week)
o Adjust controls based on test (1 week) - Write up preliminary results (1 month)
o Analyze results of preliminary test (2 weeks)
o Note adjustments made and future adjustments needed to improve results (1 week)
o Add introduction and conclusion (1 week)
...so that's a way to convince yourself and your advisor that something that sounds somewhat simple (I'm assuming it does to a rocket scientist), is actually a many-part series of steps.
My daily goal list (for month 2 of the example above):
Each day, I like to aim for completing something that seems like it should take me only a couple of hours. It's the same principle of the whole goal list - plan to do something small and be proud of yourself when it's complete. Most likely you will hit a snag and it will take longer than you expected, but you will hopefully still be able to accomplish it. If everything goes smoothly, then move on to tomorrow's goal and be excited that you're ahead of schedule!
You might say:
- Read 1 paper (which seems like a small task)
...but that makes it sound like you're doing nothing...
I would say:
- Read 1 paper
- List advantages and drawbacks
- Brainstorm methods to combat the drawbacks and enhance the advantages.
You'll notice that the second goal list stresses the importance of the one small goal you're completing that day. It doesn't add much more work than you probably would have done, but highlights all of the work you will be doing. Also, if you look back at the 6-month goal sheet, you'll actually be completing in 10 days (1 day/paper) what you promised would take you much longer (about a month, there's one goal on that list you won't be completing in those 10 days). This will give you some cushion for various problems - if you're having trouble finding papers, or if you're not understanding a paper, or if something later takes extra time.
Final thoughts on goal lists...
- Where to put your goal list - This is a more personal choice and depends on what works for you. I like to keep my 6 month list by my desk so that I can look at what I should be doing in any given week. I try to keep my daily goal list next to or sitting on my computer keyboard so that it's the first thing I look at when I start working and requires barely a head movement to see over the course of the day. I may consider keeping it by my bed so that I can look at it right when I wake up to avoid that "Oh crap, there's so much to do" panic that I get sometimes in the morning. My yearly goal list is in a google spreadsheet, so that I can look at it any time the feeling strikes. Also, I like that it is in a guarded place (i.e. password protected) so that no one else but me knows my secret hopes and dreams for the coming year. All of these are either electronic or printed on paper, but you could write them in a calendar, notebook, desk planner, personal planner, white board, black board or body paint if you think that would help.
I know all of these things sound stressful - I have a really hard time making myself accountable for things because of a fear that I won't accomplish them - but you don't have to think of this as a reason to beat yourself up. Just try it and stick to it and see if it doesn't actually remove some of the stress from your life. Knowing what needs to be done every morning when you wake up can be such a relief compared to the overwhelming feeling that you need to be doing *everything* when you wake up.
Homework:
- Some time in the next week, dedicate a few hours to setting up your goal lists. Set up at least 3 and no more than 10 lists.
- Starting with your long term goals, list a do-able number of long term goals, I like the number 5, it seems to be enough to fill a year without being overwhelming. You might list a goal for each of the most important categories in your life like I did in my example above: research, teaching, social, travel, hobby, etc. When you've listed your goals, bulletpoint a few of the major steps along the way.
- Now move on to the 6-month goals - Break the major goal into about 6 1-2 month long sub goals and those into weekly goals.
- Finally, think about what you want to do each day of next week. Assign yourself work that you think should take you just a few hours. When you've completed it, check it off, praise yourself for completing your day's work and be done. Do this one once a week for a few weeks and see if you don't start getting out of your slump. Eventually, if you're really finishing off all of your work in a few hours then you can consider upping your goals, but don't push it - this is a marathon not a sprint.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Guest post by someone who's made it through to the other side...
A reader who has made it past the PhD finish line kindly sent me his "Tips on How to Survive Graduate School and Maybe Even Flourish".
These tips are definitely focused on those of the Biological fields - so if you're not a Biology major, consider if they apply to you before accepting them as fact - but I think all of us can take away good points on the more general tips (I especially like and agree with #1 and #15, simple and so true!).
There's even quite a few tips aimed at PhD's just starting their journey.
By the way, he mentioned that he'd be happy to revise based on your feedback, so leave some comments with what you think!
Thanks for the tips Dr. Varela! We hope to meet you in beautiful Drland soon...
Tips on How to Survive Graduate School and Maybe Even Flourish
Dr. Manuel Varela
Professor of Biology
ENMU
These tips are definitely focused on those of the Biological fields - so if you're not a Biology major, consider if they apply to you before accepting them as fact - but I think all of us can take away good points on the more general tips (I especially like and agree with #1 and #15, simple and so true!).
There's even quite a few tips aimed at PhD's just starting their journey.
By the way, he mentioned that he'd be happy to revise based on your feedback, so leave some comments with what you think!
Thanks for the tips Dr. Varela! We hope to meet you in beautiful Drland soon...
Tips on How to Survive Graduate School and Maybe Even Flourish
Dr. Manuel Varela
Professor of Biology
ENMU
- First priority: pursuit and completion of your thesis.
- Time management: Maximize your daily efforts towards your education and your thesis project; i.e., complete daily experiments—don’t section off parts of experiments for another day.
- Enjoy your intellectual pursuits.
a. Routinely (daily) read books and the latest published literature, especially in your field, but also other fields.
b. Do not worry about your grades; instead, just try to understand (and play with) your knowledge. - Choose a research laboratory that is functional.
a. Do not study techniques: study problems.
b. Do not invent (or be the first in your lab to use) a technique—use only those techniques and methods already established.
c. Never develop (or tweak) an assay, nor clone a gene, nor purify a protein, nor work with RNA for a thesis. - Choose a graduate advisor wisely.
- Apply for your own graduate fellowships and funding in collaboration with your advisor.
a. Learn good grantsmanship and writing skills. - How much work (minimum) for a thesis?
a. 1 full-length paper for M.S.
b. 3 full-length papers for a Ph.D.
c. 1 full-length paper per year for postdoc. - Present your work at meetings
a. Rehearse your presentation repeatedly.
b. Write putative questions and have a written answer ready for each. - Publish your work early.
- For thesis research and projects…
a. Always provide a logical rationale and hypothesis.
b. Never ask “yes or no” questions.
c. Instead study Hypothesis A versus Hypothesis B, or Hypothesis A versus Hypothesis Anti-A.
i. Experimental design should distinguish between the hypotheses.
d. Provide a “Gap.”
e. Conduct more than one project at a time, in case one or two projects fail. - Design your experiments such that the data are useful to you no matter what the outcomes are of such experiments.
- Use appropriate statistics.
- Get teaching experience, to the extent that you are able.
- Be leery of envious colleagues and competitors; your best revenge is to be successful.
- Be honest and ethical, or else your transgressions shall haunt you for ever.
- Do not be afraid to think or dream big, and do not let others talk you out of pursuing your dreams.
- Never give up.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Weekend Wisdom
If you're in the US, this weekend is Labor Day Weekend. For the non-US citizen, Labor Day Weekend is Summer's last stand. It's the last day when you can open a beer at 3PM and use the excuse, 'Hey, it's the summer! I'm allowed to.'
Whether you're celebrating Labor Day Weekend this weekend or not, be sure to take advantage of the last gasp of summer (unless of course you're in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case, go enjoy the start of it!). Sometime in October when you're mulling over the best way to phrase, 'Our results were not what we expected,' or some student brings you back a 2 week late homework and asks you if you can regrade his extra credit, you can at least think back and have a fond memory of the end of summer.
So unless you're defending on Monday (or Tuesday), don't think about your PhD this weekend. You'll have plenty of time for that in the coming months.
Whether you're celebrating Labor Day Weekend this weekend or not, be sure to take advantage of the last gasp of summer (unless of course you're in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case, go enjoy the start of it!). Sometime in October when you're mulling over the best way to phrase, 'Our results were not what we expected,' or some student brings you back a 2 week late homework and asks you if you can regrade his extra credit, you can at least think back and have a fond memory of the end of summer.
So unless you're defending on Monday (or Tuesday), don't think about your PhD this weekend. You'll have plenty of time for that in the coming months.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tip #9a - Make lots of goal lists
As promised on Tuesday's tip post about freeing yourself from the shackles of PhD Guilt, today I'm expanding on the topic of setting goals. I am an avid "to do" list-er, which is sort of like setting goals, but my to do lists tend to be a brain dump of everything I could ever need to do in my entire life and are thus overwhelming and often ignored. The goal list is the to do list's older, more organized, much more successful brother.
As I wrote this tip, it grew into a monster, so I've split it up into two half tips. In this half I will discuss different strategies of constructing goal lists, so that you can think about what is right for yours. In the second half, on Sunday, I will give you examples of my own goal lists and my own personal strategy to try out if you'd like.
So, here's what you should consider before you write your goal lists:
A story:
The trick with the goal list is to map out a good work schedule without being unrealistic.
The first legitimate goal list that I made was for a course I took in which we had to layout our work plan for a 3 month long final project. It was explained to us the work plan itself was part of the grade and was a lesson to teach us how set realistic goals so that if/when we get into industry we have an understanding of what we can and can not produce in a given time.
With that in mind I set the lowest possible goals that I thought the professor would let me get away with. I simplified the project to something that fulfilled the minimum requirements without any excessive bells and whistles that might add a "wow" factor. Then I broke the work, which sounded very simple and accomplishable in a week, down into about 6 major-ish substeps and had them vary from about 1 week to 1 one month in completion time needed.
Some of these steps were pretty simple, such as "project write-up" and I assume a lot of my classmates didn't consider it important enough to note, but I gave that step a week of time for two reasons - 1) It would actually take some time and should be acknowledged as one more piece of work I was doing and 2) It might only take me a day or two, but a week didn't seem like too much to ask and gave me 5 extra days to make up for when I inevitably got behind somewhere else. The same was true about my 5 other steps - some didn't seem that complicated, so I would suggest a week of time. But those weeks added up so that it was clear to the professor that there was not just one major component that should only take one month, which is the time I allocated for the major component, but other, small substeps that would chip away at my 3 months on their own. The other substep that I added and assume other people brushed off was basic setup of the project. There is always a learning curve for starting anything new, and set up (i.e. learning new theories/procedures/technologies) can be the biggest time killer of all the work, so should definitely be acknowledged in any project, complete with a list of all the learning that will be required.
So how did this project go? As you might have guessed (why else would I be telling the story?), it went great. The professor was fine with the amount of work I laid out. I got behind on things as I anticipated, but since I gave myself cushions of time to make up for it. I finished everything by the due date. And since a majority of the class didn't complete their more ambitious projects, my project looked like a star by the end. The moral of the story is: set small, manageable goals, give yourself the time you think you need plus a large cushion and at the end, instead of frustrating yourself and your advisor with a broken, half completed promise, you will deliver exactly what you promised or more.
On Sunday I'll finish this post with a "how to" tip.
By the way, on another day when I have more time, I'll write a review of this book, which I really liked and inspired the first seeds of the idea of daily work plans in me. But until then, if you're dying for a whole book of dissertation writing suggestions check out:
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis
As I wrote this tip, it grew into a monster, so I've split it up into two half tips. In this half I will discuss different strategies of constructing goal lists, so that you can think about what is right for yours. In the second half, on Sunday, I will give you examples of my own goal lists and my own personal strategy to try out if you'd like.
So, here's what you should consider before you write your goal lists:
- Recognize a goal versus an expectation - A while ago I heard someone make a distinction between goals and expectations, which really stuck with me. An expectation is something you hope to have happen, but is not really under your control. A goal is something you have control over and can, for the most part, affect the outcome of. For example, a goal could be to write a dissertation - totally in your control - an expectation is that that you will get your Ph.D. - something someone else controls. The purpose of a goal list is to help you take back control of your often ambiguous work and set structure for yourself in the open-ended world of the PhD program. So when you're making your goal list, make sure you're setting accomplishable goals and not just filling your list with expectations of greatness.
- Short term versus long term goals - I think it's important to have lots of goal lists. Right now I have 4. The first is a general goal list for my life this year, the second is a 6 month goal list for my dissertation work, the third is a goal/expectation list for this blog and the fourth is my daily goal list. The reason it's important to have goal lists of different granularity is so that you can see both the big picture and the daily work you anticipate it takes to get there.
- Too many versus too few goals - I strongly suggest erring on the side of caution with the number of your main goals. Too many goals defeats the purpose of the list, which is to give you structure as well as accomplishable benchmarks for success. With too many large goals you are dooming yourself to failure and being unrealistic about what you can accomplish. On any given list, you should have only a few main goals, with subgoals that are required to complete the larger goals.
- Physical versus mental goal list - A mental list of your goals is a list you plan on breaking - at least it is for me. There is something about writing down and declaring your goals that is scary, final and unappealing. But there are many things you gain from writing down that you tend to not get out of keeping them all stored inside:
- A thorough plan - I guess you could develop a thorough plan in your head, but by the time you get to the end, would you really remember much? (hint: science and wikipedia, say no)
- A reference - Even if you remembered your plan for 5 minutes, I doubt you will remember the details of it over time (back to wikipedia for lack of a better quick source). You also won't have anything to pin above your desk or on your mirror, or wherever you find it useful to pin reminders.
- A promise in writing - If you go as far as agreeing upon this list with your advisor (which I suggest, it's a good way to keep you "honest" to the list), a written list can act as a contract. If you've written out your goals smartly and you stay on track, the next time you or your advisor wonder why things are going so slowly, you can (nicely - don't be a jerk) point out that you are exactly where you should be according to your list. Feel free to casually slip it into conversation - if you're presenting your work to your group, start out with a short summary of the project that highlights the goals you've laid out and then explain how you're right on target. If you're meeting with your advisor, bring the goal list and say "I'm at this point on the list (hopefully you're pointing to a place that corresponds exactly to the current date) and I want to discuss starting this next item on the list with you". If your biggest critic is you, point out the same thing to yourself: "I'm exactly where I said I would be. If I keep on this track I will complete a goal that is an important step in my dissertation, in a time frame that my advisor and I agreed was reasonable."
- A thorough plan - I guess you could develop a thorough plan in your head, but by the time you get to the end, would you really remember much? (hint: science and wikipedia, say no)
A story:
The trick with the goal list is to map out a good work schedule without being unrealistic.
The first legitimate goal list that I made was for a course I took in which we had to layout our work plan for a 3 month long final project. It was explained to us the work plan itself was part of the grade and was a lesson to teach us how set realistic goals so that if/when we get into industry we have an understanding of what we can and can not produce in a given time.
With that in mind I set the lowest possible goals that I thought the professor would let me get away with. I simplified the project to something that fulfilled the minimum requirements without any excessive bells and whistles that might add a "wow" factor. Then I broke the work, which sounded very simple and accomplishable in a week, down into about 6 major-ish substeps and had them vary from about 1 week to 1 one month in completion time needed.
Some of these steps were pretty simple, such as "project write-up" and I assume a lot of my classmates didn't consider it important enough to note, but I gave that step a week of time for two reasons - 1) It would actually take some time and should be acknowledged as one more piece of work I was doing and 2) It might only take me a day or two, but a week didn't seem like too much to ask and gave me 5 extra days to make up for when I inevitably got behind somewhere else. The same was true about my 5 other steps - some didn't seem that complicated, so I would suggest a week of time. But those weeks added up so that it was clear to the professor that there was not just one major component that should only take one month, which is the time I allocated for the major component, but other, small substeps that would chip away at my 3 months on their own. The other substep that I added and assume other people brushed off was basic setup of the project. There is always a learning curve for starting anything new, and set up (i.e. learning new theories/procedures/technologies) can be the biggest time killer of all the work, so should definitely be acknowledged in any project, complete with a list of all the learning that will be required.
So how did this project go? As you might have guessed (why else would I be telling the story?), it went great. The professor was fine with the amount of work I laid out. I got behind on things as I anticipated, but since I gave myself cushions of time to make up for it. I finished everything by the due date. And since a majority of the class didn't complete their more ambitious projects, my project looked like a star by the end. The moral of the story is: set small, manageable goals, give yourself the time you think you need plus a large cushion and at the end, instead of frustrating yourself and your advisor with a broken, half completed promise, you will deliver exactly what you promised or more.
On Sunday I'll finish this post with a "how to" tip.
By the way, on another day when I have more time, I'll write a review of this book, which I really liked and inspired the first seeds of the idea of daily work plans in me. But until then, if you're dying for a whole book of dissertation writing suggestions check out:
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
From the Desk of the T.A. - Episode 1
A friend of mine, who knows about the blog and has also suffered from periods of PhD Depression, has offered to guest post some comic relief for me in two weekly columns: "From the Desk of the TA" (FDTA) and "Weekend Wisdom". Said friend is a hilarious writer and kick ass T.A., so I happily agreed. Starting today, FDTA will be posted on Wednesdays to document the trials and tribulations of the overworked and undervalued T.A. On Fridays, "Weekend Wisdom" will hopefully send you into the weekend with something to laugh at.
So without further ado, the first episode of FDTA...
Teaching Assistant.
There are some PhD students who hear that, and something happens to them. Strange and terrible things. If you are a PhD student who has never been a TA, it may be extremely difficult to recognize these symptoms. You will witness irrational behavior and wonder what has happened. Never fear. I'm here to give you some tips for recognizing if your colleague has been afflicted with TAS, or Teaching Assistant Syndrome.
1) Does your normally mild mannered colleague turn into an Incredible Hulk of rage and anger shortly after a class homework is due? Do you see an unusual number of objects being thrown, kicked, or kicked and thrown in some order?
2) Have you ever heard your advisor discussing adding an essay question to his exam, and one of your colleagues fainted/blacked out?
3) Do you sometimes notice him catatonically staring at a stack of papers, hoping it will do something? Does he ever take a break from staring to quietly sob?
4) Do you hear your colleague muttering to himself things like, 'How could they not understand this?' or 'How could I explain it any more clearly?' Has general self-muttering increased?
5) Does he ever ask you for your opinion on how much you think a scuba instructor in Hawaii makes, and how quickly he could get his license and move there?
If so, your colleague is probably a TA. You may be tempted to go up to him and give him some words of encouragement during his trying times. DO NOT DO THIS. When he is approached by someone in this state, he will assume a series of questions is about to be asked, and most likely flee or scream or something worse. It's best to keep your distance, and never bring up the subject in front of him.
I'll try to pass along some advice, or at least comiserating stories for your associate in the coming weeks. While approaching him directly is right out, maybe you can print out a copy of any tips I might have, and leave them on his desk when he is gone (although there is a good chance he will react badly to any paper he discovers, assuming it's an exam or homework). Good luck with your colleague, and remember, someday you'll probably be a TA too.
-T.A.
So without further ado, the first episode of FDTA...
Teaching Assistant.
There are some PhD students who hear that, and something happens to them. Strange and terrible things. If you are a PhD student who has never been a TA, it may be extremely difficult to recognize these symptoms. You will witness irrational behavior and wonder what has happened. Never fear. I'm here to give you some tips for recognizing if your colleague has been afflicted with TAS, or Teaching Assistant Syndrome.
1) Does your normally mild mannered colleague turn into an Incredible Hulk of rage and anger shortly after a class homework is due? Do you see an unusual number of objects being thrown, kicked, or kicked and thrown in some order?
2) Have you ever heard your advisor discussing adding an essay question to his exam, and one of your colleagues fainted/blacked out?
3) Do you sometimes notice him catatonically staring at a stack of papers, hoping it will do something? Does he ever take a break from staring to quietly sob?
4) Do you hear your colleague muttering to himself things like, 'How could they not understand this?' or 'How could I explain it any more clearly?' Has general self-muttering increased?
5) Does he ever ask you for your opinion on how much you think a scuba instructor in Hawaii makes, and how quickly he could get his license and move there?
If so, your colleague is probably a TA. You may be tempted to go up to him and give him some words of encouragement during his trying times. DO NOT DO THIS. When he is approached by someone in this state, he will assume a series of questions is about to be asked, and most likely flee or scream or something worse. It's best to keep your distance, and never bring up the subject in front of him.
I'll try to pass along some advice, or at least comiserating stories for your associate in the coming weeks. While approaching him directly is right out, maybe you can print out a copy of any tips I might have, and leave them on his desk when he is gone (although there is a good chance he will react badly to any paper he discovers, assuming it's an exam or homework). Good luck with your colleague, and remember, someday you'll probably be a TA too.
-T.A.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
What is your workspace doing for your mood?
(from www.hgtv.com )
Last week a reader, Steve, gave me his secret for keeping sane while doing his PhD:
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I mentioned that, while I get very distracted in places like coffee shops and open labs, a nice quiet place next to a big sunny window (or as I mentioned in Sunday's tip post on letting go of your PhD Guilt, a shaded porch ) is perfect for me.
This started me thinking about how changes in scenery might affect our PhD Mood.
I used to have a friend who did all of her work while sunbathing on a balcony, which sounded really great in theory but never worked for me. How can you focus on anything with the bright sun in your eyes?
I know someone who puts together every presentation in the plane while on the way to present, and another person who does all of his nighttime work while sitting in front of the TV.
I think that a lot of us got through college by separating work and life. But when we're running this PhD Marathon, and we spend so much of our time doing work, we have to find a way to make even the most tedious of work enjoyable. At the same time we have to balance our enjoyment with our ability to actually getting work done.
A typical person's work environment is decided by a mysterious person - the interior designer for the company, or maybe the boss's mom - whom they've probably never met and is the same bland environment as that used by the 1000 other employees. This is unfortunate because people thrive in different environments. As a PhD student, you probably have the freedom to do much of your work in a place of your choosing, so next time why not put a little thought
(and feng shui principles
If you're feeling stressed, why not simplify your work area...
Or if you're down, consider something sunny...
Or if you're feeling uninspired, how about surrounding yourself with inspiring things...
All of the above?
Sometimes the right workspace is just what you're lacking. Until you figure out what you need, check out some of the craziest offices and more "nerd desks", and let us all know in the survey and comments what your ideal workspace is!