tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post851418403613547702..comments2024-03-27T02:24:30.591-07:00Comments on Get a Life, PhD: Do you have an overwork problem? Tanya Golash-Bozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-28439473833058467312013-07-20T05:35:45.741-07:002013-07-20T05:35:45.741-07:00What about when you're teaching a NEW course (...What about when you're teaching a NEW course (or even two!), and they are out of your expertise? I *love* the idea of charting out my time like this (and even managed to do so toward the end of my PhD), but what is a "reasonable" amount of time to spend on teaching when you - and your courses - are brand spanking new? <br /><br />In my situation, I'll be teaching 4 hours/class with two news classes, hold 3 hours of office hours/week, which already adds up 11 hours/week! In your template (and I understand that it's just that), 16 hours/week on teaching means only 5 hours to prepare FOUR new lectures a week!<br /><br />Now, I'm not one for overstating how much I work, but I really don't know how much is realistic in this scenario (and especially because of my first-time status and working in a department I didn't do my degree in). Thoughts?! Advice?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-32847721985457863682013-04-27T16:29:21.268-07:002013-04-27T16:29:21.268-07:00Meredith, true. You will not get it all done in 40...Meredith, true. You will not get it all done in 40 hours when you are new or with lots of external grant proposals.<br /><br />And Hattie, on staff, VERY true. <br /><br />And I believe it about the productive people only working 4.5 hours a day, because you do need empty time to develop your creativity, etc.<br /><br />I really only do 40 hours of actual work, work that goes to my job description, but this means I do not do as well as I theoretically should -- I do less on research, teaching, and service than I should. And I do work more than 40 hours, on things I would not have to do if we had staff or if things were more efficient on campus or if we had books in our own library or if there were fewer obstacles created generally. So the extra 15 hours is handling the lack of staff and the make-work issues, when I could be using those to do my own job better. <br /><br />I think the 40 hours = success presupposes good staff, a good library and an efficient institution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-54601908188859276822013-03-01T02:38:51.171-08:002013-03-01T02:38:51.171-08:00To support your point Tanya, there is research tha...To support your point Tanya, there is research that shows the most productive people only work around 4.5 hours a day. Three blocks of 1.5 hours each focused on one task and then that's it. I know its not possible in academia but I think you are on to something with doing your writing in the morning and leaving email for later in the day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-65098892666122032142013-01-22T09:07:01.380-08:002013-01-22T09:07:01.380-08:00Hmm, ,I think a 40-hour work week must reflect a j...Hmm, ,I think a 40-hour work week must reflect a job where the prof is no longer writing new syllabi, new course lectures, or lots of grant proposals. As a first-year TT prof at an R1, and a pretty efficient person (worked in business for 8 years before going ot grad school), I honestly do not think 40 hours will get it all done. Do you have caveats for the first couple years on the job developing new courses etc.?Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496383789843098392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-70881775461280439992013-01-13T12:13:24.050-08:002013-01-13T12:13:24.050-08:00Those boxes drive me nuts, which is why I don'...Those boxes drive me nuts, which is why I don't use them in my comments section!<br />The fact is that the key to success is to have a staff. The new people coming down the line know this, whereas boomers think they have to do it all, especially women. And if they inadvertently end up as staff when they were focused on succeeding on their own: that's when it gets really tough. <br />I have seen very successful people who never seem tense or worried. What they are good at is delegating responsibility. And they have a lot of people working for them. <br />I think academics in particular expect too much of themselves. Hattiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02621439195920479957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-27684337713402836662013-01-10T22:40:56.735-08:002013-01-10T22:40:56.735-08:00My response that ended up in the box above these t...My response that ended up in the box above these two comments was meant to be down here -- sorry!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-53986147105804142752013-01-10T22:39:33.633-08:002013-01-10T22:39:33.633-08:00Yes, kiwi2, the 8 counting time in meetings, and c...Yes, kiwi2, the 8 counting time in meetings, and correct, Tanya, above.<br /><br />I know these things in theory and from experience but the big challenge is putting them into practice at current job. SO much time goes to nonessential stuff that really is essential. Like, accreditation paperwork, other bureaucracy, bleaaah. This is what I really have to cut down to size and it is a huge challenge.<br /><br />What I have always tried to do is cut that time so as to "free up" time and this is not working, there is something about the defensive gesture that makes me weak. I am now trying to go at it from the other end: visualize research and recreational time expanding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-12767066855905256502013-01-08T14:08:17.322-08:002013-01-08T14:08:17.322-08:00Meggin McIntosh says you should only plan out a ma...Meggin McIntosh says you should only plan out a maximum of 6 hours a day - as more is just too much.<br /><br />I find that - at maximum - I can write for 2 hours and read for 2 hours. I can use the rest of the day to respond to emails and keep things in order. It took me a long time to come to term with my limits, but there they are!<br /><br />If I am teaching, I can write for two hours, prepare class, and then teach - for perhaps a 6 to 8 hour day of "work."Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-85565211583381029272013-01-08T14:06:19.561-08:002013-01-08T14:06:19.561-08:00wow. and most academics think they'll never re...wow. and most academics think they'll never retire!Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-43716183778393500792013-01-08T14:05:44.556-08:002013-01-08T14:05:44.556-08:00I like the long-term approach to this that you tak...I like the long-term approach to this that you take!Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-36428472603677518972013-01-08T12:18:14.813-08:002013-01-08T12:18:14.813-08:00Hi Tanya,
i am really enjoying the ideas in your p...Hi Tanya,<br />i am really enjoying the ideas in your post, as I feel constant pressure to get more work done in a shorter time. So, I have been trying your tracking work system. This was interesting: my primary work at the moment is research/ prep for conference talks, and some student supervision(no lecturing etc at all at the moment). Wow! Having decided I would work 7.5-8 hours per day, yesterday I tracked all my work time- I started at 8 in the morning, but didn't finish until 10pm. I was determined to do 8 hours. However, I was exhausted by the effort! The length of time needed was in part due to stops for children related activities, exercise, and cooking dinner. This exercise has taught me two things so far though: first, I must spend more time out than I realise, and second, working on intense writing/ research for 8 hours a day is really tough. I can imagine doing 8 hour days with more time spent in meetings, and doing other kinds of work, but suspect that 8 hours of intense writing every day would kill me. I'm going to keep going with it this week and see, but wondered if you have any thoughts about this, or strategies to cope with this kind of intensity (and thinking too about your pomadero timer for writing sessions!).<br />Kiwi2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-29168293376018153622013-01-08T00:43:06.475-08:002013-01-08T00:43:06.475-08:00One of my graduate school cohort is going into pha...One of my graduate school cohort is going into phased retirement as we speak for this precise reason. My college roommate is already retired, again for the same reason. We are 55 and this is ridiculous -- it is not something either would have done were it not for the workaholic training. These are people with good records, UT Press, Max Planck Institute. I remember the crazy people from the East who told us at Berkeley that "[we] looked too healthy to be as intelligent as [we] seem[ed] to be" [sic] and I can tell you that is terrible training.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-40530626930428610272013-01-07T18:11:27.433-08:002013-01-07T18:11:27.433-08:00Thanks for this great post, Tanya. I think that th...Thanks for this great post, Tanya. I think that the false assumption that academics must work all the time is very harmful, because people get burned out and at some point (usually after receiving tenure), they stop being productive altogether. What I tell my graduate students is that a more balanced approach like the one you propose will make them happier and allow them to be productive throughout their entire careers.Maria Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08659309345578322887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-87590998358243698682013-01-07T10:54:52.115-08:002013-01-07T10:54:52.115-08:00Jonathan, I have recently been taking purposeful t...Jonathan, I have recently been taking purposeful technology breaks during the day - specifically a one hour walk where I don't take my cell phone! I am sure there are positive benefits to this. Working all the time simply couldn't be productive.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-1688246235713271192013-01-07T10:53:45.997-08:002013-01-07T10:53:45.997-08:00Yes. Time is, bar none, our most valuable resource...Yes. Time is, bar none, our most valuable resource. This is why it is crucial to think about how we spend it! Thanks for reading and commenting.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-54728193697537387562013-01-07T10:53:02.241-08:002013-01-07T10:53:02.241-08:00Yikes. I know I couldn't do that. It's har...Yikes. I know I couldn't do that. It's hard to believe people could, but I suppose it is possible that some people have more endurance than others.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-33241137840150914552013-01-06T09:57:06.886-08:002013-01-06T09:57:06.886-08:00It's not that work is less important, but that...It's not that work is less important, but that you can get it done efficiently, the right way. Working more hours doesn't make you get more done; it just makes you tired and your work less good. Your academic writing will be better if you have a hobby too. <br /><br />I am surprised and gratified that people aren't beating up Tanya over this post. There is hope for a sane approach. Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-33995301697928381132013-01-05T19:21:35.639-08:002013-01-05T19:21:35.639-08:00Tanya - thank you for writing this post. We need ...Tanya - thank you for writing this post. We need more people taking a stand against overwork. As much as I like your tactical suggestions to cut back on hours, I think the key is something you say at the very beginning "I am committed to working only 40 hours." I suspect this is not because you don't think the work is important, but rather that you think other things (like your family) are more important. <br /><br />How we spend our time is an issue of values and priorities. When I was in the academic world (and later when I was in the corporate world) my work was the most important thing to me. I was on a mission to make the world a better place. And lo and behold, I ended up working 90 hours a week. Time management didn't help me, because time I saved was put back into the company, because that was my highest priority. I call it Corporate Idolatry. Greg Marcushttp://idolbuster.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-63558838535805588812013-01-05T18:02:59.389-08:002013-01-05T18:02:59.389-08:00I am just starting a PhD and it is good to know th...I am just starting a PhD and it is good to know that you can be an academic and still have a life. So many people you speak to insist that you should spend 12 hours a day and all weekend in the lab!Bryallenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077654752721624785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-11530502089619463292013-01-05T14:23:48.533-08:002013-01-05T14:23:48.533-08:00thanks! I am still surprised by the positive respo...thanks! I am still surprised by the positive response to this.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-30963183802009711952013-01-05T14:23:24.313-08:002013-01-05T14:23:24.313-08:00That is crazy they expect you to work 60 hours!! S...That is crazy they expect you to work 60 hours!! Sounds like they need to hire 50% more faculty!<br /><br />Still, glad to hear you may be able to cut a deal.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-82911064330595728712013-01-05T14:20:43.216-08:002013-01-05T14:20:43.216-08:00Thanks! I am (pleasantly) surprised to see a posit...Thanks! I am (pleasantly) surprised to see a positive response to this post, and very pleased to hear you will try to get it all done in 40 hours.<br /><br />I had my babies in grad school. Quickly, I'd say that it was important for me to reconcile myself to the fact that spending evenings and weekends with my kids was plenty of time. The other big factor is figuring out in advance what to do if the kids get sick or have a school holiday.Tanya Golash-Bozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299920277816825958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-47847485251454845282013-01-05T14:02:01.100-08:002013-01-05T14:02:01.100-08:00love this!love this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-33189655226023351332013-01-05T13:58:56.295-08:002013-01-05T13:58:56.295-08:00Well, my father worked a 40 hour week. This was at...Well, my father worked a 40 hour week. This was at a UC on a UC teaching load. There were things he did not do because of it, such as get promoted into the "stratosphere" and I do not think he would have made the top step of Full by today's requirements. He was efficient, though, and I have figured out that a lot of what he was doing during the day at the office was reading!!! I am not saying this is bad, I am only saying it is fun, and that I should stop thinking of professional reading as something I must only do after hours.<br /><br />At my university the work week is defined as 60 hours and they track you for that. For instance, I am supposed to spend 12 hours per week total on every 3 hour class, including attening it and holding office hours for it. 6 hours a week on service and 18 on research. I find I really do need the 3 hours outside class per hour in for preparation, grading, and consultation. With maintenance of websites and keeping up on reading, I sometimes take more if it is an out of field course. <br /><br />Right now due to budget cuts that led to terminations they want to put some research faculty up to a 4 course load and also up research requirements. I already need to cut total work hours because I think you are right. <br /><br />I am going to try to cut a deal where I dump service and dump freshman courses, I can teach two graduate courses in the time it takes to deal with one freshman one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2175875149329306963.post-23949531116970183202013-01-05T12:33:49.493-08:002013-01-05T12:33:49.493-08:00I love your posts. You give me hope it can be done...I love your posts. You give me hope it can be done. I am first year TT and want to love my job but the pressure to let it consume my life is very worrisome for me! I'd love to hear how you balanced things with babies since that will be my next challenge!Jackienoreply@blogger.com