Photo Courtesy of United Arrows
I am late with my Wednesday post because I am in the midst of that avalanche called reading papers and assigning grades. Every year I always swear I will give a simple exam but then in August when I am rested and full of energy I am constructing new assignments that at the time seem so interesting and exciting. While grading the usual life challenges occur: the printer runs out of ink, I slam one of my typing fingers in a door (also the finger that has the fingerprint that gets me quickly into my phone) and other assorted dramas. Each year I try new schemes such as having assignments due two weeks before the last class with the intent to be all done when class is over. Never happens. It almost feels like this is my “penance” to pay in order to deserve my summer vacation, I always wonder, how can I make this something I enjoy rather than a chore I just need to get through? Well hopefully by the time I post tomorrow or Saturday morning I will be done!
Do any of you have ideas about how to approach something you do not want to do and make it pleasurable?
Absolutely! I promise myself a special treat as soon as I finish. Usually a pair of ballet flats! By the way….love your haircut! Please give us details. Thanks much.
Amy in Houston, Texas
Roz I must confess I am a bit confused by your comment as I have concluded the majority of posts I write with a question for my readers. If you scroll down you will find a number of posts doing so. I enjoy hearing readers thoughts and am often inspired and enlightened by something they have shared or the way they have interpreted what I have written. I feel privileged to have readers who follow me because I am not like everyone else and consequently neither are they and their thoughtful comments reflect this. Perhaps I am misunderstanding what you mean.
My haircut is a bob with a twist: the sides are cut super short (almost shaved) one side showing the cut the other not because the hair on top is longer. My stylist is Japanese and because my hair is very thick and straight he really knows how to handle it and give me a cut that is modern and edgy. The color is all mine, I started going grey in my 30’s so by now it is a nice white with darker hair underneath. I think I will treat myself with a new Zana Bayne belt!
Absolutely! I promise myself a special treat as soon as I finish. Usually a pair of ballet flats! By the way….love your haircut! Please give us details. Thanks much.
Amy in Houston, Texas
My haircut is a bob with a twist: the sides are cut super short (almost shaved) one side showing the cut the other not because the hair on top is longer. My stylist is Japanese and because my hair is very thick and straight he really knows how to handle it and give me a cut that is modern and edgy. The color is all mine, I started going grey in my 30’s so by now it is a nice white with darker hair underneath. I think I will treat myself with a new Zana Bayne belt!
I generally enjoy your blog which is refreshingly different. So why are you now choosing to conclude with a question for your followers? Surely your blog is about you so why allow your followers to introduce information about themselves? This is the way of conventional bloggers. Do you genuinely want to be a follower instead of the leader that you have become thus far? I for one read your blog because of your differences, not because of your sameness. Please rethink.
You shouldn’t want to know what I or anyone else thinks _ your blog has always been about YOU. Whoever was it who wrote about the less ordinary? There are dozens of the less ordinary blogging to the masses _ PLEASE do not let this happen to you.
Roz I must confess I am a bit confused by your comment as I have concluded the majority of posts I write with a question for my readers. If you scroll down you will find a number of posts doing so. I enjoy hearing readers thoughts and am often inspired and enlightened by something they have shared or the way they have interpreted what I have written. I feel privileged to have readers who follow me because I am not like everyone else and consequently neither are they and their thoughtful comments reflect this. Perhaps I am misunderstanding what you mean.
Sometimes,( when I am at my most powerful) I can "lean into the sharp point" (Pema Chodron) and open to something that felt like a drag. Astounding when I can bring myself to that place.
I aspire to that!
So true. I am just finished submitting my grades and I should bottle the feeling I am feeling right now for next year!
Sometimes,( when I am at my most powerful) I can "lean into the sharp point" (Pema Chodron) and open to something that felt like a drag. Astounding when I can bring myself to that place.
I aspire to that!
Hi Lyn, so nice that you ask your readers’ to chime in -,don’t stop!
Ha ha, I usually make an unpleasant task (mani/pedi for all my four cats, for instance) bearable/approachable by reminding myself how pleased I will be when it’s done!!!!! Simple but effective -, just get it done! Have a wonderful week- end, Lyn. Supposed to be chilly as heck and rainy here in Toronto . . .
So true. I am just finished submitting my grades and I should bottle the feeling I am feeling right now for next year!
Dialogue is what we humans do – thanks for inviting it. If a task is large or long enough, I interleave it with other, more pleasant chores. I was a single mother when I did my BA 30 years ago, and developed the "one hour rule" One hour working on the essay, whilst feeling guilty about the housework. The next hour doing housework, feeling guilty about the essay. See what I did there? And all the time I was washing up, vacuuming, cooking – I was – often subconsciously – developing fresh ideas about the essay, and would return to it with fresh ideas, and resolutions.
A wonderful attitude and approach: vary the tasks and you get a new perspective.
Dialogue is what we humans do – thanks for inviting it. If a task is large or long enough, I interleave it with other, more pleasant chores. I was a single mother when I did my BA 30 years ago, and developed the "one hour rule" One hour working on the essay, whilst feeling guilty about the housework. The next hour doing housework, feeling guilty about the essay. See what I did there? And all the time I was washing up, vacuuming, cooking – I was – often subconsciously – developing fresh ideas about the essay, and would return to it with fresh ideas, and resolutions.
A wonderful attitude and approach: vary the tasks and you get a new perspective.
I am also confused by Roz’s comment. Several of the Accidental Icon posts end with a question. Apart from the fact that it gives readers an opportunity to weigh in, ending a piece with a question is of course a long-standing pedagogical device. It allows the reader or listener to reflect – have I understood the gist of what was said, and how does it fit in with my own experience? Possibly some bloggers use a question to attract comments for business reasons, but I do feel that AI has a genuine interest in the answers. And if one does not want to play the game, one obviously does not have to comment! I have been a reader of AI for a long time, and although I have never felt compelled to actually answer the question by posting a comment, it has always made me reflect on my own position.
Inviting reflection is second nature to me since I am a professor. And it is always nice to remember we have choices.
Thank you! The blog has been my new task! It has been a lifesaver.
I am also confused by Roz’s comment. Several of the Accidental Icon posts end with a question. Apart from the fact that it gives readers an opportunity to weigh in, ending a piece with a question is of course a long-standing pedagogical device. It allows the reader or listener to reflect – have I understood the gist of what was said, and how does it fit in with my own experience? Possibly some bloggers use a question to attract comments for business reasons, but I do feel that AI has a genuine interest in the answers. And if one does not want to play the game, one obviously does not have to comment! I have been a reader of AI for a long time, and although I have never felt compelled to actually answer the question by posting a comment, it has always made me reflect on my own position.
Inviting reflection is second nature to me since I am a professor. And it is always nice to remember we have choices.
I find that taking up a new hobby or interest, although not directly connected to my work, helps me have a better attitude about my job. I’ve also tried doing the task in a different manner. Love your blog!
Thank you! The blog has been my new task! It has been a lifesaver.
I love this idea! I can do this with my electives. The required courses have common assignments that I have to give at certain times (academic freedom eroding as we move towards competency based education. But I am going to do it for my Fall elective.
Maybe try this, next year, if you don’t forget it. Set up a group of interesting assignments by dates and one assignment called surprise. At the beginning of the school year, ask the students to pick one of the assignments or wait till later and get a "surprise" assignment. Once they commit, they can’t change. Make sure the assignments are on intermittent dates during the year.
I’m betting that your more organized students will choose an assignment for a date prior to the end of the year and others will take the surprise assignment. Maybe that will cut down on the volume of work at the end of next year.
It’s worth testing…
I love this idea! I can do this with my electives. The required courses have common assignments that I have to give at certain times (academic freedom eroding as we move towards competency based education. But I am going to do it for my Fall elective.
Chocolate. Dark, milk, white whatever you like and lots of it!
On my way to Godiva!
Chocolate. Dark, milk, white whatever you like and lots of it!
On my way to Godiva!
For me was a big help a book from Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog! It was a life change. Oh, of course, chocolate as Sandy say.
I will give it a look!
For me was a big help a book from Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog! It was a life change. Oh, of course, chocolate as Sandy say.
I will give it a look!
I am a firm proponent of GSD … Get Shit Done. I have found that if I put off unpleasant things or procrastinate too much, I only dwell and fret about what I have to do and that adds even more stress. GSD can be painful but the end result is so much better. Even more so with a glass of nice wine! Thanks Lyn for your blog. I love it!
Yup at the end of the day it boils down to that. I do like the idea of a special reward though!
I am a firm proponent of GSD … Get Shit Done. I have found that if I put off unpleasant things or procrastinate too much, I only dwell and fret about what I have to do and that adds even more stress. GSD can be painful but the end result is so much better. Even more so with a glass of nice wine! Thanks Lyn for your blog. I love it!
Yup at the end of the day it boils down to that. I do like the idea of a special reward though!
This is my approach to tasks like this. Break the task into smaller blocks of work, with a guilt free break after you finish each section of work. I find setting a time limit for working on something and then a taking a short planned break before resuming kept me from hitting a wall of frustration and inefficiency. I promise myself a treat or prize if I finish up my task at hand without making it into a big drama.
And thanks for your blog. I really enjoy seeing your approach to fashion.
Thanks so much and I very much enjoyed your approach to onerous tasks!
This is my approach to tasks like this. Break the task into smaller blocks of work, with a guilt free break after you finish each section of work. I find setting a time limit for working on something and then a taking a short planned break before resuming kept me from hitting a wall of frustration and inefficiency. I promise myself a treat or prize if I finish up my task at hand without making it into a big drama.
And thanks for your blog. I really enjoy seeing your approach to fashion.
Thanks so much and I very much enjoyed your approach to onerous tasks!
Hi I know this may sound a little flippant, but a ‘mindful’ approach can help make mundane chores feel fresh and interesting. Eg the sound and feel of the wrapper coming of the toner cartridge, the smell of the paper. This can help in getting grounded and focussed on the task at hand. Then of course, the ‘just get it done’ approach with gusto – just jump into the task as you would take the first dip in a swimming pool, knowing it will be cold and an unpleasant shock at first…….. Love the photos by the photocopier, this sums it up really, glamour plus reality
Thanks for the great advice. Being in the moment and savoring it is something I need to get better at. Brilliant characterization of the photo by the way.
Hi I know this may sound a little flippant, but a ‘mindful’ approach can help make mundane chores feel fresh and interesting. Eg the sound and feel of the wrapper coming of the toner cartridge, the smell of the paper. This can help in getting grounded and focussed on the task at hand. Then of course, the ‘just get it done’ approach with gusto – just jump into the task as you would take the first dip in a swimming pool, knowing it will be cold and an unpleasant shock at first…….. Love the photos by the photocopier, this sums it up really, glamour plus reality
Thanks for the great advice. Being in the moment and savoring it is something I need to get better at. Brilliant characterization of the photo by the way.
I just like the idea of taking it out on the copier! Failing that, chocolate and a coffee.
I vote for all three!
I just like the idea of taking it out on the copier! Failing that, chocolate and a coffee.
I vote for all three!
I have started a personal project called: One-difficult-thing-a-day.
I try each day to do at least one project that I have dreaded and delayed.
It’s been a week, and each day I have tackled some chore that was previously collecting dust mites. The momentum has inspired me to tackle two or three unsavory tasks in a day.
Finding a good tailor and taking my almost-but-not-quite fitting clothes for alterations is on that list.
Thanks for a great blog post.
You are a good example and I have a long list of unsavory but necessary tasks in a pile. I will think of you and tackle one tomorrow.
Oh wise one you reminded me of how much energy I can get from music and how absent it has been in my daily routine. Pulling out my earplugs right now!
I have started a personal project called: One-difficult-thing-a-day.
I try each day to do at least one project that I have dreaded and delayed.
It’s been a week, and each day I have tackled some chore that was previously collecting dust mites. The momentum has inspired me to tackle two or three unsavory tasks in a day.
Finding a good tailor and taking my almost-but-not-quite fitting clothes for alterations is on that list.
Thanks for a great blog post.
You are a good example and I have a long list of unsavory but necessary tasks in a pile. I will think of you and tackle one tomorrow.
Hi from Perth Australia.
Find a soundtrack to inspire? Reprogram the self talk?
Keep inspiring our style. Oh stylish one.
Oh wise one you reminded me of how much energy I can get from music and how absent it has been in my daily routine. Pulling out my earplugs right now!