Archive for the 'Work' Category

April 1st, 2008 - Lightening the keyring

Due to a change in mailbox location, I realized that one of my workplace keys is no longer necessary. So I took it off my keyring. Then I realized that for at least 2 years, I have not used one of the other keys, either. I used to use it on a daily basis to unlock two doors right across from my office. But while I was on maternity leave–oh goodness, it’s been 3 years!–they started to leave them unlocked. Probably because I unlocked them every day for the 6 years before that, they’d gotten too used to it and no one wanted to bother while I was gone! Also, whenever they were closed during the day, you’d have to use your key again to get back through. The doors lead to the main office area and the lab–places the 3 of us with offices back here go to many, many times a day.

Can you believe it? I’ve been carrying around a key for 3 years that I haven’t had to use! My keyring is almost 30% lighter now! I had 6 full sized keys, one little elevator key, and my bike key. I could take the bike key off during the winter–I only use it from about June-Sept after all–but it helps keep my house key separate from the others which is handy. The elevator key I use about 6 times a year, except when I’m on crutches which hasn’t been for 2 years ::cross my fingers::, so it could come off, except that it’s so handy to have on there when I need it and it’s less than 1/2 the size of the rest. But…well, maybe I’ll take it off and see how much I miss it. My office is relatively close to the elevator anyway. And I can’t reach the elevator except from down here now that I won’t have the access near the mailboxes.

When I get home tonight, I intend to check out my car keys as well. So, do you have any extra keys on your keyring(s) you can get rid of?

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March 25th, 2008 - Office before

Here’s what my office looked like yesterday morning.

As you walk in the door, you see the bookcase and plant:

bookcase top

Notice the dead leaves, both on the plant and the floor:

bookcase bottom

Turn the corner and you see the table next to my desk:

table

Then there’s my desk:

desk

Ack. I’m so embarrassed now. Seeing it in pictures it looks horrible! Luckily, I cleaned up most of it yesterday. I’ll post after photos once I get the last pile finished up today!

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March 24th, 2008 - Reading work-related books

This month’s Escape Adulthood podcast has a valuable, work-related tip–how to simplifying reading work-related books. Kim and Jason interview Jason and Jodi Womack, a husband and wife team who help people manage time and increase personal productivity. If you don’t want to listen to the whole episode (and do–there are many others tips about work/life balance), it’s around minute 26. In brief, Jason W. says to read the book four times. Four times? Surely that’s more work than just once! Nope:

Read the table of contents and the appendix/index. [I don’t think the appendix is correct, but that’s what he said. Usually an appendix gives data or more details about a specific part of the book so it’s all that valuable for an overview.] The point is to get a general overview of the point of the book.
Read everything in bold–chapter titles, subtitles, call-outs, etc. (Although in some of the lousier business books, this is almost the entire book. I really hate those books. They are oh so lame but become oh so popular.)
Read the first line of each paragraph.
Read only those sections that really interest you.

I think it’s a downfall of mine that I rarely read any books about online teaching. I just can’t stand to do it. After 10 years in the field, I know it pretty well. Each new tool that comes out–sure, the technical aspects are different, but the instructional design methodology is still the same. But it means I rarely get new ideas and I can never quote anyone or recognize names in the field. But I think I could stand to read books with this method. I skip the boring parts! I find the interesting parts, and I can modify the process and read an entire paragraph if I want to.

And he’s right. I picked up some books Friday afternoon and started reading one today. In the middle of reading the TOC, I flipped to a particular section. The first sentence gave me the info I wanted (optimal size for an online discussion group: 4-5 students). The rest of the paragraph was fluff I didn’t need.

So, will this simplify my life by giving me an easier, faster way to read? Or does it make it more complicated because now I have a dozen books on my shelf that I hope to read in the next 12 weeks?

By the way, he claims you can read a book 3-4x faster this way. I’m not sure you are truly reading the book, however. It’s just skimming. Not that that’s a bad thing. I bet this could help in college reading, too.

At the Womack’s website, I also found an a blog post with a audio of just this tip. And hey–he does say it works for college classes, too. And for how-to books.

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December 8th, 2005 - Bye bye books

I just gave away 75% of the books on my office shelves. Now, don’t get too excited–there were only 9 books! I saved one and two were put on Amazon. If they don’t sell in the next 10 days, they’ll be gone as well. I work at a university, and once again someone has put up collection boxes for textbooks that can’t be sold back. They’ll go to Africa (or sold and the profits go to the project, or at least recycled if nothing else can be done). Mine are in great shape and are classics in great shape, so I hope they’ll go all the way to Africa. A few are math books so they definitely should last! Math doesn’t change very much year to year. I’ve pared down my office collection over the years. These were the last 9 books. The other week, someone commented on my nearly-bare shelves and I started explaining why those few books were left.

I realized that the reasons for each were pretty lame: Should read this. Used this for my dissertation. Should have used this for my dissertation. Autographed by the author. My favorite math book. A gift I’ve never read. I haven’t actually read something from any of these books for at least 6 years.

So when I saw the sign about books for Africa, over to the dropbox they all went. (Except the two I’ll try to sell.) The one book I’m left with is one our chancellor loves and it may come up again if I continue working with administration. So I’ll keep it a little longer. (And, in the interests of complete disclosure, I do have 6 other books, but they are for lending to faculty and do not belong to me personally. I now have more shelves that I have books.)

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August 24th, 2005 - Lunch

Another small change: I brought a fork and spoon from home to use when lunch requires it. I used to bring them when needed…but often forgot to bring them or left them in my backpack instead of putting them in my lunch bag at work. So I’d pick up a plastic utensil at the Union. But now I have a permanent metal fork and spoon in my lunch bag. They’ll never need to go home. I also brought a cloth napkin from home. Small changes, but since I eat lunch at work 5x/week this would really add up over the course of my worklife.

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March 29th, 2005 - Walking to work

When we moved here nearly 6 years ago, we happened to find an apartment that was about 8 blocks from work. I fell in love with walking! No way was I going to drive 8 blocks, no matter what the weather. And in bad weather, a bus stopped one block away and delivered a block from work. (I never took it, however.)

Two years later when we began looking for a house, one requirement was that it be within 2 miles of work or else a block from a bus route. That covered most of Oshkosh as the bus routes are pretty good. All except one large development–the “best” one. Houses were too expensive there anyway. We found a house about 10 blocks from work (we moved about 6 blocks!) and I continue to walk.

I dream of a house in the country, with trees and water and open fields for the dogs. Except I can’t imagine a commute by car! I love walking to work. It takes me about 20-25 minutes from the time I start putting on my coat and boots (in the winter) till I’m in my office and have the computer on. I could probably do it faster…but I don’t want to.

Except when it’s nice enough to bike. Just bought it at the end of August, so still not used to the idea. But I loved that last summer before it got too cold. It’s a short enough ride that I can come home for lunch. Which I will want to do even more now that we have our baby!

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November 22nd, 2004 - Actual hourly wage

I’m not paid on an hourly basis; I’m salaried. I just figured out my adjusted hourly wage (a la Your Money Or Your Life). This factors in (on the money side) clothing, commute, and taxes (except property) (except taxes, this isn’t a whole lot as I live simply already so commute by foot or bike and don’t buy much clothing. I didn’t figure lunch because I brown bag it and actually eat more at home I think since I can have a glass of milk and anything else I want) and (on the hours side) lunch break, commute, decompression, and work at home (this adds 40 hours a month I reckon, but I was generous on decompression).

It’s 2/3rds of my stated hourly wage. Not bad. But not so great either!

Directions for computing your real hourly wage.

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November 19th, 2004 - Un-Jobbing: The Adult Liberation Handbook by Michael Fogler

I tried to hide this book in the stack of simplicity books when I brought it home. I didn’t want my husband to think I was considering quitting my job. I thought that’s what the book would be about–how to make a living without working for someone else. While Fogler does address that, it’s really a typical simple living book, not how to quit your job! Wait…I guess he does try to convince you to quit your job, but it’s not really a manual for how to quit. It’s more about thinking mindfully, consciously about the work you do and if that’s really the work you want to do. In my case, I really like my job (as well as the benefits it provides my family) and so I’m not considering leaving it.

The book got me thinking about my interest over the past few years of moving into administration, however. I’m very strongly interested in this, having had some taste of administrative work over the last three years that I really enjoyed. I discovered I actually enjoy administration. That’s apparently fairly rare, so I feel like I should do it. But the biggest thing holding me back? Most administrators work more than 40 hours a week. I don’t want a 60+ hour work week. I really like working 7-3:30. I like being able to come home for lunch (when the weather’s nice and I can bike to work). I like being home before dinner. I like having restful evenings and weekends. Sure, I check my email and respond to folks…but only if I want to or there’s a known problem that I offered to help with in the off hours. My day is relatively unstructured by others. I set my own hours for appointments, meetings, seminars. I can come in a little late when I have late meetings. I can take all my vacation days without worry. It’s only stressful a few times a year, not constantly.

This book, along with the other simple living books, is leading me to staying where I am. But seeking out smaller administrative jobs, such as those I’ve done over the last three years. They were 2-10 hours/week, and the larger one was not in addition to my regular job but part of it. This way, I can pick and choose (to some extent) when I am involved more and to what extent. I could join and/or chair committees, work on special projects, become president of the senate again, etc. I think this would be more in line with the simple kind of life I want to live. I also wouldn’t need to buy a considerably more professional wardrobe than I currently have.

I highly enjoyed this book. There’s a lot of Fogler’s personal story in it (always a hit with me). Primarily about Frugal Simplicity.

Find our more about Un-Jobbing at Amazon.

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My Adventures in Simple Living

Archive for the 'Work' Category

April 1st, 2008 - Lightening the keyring

March 25th, 2008 - Office before

March 24th, 2008 - Reading work-related books

December 8th, 2005 - Bye bye books

August 24th, 2005 - Lunch

March 29th, 2005 - Walking to work

November 22nd, 2004 - Actual hourly wage

November 19th, 2004 - Un-Jobbing: The Adult Liberation Handbook by Michael Fogler

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