Making time

I often find myself thinking about the things that I want to do but don't get around to actually doing. Sometimes it's because I don't have enough time to do these things. Other times... well, I don't know. What I do know is that I would like to do more with my time. I'm talking about my work, and also non-work-related stuff.

When you're doing a PhD, it is easy to lose touch with people. It can be an isolating experience. The more you study your topic, the better you become, however, fewer and fewer people can actually follow what you're saying (or are willing to listen to your rants). Even so, the thirst for knowledge and the challenge of knowing more about a given topic than anybody else can become very addictive - and time consuming.

For many months, I would come home from the MARCS labs (usually before Hellas) and get straight on the computer (after having spent the entire day in front of my laptop). I would get so absorbed in what I was doing that before I knew it, it was time for Hellas to go home. I play soccer on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (and sometimes Fridays) - this doesn't leave me with much spare time. Weeks would literally fly by. I wasn't happy with the way things were going.

I found myself spending less and less time doing things that I enjoy away from work. I love to play soccer (and I was playing plenty of it), to read books, to play my DS, and especially to spend time with Hellas. I don't mean typing a report while she sleeps on my bed - I mean quality time where we don't have to worry about anything else.

After having read a few articles about organising yourself (and your time) better, I decided that I would change my routine, and make time for the things that I want to do. It's still early days yet, however, I can already see a difference in my days (and nights), and the difference is a positive one.

Now, when I come home from the lab, I don't turn the computer on at all. I try not to get caught up in any other tasks or projects (truth be told, I have a ten year plan that I'm working on, but there's no rush). Hellas usually stays for about 3-4 hours, so I make sure that during that time I don't waste time doing things like organising the sock draw or cleaning out my inbox. If we go somewhere together, I leave my mobile at home - and it feels fantastic! Once Hellas leaves for the night, I check my email and pick up where I left off when I came home from work. It's really surprising that I can probably get just as much work done this way as I would if I was on the computer the whole time Hellas was over. I do some of my best work between 10pm-3am - admittedly not every night, sometimes I read a book :) - and this fits in perfectly with my new schedule. During winter, I get out of bed a little later, so I don't sleep in much more than I otherwise would anyway. Plus, it's kind of satisfying knowing that other people are out in the cold while I'm still in my warm bed.

I haven't been following this new philosophy for long, so I don't know if it will stand the test of time. The early signs are encouraging.