Comments on: Time Management Fail http://noisyastronomer.com/2009/10/15/time-management-fail/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:33:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scot http://noisyastronomer.com/2009/10/15/time-management-fail/#comment-413 Scot Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:06:44 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/?p=616#comment-413 Hi Nicole, This comment is slightly off-topic, but related enough that I thought I'd offer it. A related problem is the inability to say no to non-research projects when you're working in a support role with only part time for research. In these cases, however, I've found that you actually GAIN respect by saying no to support work (as long as you don't abuse it, at least) in order to concentrate on your research. Let's face it, research scientists types only respect other research scientist types. You can be great at your support duties, but if you don't make the time to do your research as well, you will likely not get the respect or advancement you seek. Learning to say no is a skill worth learning! scot Hi Nicole,

This comment is slightly off-topic, but related enough that I thought I’d offer it. A related problem is the inability to say no to non-research projects when you’re working in a support role with only part time for research. In these cases, however, I’ve found that you actually GAIN respect by saying no to support work (as long as you don’t abuse it, at least) in order to concentrate on your research. Let’s face it, research scientists types only respect other research scientist types. You can be great at your support duties, but if you don’t make the time to do your research as well, you will likely not get the respect or advancement you seek.

Learning to say no is a skill worth learning!

scot

]]> By: BeckyWS http://noisyastronomer.com/2009/10/15/time-management-fail/#comment-412 BeckyWS Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:28:35 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/?p=616#comment-412 Hi Nicole, It's been a while since I commented but I just wanted to say, this is true generally in academic life, not just astronomy! I managed finally to get my thesis submitted (although not yet examined) but all the time there were exciting archaeological projects I wanted to be part of, but had to say no to. It's important to remember that the people who want to work with you respect you professionally, and so they will be interested in the future even if you can't join them right now. Good luck. Hi Nicole,
It’s been a while since I commented but I just wanted to say, this is true generally in academic life, not just astronomy! I managed finally to get my thesis submitted (although not yet examined) but all the time there were exciting archaeological projects I wanted to be part of, but had to say no to. It’s important to remember that the people who want to work with you respect you professionally, and so they will be interested in the future even if you can’t join them right now.
Good luck.

]]> By: Nicole http://noisyastronomer.com/2009/10/15/time-management-fail/#comment-411 Nicole Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:55:44 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/?p=616#comment-411 Thanks, guys. I appreciate hearing that I'm not the only one with this problem. I mean, there are just too many interesting things to do... I feel like my research was more unfocused in the beginning b/c I said yes to working on everything, and I can't do that. Heck, I didn't have the expertise as well as the time. So, I'm focusing in that aspect, I just need to continue to apply it to the rest of my life. :-P Thanks, guys. I appreciate hearing that I’m not the only one with this problem. I mean, there are just too many interesting things to do…

I feel like my research was more unfocused in the beginning b/c I said yes to working on everything, and I can’t do that. Heck, I didn’t have the expertise as well as the time. So, I’m focusing in that aspect, I just need to continue to apply it to the rest of my life. :-P

]]> By: Stuart http://noisyastronomer.com/2009/10/15/time-management-fail/#comment-410 Stuart Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:28:34 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/?p=616#comment-410 Hi Nicole. I too have the same problem. I have started saying no to things that people assumed I'd do (so they wouldn't have to). They don't seem to appreciate that when I explain that I am too busy, I really am too busy (I'm reading this over breakfast in case anyone thinks I could be doing something else :-). Hi Nicole. I too have the same problem. I have started saying no to things that people assumed I’d do (so they wouldn’t have to). They don’t seem to appreciate that when I explain that I am too busy, I really am too busy (I’m reading this over breakfast in case anyone thinks I could be doing something else :-) .

]]> By: Craig Heinke http://noisyastronomer.com/2009/10/15/time-management-fail/#comment-409 Craig Heinke Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:54:59 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/?p=616#comment-409 Hi Nicole, I can fully appreciate your problem; I suspect it's one of the more common ones in astronomy. It's just so fun to think up interesting problems to look into; and so much harder to actually do the detailed work and write the papers. One thing I have learned to do is say no to proposals (e.g. Chandra) which I don't think are likely to succeed. I'm slowly learning not to write proposals which I don't really want to analyze the data from (or write the paper for), even if I think they can get time. good luck! -Craig (H) Hi Nicole,
I can fully appreciate your problem; I suspect it’s one of the more common ones in astronomy. It’s just so fun to think up interesting problems to look into; and so much harder to actually do the detailed work and write the papers.
One thing I have learned to do is say no to proposals (e.g. Chandra) which I don’t think are likely to succeed. I’m slowly learning not to write proposals which I don’t really want to analyze the data from (or write the paper for), even if I think they can get time.
good luck!
-Craig (H)

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