Up late again. It’s Friday night and I just got paid. I believe there’s a Motown song about that very subject, give or take a day, but my night is oh-so-very Not Motown.
I have a writing day scheduled for tomorrow, and it’s one of those things: I have so much to do and I want to do it all right, and the more I think about it the more anxious I get in the stomach and chest, and the more I want to just hide under the blankets. You know I have a tendency to hide under the blankets big time, and as much as I love Blanket Time, I have no time for Blanket Time now. Now, it’s all Desk Time all the time.
At the moment, though, it’s Couch Time, because I know as soon as I go to bed I will feel wide awake and full of adrenaline, imagining my dissertation defense in alternate modes of fearfulness (awful, unexpected questions about the balance of theory and philosophy in my work; strangers showing up to pelt me with eggs) and exhilaration (groundbreaking critical maneuvers; a pair of killer pointy-toed heels).
At the moment, I’m stressing about the fact that both Firefox spell check and dictionary.com are telling me that the word I think is “manoeuvers” is spelled “maneuvers.” Ungodly amounts of wine coupled with tivoed Gilmore Girls reruns are doing little to relax my system.
Question: what do you, The Internet, do in such a situation? How do you relax a little and still remain keyed up enough to be productive? Balance, I need it.
Well, I can help with the spelling question. The OED says both are right (and has some nice illustrative quotes). If your university has access, it’s http://www.oed.com/ (what else?). I prefer it with the “o”, makes the origin more obvious.
For the presentation fear, it’s usually better once I’m sitting and working on whatever it is - a lesson that has to be learned again and again and again. At least in my field, if they’ve let you get this far, they’re not looking to fail you. Courage!
Right, off the internet and on to the seminar.
This is where I offer the worst advice ever, as is evidenced by what passes for “copy” in the editions of a certain publication of which you’re probably aware: You need a delicate balance of energy drinks and booze. The energy drinks will keep you awake, the booze will take the edge off so you can concentrate.
Barring that, try doing two things at once. That helps me stay interested in what I’m working on and I don’t loose that much productivity.
Cry Havok and let loose the Hounds of Productivity!
xanax baby.
That gets me through the long nights of cover letter writing and (ew) industry schmoozing.
Just make sure to spell check in the morning.
’nuff said.