Time Management, Family, and Quality of Life Issues Anne Condon U. British Columbia

Guiding principles Life –Make the most of it - it's wonderful! –Enjoy my family and be good to them –Respect friends and colleagues –Be gentle to the environment Work –Make the most of it - it's wonderful! –Work on theory problems (hopefully solve some) –Figure out how to predict RNA structure –Be a good teacher, advisor, citizen

Current passions Solving a cool theory problem with Lisa Hellerstein Figuring out how to predict RNA secondary structure Developing ideas for an intro to CS textbook Gardening... it's spring! Planning a family escape to Nelson, B.C. in July

Current Chores Writing/grading my final exam Finishing up an external review report Revising two submitted papers Reading a Master’s thesis Catching up on paper reviews Working on my son’s manners

A brief history… 1979Started university in Cork, Ireland 1982Started graduate school at U. Washington 1984Met Scott 1987Started as assistant professor at U. Wisconsin Married Scott 1988Married Scott (again) 1990Fiona is born 1994Tenure and promotion to associate professor Emil is born 1996Sabbatical in Seattle 1999Promotion to full professor Move to U. British Columbia 2005Sabbatical coming up!

6.00Wake up, time for coffee, “busy” work 7.15Get the kids going 8.45Cup of tea, get “task” done 10.40Bike in to work 11.00Meetings 12.00Prepare for, conduct, class 2.00More meetings 4.00Bike home, pick up food etc. 4.30More cups of tea, combine “busy” work, kid duty 6:00Cook, eat, drink, talk (nag if needed) 7:30Do what I feel like (I’m fried!) (relax with family, read, do theory...) 10.30Bedtime ** Mon/Wed are teaching days Tues/Thurs mornings are research time Fridays are meetingless days :) Typical teaching day**

Using time effectively Schedule "synergistic" tasks together Build a research group in which people help each other (setting good example yourself); extend to your academic community When "on a roll" with something, keep with the momentum even at the expense of other things Conversely, when a task seems like a grind, push a little, but then switch to something more productive

Handling the “chores” A strategy for saying "no" is to first say "let me think about it”; then assess and consult When you do say "yes", be clear up front about the scope of the job and the level of commitment you can bring Use the opportunity to take on something new as a chance to let go of something else Work with people who seem to be good at getting things done; it does rub off

On family find the things that you enjoy and can share with your family find the things you can do in parallel (oversee kid homework crises while cooking) foster kids' independence in daily tasks share responsibility around the house figure out which things can "give" - no need for perfection! remember your time becomes yours again as your kids get older - balance is regained!