Balancing Graduate School and Personal Life
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Transcript Balancing Graduate School and Personal Life
BALANCING GRADUATE SCHOOL
AND PERSONAL LIFE
Andrea Danyluk, Williams College
Tiffani L. Williams, Texas A&M University
ABOUT ANDREA
Education
B.A. Math/CS,Vassar College (1984)
Ph.D. in CS, Columbia University (1992)
Machine Learning
Jobs (post
Ph.D.)
Researcher in Expert Systems Lab, NYNEX
Science and Technology (1990-94)
Assist, Assoc, Full Prof, Dept Chair 3 years,
Acting Dean of Faculty 1 year, Williams College
(1994-present)
Service
CRA-W, LACS, CS 2013, program committees,
ICML co-chair 2001, ICML general chair 2009
Family
Married Andrew 1984
Stephan 18 years old,Katya 16
Fun
Biking, hiking, skiing, Kids’ activities, Time
with friends, Travel
ABOUT TIFFANI
QUESTION #1: WHAT DOES GRADUATE SCHOOL
AND PERSONAL LIFE BALANCE MEAN TO YOU?
QUESTION #2: BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL
DEFINITION, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
CURRENTLY LIVING A BALANCED LIFE?
QUESTION #3: WHY IS WORK-LIFE BALANCE
IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GET US OUT OF BED
FOR AN 8:30 A.M. SESSION!
TIFFANI’S DEFINITION
I am physically, mentally, and spiritually sound.
Physical: I exercise at least 3 times a week.
Mental: I get a lot of mental exercise being a
professor.
Spiritual: I read a lot of cool stuff from all over the
world (e.g.,Bhagavad Gita, I Ching, Bible, poetry)
I am able to happily teach others.
Not always easy—especially when dogs are still
eating students’ homework.
I am grateful for life’s experiences.
Not always easy—especially when stressful
situations occur.
ANDREA’S DEFINITION
Knowing I’m giving time to the people in my life
(especially my kids) and to my work.
Not necessarily equal amounts of time.
Not necessarily the “perfect” split every day, but over
time.
Making a difference in my students’ lives
Making Computer Science a happier place for
everyone
Feeling healthy and energetic.
Being able to focus. I hate feeling like I’m
thrashing!
Being able to laugh.
Appreciating every day, whether good or bad.
EVERYONE’S DEFINITION OF WORK-LIFE
BALANCE IS DIFFERENT
Your definition must be unique to you and your
situation.
Without a definition or some type of guidance,
how will you know you are out-of-balance?
Being out of balance causes even more stress, etc.
HOW DO WE GET OUT-OF BALANCE?
Academic stresses
Personal stresses
ANDREA’S GRAD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
(OUT-OF-BALANCE)
Three advisors in as many years, with the third
really not working out.
Fell behind on completing my “area requirement.”
Would the faculty respect me if I changed again?
Would anyone take me on as an advisee?
Dieting “successfully” and happily, but not so
smartly.
Grapefruit and coffee aren’t the basis of a good diet.
Feeling crummy.
Eating right helps one think straight!
ANDREA’S GRAD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
(IN-BALANCE)
Confided in a grad school friend about my advisor
dilemma.
She talked to her advisor, who talked to another
faculty member, who was happy to take me on as an
advisee.
Kept up with exercise; returned to a healthier
diet.
Completed area requirement and proposal in
record time.
Spent remaining time at Columbia very happy in
my new research group.
TIFFANI’S GRAD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
(OUT-OF-BALANCE)
My graduate advisor did not receive tenure. So,
the last year or so of my Ph.D. journey was
difficult.
Although a difficult situation, it made no sense to
change advisors—even though she was no longer at
the university.
Had no faculty member to discuss my research or
essentially review my thesis.
As a result of health issues, my mom was
struggling to live on her own. How could I take
care of her as a grad student?
TIFFANI’S GRAD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
(IN-BALANCE)
I had a strong support system to help me realize that
even without my advisor there full-time, I was more
than capable of completing the Ph.D.
I worked on my Ph.D thesis everyday.
It actually got to the point where I was having fun thinking
about my research topic and its possibilities.
It also helped that I got a new laptop. In 2000, having a
new laptop was a big deal—well at least to me.
My mom was able to stay with me for a week during
graduation.
Her health didn’t seem to both her as much at that time.
After graduating, I was in a much better position to get her
the care that she needed.
HOW WE GET OUT-OF BALANCE:
GENERAL ACADEMIC STRESSES
The nature of grad school itself
Open-ended
What it means to complete a milestone more vague once
course requirements complete
No obvious finishing date
We’re “high achievers”
We tend to be goal-oriented perfectionists
There’s always more to do
Can feel as if it’s a competition for “who works the hardest”
We all have insecurities
We can’t manage an insane pace forever
Burnout, poor productivity
Demands come from many directions
HOW WE GET OUT-OF BALANCE:
SOME SPECIFIC ACADEMIC STRESSES
Courses
Want to learn the material and to do well
Need to learn that sometimes doing “well enough” is ok
Research
Might be a new experience
Requires a new level of independence and confidence
(paper submissions, rejections….)
Need to push through the times when you’re just stuck
Requires dealing with group dynamics
Requires learning from but also “managing” your advisor
Service
It’s fun (and easy!) to get involved in departmental and
other service
Extra demands placed on women
Work as a TA, RA, etc.
HOW WE GET OUT-OF BALANCE:
PERSONAL STRESSES
Many people in our lives (partners, parents,
friends, children)
A source of happiness, but
Their stresses can be our stresses
For many, a time for finding a partner, starting a
family
Managing finances on a grad student stipend
Logistics of caring for a home (even a small
shared apartment), a car, etc.
Health issues
ACHIEVING BALANCE:
GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
Know your own goals
Understand others’ expectations
Prioritize them
Post them where you can see them, if needed
Know which expectations are self-inflicted!
Understand what’s required to achieve a goal
Know why you want to achieve it
Be sure (to the extent possible) that it’s achievable
Know how to evaluate your progress
Talk to your mentors and others
Learn to enjoy the process
Focus on the present
Appreciate your achievements before moving on
QUESTION #4: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?
ACHIEVING BALANCE: TIME MANAGEMENT
Get organized
Break your day into manageable segments
Be realistic about the timing of tasks
Allow time for interruptions and distractions
Reward yourself for sticking to it!
Know when it’s time to stop
To-do lists: short, medium, and long term
Keep a calendar
Set aside time each day to review your schedule
For many tasks, 1-hr increments work well
Keep the perfectionist in you under control
Avoid distractions
Make a list of your bad habits
Set aside quiet time; pick a time to work when others aren’t there
Set aside time for email – or, if you’re like me, find a space where it’s hard to
get to your email
If a stray thought pops into your head, write it down. Save it for later.
Set up a comfortable work space
A cluttered desk can mean a cluttered head
Don’t underestimate the beauty of a good chair, a great pen, a cup of coffee….
ACHIEVING BALANCE:
INSECURITIES
Seek out a support system
Mentors
Family and friends
Realize that we all have insecurities
Do your homework to minimize your chances of
failing
But everyone will fail once in a while. It’s a natural
consequence of doing something hard.
Learn to enjoy your successes
Don’t belittle your own accomplishments
Keep a “good file” of positive feedback
ACHIEVING BALANCE:
CHOOSING ACTIVITIES
Saying “yes” to one thing means saying “no” to
something else
Or at least it means having less time for what you’re
already doing
Take some time before you decide
Does it fit your goals and priorities?
Don’t do anything out of guilt
Say “yes” or “no” to the task, not the person
ACHIEVING BALANCE:
MANAGING OTHERS
If you plan to say “no” to a request to take on a
new responsibility
Do it as soon as possible
Suggest someone else who might be available and
want to do it
If you really wish you could do it, say so; ask to be
invited again
Set boundaries, parameters
Explain why you believe it will take longer
Communicate about the resources you need
What to do about the advisor, student (if you’re a
TA), fellow grad student who needs you now
“I’d be happy to talk/help you/etc. Can we schedule a
time (in 5 min, an hour, next week….) do do that?”
ACHIEVING BALANCE:
MAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF
Schedule time for yourself
“Free time” won’t magically appear; you have to make
it
Share responsibilities with friends
Throw money at responsibilities (when you can
afford it; can be tough as a grad student!)
Streamline
Don’t apologize for the fact that you have a life
outside of grad school!
QUESTIONS?
EXAMPLE REWARDS
Andrea
Running
Hiking/Cycling
Traveling
Tiffani
Working out with a personal trainer
Reading
Buying the latest gadget—if it’s in the budget
Doing nothing!