Ok, so you’ve created your Unschedule, you’ve started using the “open spots” to work on your project, and you’re tracking the number of 30 minute blocks you work uninterruptedly on your dissertation.
Nicely done!
But now that you’ve really gotten going, here a few Rules to keep you going. Counterintuitive as they may seem initially, please do use them until you start to really feel the UnDissertation momentum building and can make an informed decision about any changes you consider for yourself.
Remember, these Rules are to help you break the brain habit of thinking and feeling that you have to drive yourself to “work harder!” and “work longer!” They are intended to help you create better quality leisure/work recovery/re-creation time and be able to have your work time be of higher quality and productivity. The two goals balance out to better quality work and a better quality of life for you.
So here they are, straight from Dr. Fiore’s The Now Habit (I’ve inserted my comments in brackets where I couldn’t help myself):
1. Do not work more than 20 hours per week on this project.
2. Do not work more than 5 hours per day on this project.
3. You must exercise, play, or dance at least one hour per day. [Dr K: Not all at once, necessarily — build in those 10 minute breaks for a walk, for example….]
4. You must take at least one day per week off from any work on this project.
5. Aim for starting on 30 minutes of quality work. [Dr K: Remember starting is what it’s all about!]
6. Work for imperfect, perfectly human first effort. [Dr K: Remember satisficing gets you further, faster, with greater satisfaction in the long run than maximizing]
7. Start small. [Dr K: Don’t set yourself up with grand expectations for your 30 minutes. Just start and have in mind a manageable bite for that time period. At the end of the time period, imagine what you want to do next and see when that could happen.]
Do share in the Discussion Group if there are Rules that you just don’t think makes sense, don’t apply to you for some reason, or are particularly challenging. Also share your celebrations and successes if there are Rules that are easy-peazy, I’ve Got It! messages for you. Inspire us….