Changing habits

So a few weeks ago, me and some other graduate students at the department who are RPG players (Role-Playing Games, like World of Warcraft or my personal favorite Guild Wars 2) started using the website HabitRPG to get into some good habits and get stuff done. And it works great! Personally, while I really do need to work on some good and some less good habits, the main thing for me is the "to-do list." Pretty much, if it's not on this list, it doesn't get done. I also get upset if I carry out a task that was totally list-worthy but didn't put it on there, and I admit to rewarding myself retroactively at times. But long story short--give it a try!

In other news: I don't know how the heck people are in academia and still maintain some sort of personal life or have a hobby. A hobby! I would really like to just go for a long walk every now and then. I try to walk to campus if I'm not too pressed for time, because it's pretty much a straight shot and it takes me just under an hour. The last couple of weeks I haven't walked a single day, mainly because I've had to get to campus ASAP or my backpack has been way too heavy to do the 3+ mile trek. Also, the weather in Philadelphia is not always super cooperative.

For my two weeks coming up I have several books to read, a presentation on DuBois, a statistical analysis to run for a research paper, 120 exams to grade, and am expected to work on two quite extensive papers. I know I have felt the same way around this time in the semester for the last three years, but I get slightly depressed when I think about having to do this for another four years. And add to that the constant economic insecurity of not knowing whether you're going to be able to make rent over the summer months when you don't get paid. Not sure why I decided to get into academia.

But I suppose I should get reading and stop complaining. Next weekend I get to enjoy Romeo & Juliet at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. Just need to make sure I have my s**t done so I can really enjoy it...