It's been a while since I wrote. In a lengthy adventure, all sorts of things happen. This time, I was delayed by death.
My older brother Jay and a beloved aunt both passed away. The first death occurred two weeks before the end of the semester. The second one came five days after the semester's last day. These two losses were twenty days apart.
With the Student Development Office, I arranged a one-week extension for my coursework and finished all of it inside the semester. This was the best option, since I'm already committed to completing a summer course, and I must take three required preliminary exams and a German exam in August. In addition, we are anticipating the company of Joshua and a special friend arriving from Indonesia on June 17th.
How did I do it all in May? How will I do it all in June, July, and August?
It's very helpful to use the strategy of a time box for challenging situations. I created the time box to help me complete tasks that are overwhelming or to complete tasks in seasons that are overwhelming. The time box is a box crafted with a beginning and ending time each day, which can be drawn visually on a calendar, schedule, or planner. Inside that time box, I commit to doing the very best work possible on a particular project. My list of tasks is limited, specific, and targeted towards a goal. I do not attend to anything else during that time. I do not answer the phone or the door or let internet distract me. Inside the time box, nothing is allowed to interfere with the project. Inside the box, I have a simple focus.
Outside the time box, I live the rest of my life. I do not neglect people. Most of my time boxes last for a few hours a day, and there is plenty of time leftover for all the remaining responsibilities and relationships.
When the time box ends each day, I leave it behind. When the deadline arrives for the project which was completed within the time box, I live with the consequences of whatever I could accomplish. In many situations, it is far better to do one's best within limitations and then accept the results and move on. This is what I will be doing with my summer.
Because of my very high stress, I will use a set of time boxes to contain and control each of my projects and manage my workload---while making time for grieving and self-care. Phone calls and emails will be pushed to the weekends as much as possible. Saturdays will be the catch-all day for distractions, unexpected events, and miscellaneous tasks and errands. Sunday is a rest day. In addition, I have given myself permission to take a 20-minute break at any point when I need one.
The weekday time boxes look like this:
7:00 - 10:00 .............................Self-care
10:00 - 3:00 ............................ Summer Course
3:00 - 5:00 .............................. Housework
5:00-7:00 ................................ Meals
7:00 - 10:00............................. Reading
This structure will reduce the strain by limiting my effort and focus. I have found that boxes can make solid ground for shaky legs and softer light for tired eyes.
I hope you have enjoyed this peek into my strategy for hard times.
