Attribution: Maribel Sierra, MPH
Dear friends,
Since my last message to you, 2020 has not gotten better. There’s a lot, and I especially want to acknowledge the anger, frustration, and grief at the failure to hold anyone responsible for Breonna Taylor’s murder. We truly can’t go on like this. I know many of you have had incredibly difficult personal challenges too, and I hope that you will reach out if I can provide support and/ or a listening ear. It’s OK to struggle right now. (And if you are feeling guilty because other people have more difficult circumstances, I have to ask, is that guilt helping you or anyone else? Be kind to yourself.)
As we think through how to manage this challenging time, I want to recommend a book that I found especially helpful: Do Nothing, by Celeste Headlee. It’s a well-written and well-researched book that examines the effects of rest and leisure on creativity and productivity. Bottom line: we need to recharge – actually let our brains be idle- in order to do our best work. This seems so obvious, right? So, are you doing it?! Look at your calendar or to-do list. Have you scheduled time to do nothing? I bet you haven’t! The author has a lot of great suggestions about how to build time for leisure into your life, and the book is well worth a read. Here are some of my favorite insights.
Choose when and how to be idle. You know how you can be working, and without even realizing it you find yourself mindlessly procrastinating online? Your brain needed a break so badly that it took one without your permission! Can you imagine instead planning on taking a break? I couldn’t- the idea of getting even more behind freaked me out. If you feel the same, I encourage you to try it once. Forcing myself to get up from my desk was the key step. You need to know what you’re going to do, and it can’t be an errand!
Pastimes don’t have to be productive. I bet you have a hobby you enjoy. Find a time to pursue it. Set the bar as low as possible- you don’t need to achieve anything. It seems like everyone is parlaying their talents into an Instagrammable side gig these days. Just because you like to knit doesn’t mean you need a funky Etsy shop! Don’t have expectations of your hobbies besides your own enjoyment.
Schedule social time. We are all completely over pandemic restrictions on socializing, I know, and the thought of figuring out safe ways to hang out is exhausting. (I just chaperoned a middle school, physically distant, masked hangout, so I know whereof I speak!) My heart sinks a little at the thought of a Zoom happy hour, but after I see my friends’ faces, even on a screen, I do feel better, and I bet you will too. Try taking a walk and talking on the phone, or cooking while on a Zoom call.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone, including 2019 You! We all know that social media can trigger self-doubt and its ugly cousin, envy. You should limit your time there. Enough said. Let’s also remember that if you’re not doing as well in your own eyes now as you were last year, maybe it’s because 2020 has been an unmitigated disaster on many levels? Speaking for myself, I wish I were performing like 2019 Urmimala, but blaming myself hasn’t made me more productive or happier.
I hope these suggestions help you find some solace in these difficult times. Before I sign off, 2 requests:
Michelle Cardel has created a spreadsheet of under-represented scholars in STEM here that she hopes will be a resource for those looking for diverse experts. Please add your name, contact information, and expertise!
Please share this email widely, and encourage your friends/ colleagues to subscribe to the blog, at the bottom of the page here. I really want to support as many colleagues as possible right now!
As always, I love to hear your good news- please share with me so I can amplify. Be safe and well, and stay in touch!
Warmly,
Urmimala