#august 2016 challenge

[thehistorygrad]

08•30 | day 30/30 | #gradblrchallenge

Today is supposed to mark the end of the gradblrchallenge (although I think the vast majority of us will continue the challenge one more day). Personally, I have to say that it was a wonderful experience and it was nice to feel like there was a supportive community of people “following me step by step.” I enjoyed reading your entries and I wish time had permitted me to comment on all of those! 

Now, as to what I actually did today, I looked at my research proposal and started correcting an article that I want to publish (for a graduate journal). Tomorrow, I hope to continue what I started today. 

[thehistorygrad]

08•28 | day 28/30 | #gradblrchallenge

Only two more days left to the gradblrchallenge! 

Today, I was more or less forced to postpone my actual work plans as I ended up doing something very different in preparation for my meeting with my Prof.

I actually managed to get 5 hours of solid reading and writing done but I still haven’t managed to get down to re-evaluating my research proposal. I seriously hope to do this tomorrow with no sudden interruptions like today!

[thehistorygrad]

08•27 | day 27/30 | #gradblrchallenge

Today, I decided to be honest with myself regarding what I can achieve in a day given that this entire week has been pretty disappointing. The result was not completely bad. While I have to finish those two small papers I’ve been dreading, I did manage to finish one of them, which suggests that sometimes, taking your time works best.

Tomorrow, I plan on doing the second paper and work on my PhD project proposal (even if it has nothing to do with the readings per say). 

Finally, I also plan on posting earlier in the day to see if it helps my motivation. Wishing you all a great Saturday night and see you tomorrow!

[thehistorygrad]

08•26 | day 26/30 | #gradblrchallenge

While yesterday night I seemed to be ready to do anything, I fell asleep before finishing my work. Today, I did my best to stay motivated but it was very hard. I managed to do some light reading but never to finish the work I had planned (two days ago). To be honest, I am really disappointed with my conduct in the past few days. I really don’t know what to do to push myself back in track. :/

At any rate, I will tune out and go to be early tonight.

[thehistorygrad]

08•24 | day 24/30 | #gradblrchallenge

No pictures today

Today I essentially tried (emphasis on tried) to stay away from the computer as my goal was to “make up” for the days I’ve lost last week (being sick) and at the beginning of this one (as I was just plainly being lazy). I have one more chapter to read from a book before I can call today productive (and it’s about 40 minutes to midnight so this is a race against time XD).

Tomorrow, I hope to be doing some work that I have been putting off for two weeks now. I have to write new reading comprehension papers (4-5 pages X2) where I put all the texts I’ve read in relation and for some reason, I simply cannot bring myself to do it. Friday, I have to work on my project proposal before meeting my Prof. therefore I have no choice but to do those two reading comprehension papers tomorrow. Ten pages is not much considering I took notes on each text and there is so much to extract from them, yet, I can barely see myself doing it. 

At any rate, I must, so, I’ll pray for a miracle! 

(Also, I did not forget about your questions  will get on it soon!)

[thehistorygrad]

08•21 | day 21/30 | #gradblrchallenge

No pictures today. 

This Sunday was not that bad, I was (and still am) reading Paper Cadavers: The Archives of Dictatorship in Guatemala by Kirsten Weld. This is the last text of the “Transitional Justice” section of my current reading list. Tomorrow, I should finish the book and thus start making reading responses on Tuesday.

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday and good luck for the upcoming week! :)

[thehistorygrad]

08•17 | day 17/30 | #gradblrchallenge

Today I got little work done as I was helping my brother move out some stuff and my mother was undergoing some major renovations in the house (which was a distraction given that I was asked a question every 5 minutes). I now predict that tomorrow and Friday will be busy days therefore it will be impossible to work form home. (Given that I am just getting out of a cold, I’m a bit reluctant to studying at the library where the air conditioning is so high. I guess I will have to be a stereotypical student with a mac computer at Starbucks. :/)

Now, today was not completely wasted as I managed to do a lot of “housekeeping,” such as replying to my advisor, planning a trip to New York, scheduling future Spanish courses (that I will have to take in the fall). 

At any rate, I need to do better on the two next days.

[thehistorygrad]

08•16 | day 16/30 | #gradblrchallenge

Today I was feeling well enough to work (although I tried to take it slow). On the whole, I spent the day:

complaining about the things I had to do;

editing parts of a future article;

adjusting my calendar for the next two months;

and finally, I began reading The Pinochet Effect: Transnational Justice in the Age of Human Rights by Naomi Roht-Arriaza (2006) which thus far is very good.

Overall, it was not all a big waste of time.