Comments on: officially freaking out http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/ The shape of daily life. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:48:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Elizabeth http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48540 Elizabeth Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:44:55 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48540 grad school WANTS you they WANT you-- remember that-- it's all gonna work out, promise. grad school WANTS you they WANT you– remember that– it’s all gonna work out, promise.

]]> By: donab http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48358 donab Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:42:26 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48358 Any chance the stomach thing is stress-related? Take a deep breath, find your center. Break the things you need to do down into smaller, less overwhelming parts and tackle them one at a time. Make a detailed list, so your mind isn't trying to hold all the tasks in memory and you can let them go to focus on the task at hand. Focus on the first thing, then the next thing. Let go of any task that is non-essential so that you can meet the deadline. If you feel the panic creeping in, take a mini-break. Push back from the keyboard, go for a 10 minute walk, go snuggle Bean. Just walk away for a few minutes. Then come back and try again. I'm the manager of a complex, fast-moving team at a big computer company. My co-workers tell me I'm always calm and two steps ahead of what needs to be done. I'm not, but the advice above is how I make it look that way. You are an amazing teacher and an amazing writer. You can do this. And realize that since the deadline is in the middle of the week, that means you'll have the rest of the week off, post-deadline, to be with your family. That's a nice big carrot. Any chance the stomach thing is stress-related?

Take a deep breath, find your center. Break the things you need to do down into smaller, less overwhelming parts and tackle them one at a time. Make a detailed list, so your mind isn’t trying to hold all the tasks in memory and you can let them go to focus on the task at hand. Focus on the first thing, then the next thing. Let go of any task that is non-essential so that you can meet the deadline. If you feel the panic creeping in, take a mini-break. Push back from the keyboard, go for a 10 minute walk, go snuggle Bean. Just walk away for a few minutes. Then come back and try again.

I’m the manager of a complex, fast-moving team at a big computer company. My co-workers tell me I’m always calm and two steps ahead of what needs to be done. I’m not, but the advice above is how I make it look that way.

You are an amazing teacher and an amazing writer. You can do this. And realize that since the deadline is in the middle of the week, that means you’ll have the rest of the week off, post-deadline, to be with your family. That’s a nice big carrot.

]]> By: Irene http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48339 Irene Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:14:24 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48339 oh how this reminds me of my college years and those sleepless nights working on screenplays at film school... I know you Christina, you can do it. you CAN do it. oh how this reminds me of my college years and those sleepless nights working on screenplays at film school… I know you Christina, you can do it. you CAN do it.

]]> By: Marilyn http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48320 Marilyn Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:08:12 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48320 Visualize a smooth, easy and positive outcome. And don't forget to breathe. It'll all be okay. It always is...right? ;) Holding a good thought for you. Visualize a smooth, easy and positive outcome. And don’t forget to breathe. It’ll all be okay. It always is…right? ;) Holding a good thought for you.

]]> By: steph http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48315 steph Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:41:18 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48315 I love handicaps! They always make me try harder, and the result is always my best work. You'll do great! But my fingers are crossed anyway ;) (like you need my help! go get 'em!) *s I love handicaps! They always make me try harder, and the result is always my best work. You’ll do great! But my fingers are crossed anyway ;)
(like you need my help! go get ‘em!)
*s

]]> By: Charmaine http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48300 Charmaine Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:18:06 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48300 If anyone can wow an admissions team, it's you. Can't say that I'd like to be in your place, but trust yourself. You'll finish and I'm sure you'll knock their socks off in the process. And I can't echo what Lynne says any more. Just get something down on paper. If anyone can wow an admissions team, it’s you. Can’t say that I’d like to be in your place, but trust yourself. You’ll finish and I’m sure you’ll knock their socks off in the process.

And I can’t echo what Lynne says any more. Just get something down on paper.

]]> By: Lynne http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48258 Lynne Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:05:23 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48258 Just one piece of encouragement/advice from someone who is chronically time-challenged as well: Start by writing out whatever it is you need to submit as it comes out of your head. Don't worry about editing and perfecting as you go. Just get something on the page -- and you can go back and revise later. But I find that when I am in a time crunch, and I have a lot to write, just getting the dang thing started is often the toughest part. I seem to always want to be perfect from the get-go... which means that many projects are doomed before they're even started. I find that less obsession = better writing. And the good thing is, a tight timetable by its very nature gives you less time to obsess... Good luck to you... I know you'll be fine -- because really, when you think about it, I'll bet you can't name a single time when something you were down to the wire on didn't ultimately work out. See? Can't name one... :-) Go get 'em! Just one piece of encouragement/advice from someone who is chronically time-challenged as well: Start by writing out whatever it is you need to submit as it comes out of your head. Don’t worry about editing and perfecting as you go. Just get something on the page — and you can go back and revise later. But I find that when I am in a time crunch, and I have a lot to write, just getting the dang thing started is often the toughest part. I seem to always want to be perfect from the get-go… which means that many projects are doomed before they’re even started. I find that less obsession = better writing. And the good thing is, a tight timetable by its very nature gives you less time to obsess…

Good luck to you… I know you’ll be fine — because really, when you think about it, I’ll bet you can’t name a single time when something you were down to the wire on didn’t ultimately work out. See? Can’t name one… :-) Go get ‘em!

]]> By: annie http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48216 annie Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:55:18 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48216 uhhh. Sounds like me. And ... you'll get through it. uhhh. Sounds like me. And … you’ll get through it.

]]> By: la vie en rose http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48152 la vie en rose Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:28:50 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48152 breathe...breathe...breathe... breathe…breathe…breathe…

]]> By: thodarumm http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48096 thodarumm Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:10:06 +0000 http://mytopography.com/2007/02/21/officially-freaking-out/#comment-48096 Oh come on Christine. Don't worry. You sparkle and shine in your writing. You will get it done. BEst and I promise you will get it all done and beautifully too. Good luck and best wishes. Incidentally, I cannot organize to save my life, but have been managing so far..may be we are wired to work like this :) Oh come on Christine. Don’t worry. You sparkle and shine in your writing. You will get it done. BEst and I promise you will get it all done and beautifully too. Good luck and best wishes. Incidentally, I cannot organize to save my life, but have been managing so far..may be we are wired to work like this :)

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