tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post6591952333261388625..comments2023-09-07T09:52:36.041-04:00Comments on Life As An Outlier: Of High Standards and PressuresMiss Outlierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01554916486302075437noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post-8493193909214576972011-04-13T10:21:01.866-04:002011-04-13T10:21:01.866-04:00To the general population, I suppose I have "...To the general population, I suppose I have "high standards" - that is, I work very hard at what I do and I guess I'm "above average". I also work hard to maintain healthy relationships, and people often tell me that I'm very caring and great to be around. This is all stuff that I truly want to do, so I guess you can say the pressure is self-generated.<br /><br />I think there needs to be a balance between setting high standards and taking yourself lightly (which may come off as "low" standards sometimes.) I do my job very well, but I have my days when I waste an hour checking email at work. I maintain great relationships, but there are times when I snap at those I love undeservedly. I don't beat myself up for not doing what I "should" at these times- I'm not perfect, and my feelings and needs are important too. But of course - this can also swing the opposite way; if you just make excuses for yourself all the time, then you'll have "low standards." But if you never cut yourself some slack, you'll just go crazy.<br /><br />As for the vices - I like: drinking, clubbing, and eating junk food. I keep them under control, and people tell me I'm a paradox: A really smart,nerdy wild party animal :D (I personally don't think this needs to be a paradox,.)<br /><br />So I guess my point is that you can set "high standards," but still not take yourself that seriously. In fact, the light-heartedness that might initially seem like "low standards" provides the emotional support to maintain high standards.engineernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post-27367312251692876392011-04-06T02:54:09.400-04:002011-04-06T02:54:09.400-04:00Most people who have high standards for themselves...Most people who have high standards for themselves don't realize it. Or, we tend to think everyone thinks that way. You'll have to deal with it big-time when you're thesis writing. Trying to make figures perfect, wanting every tidbit of info in the thesis, answering every little comments from your reviewers. <br /><br />In my case, I don't feel external pressure to do it. But I do tend to bite of more than I can chew. I'm not sure if that's how you go about it but it does sound like it.<br /><br />You need a hobby that isn't a vice. I mean, I like drinking beer but that's not that productive. Rather, I do table top war gaming with dice and little miniatures, etc. Probably for similar reasons that FrauTech plays DnD. The (sometimes) complex rules are great for our analytical brains to wind themselves around it rather than schoolwork/research related topics.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954417680857046868noreply@blogger.com