tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post7324270519405986567..comments2023-09-07T09:52:36.041-04:00Comments on Life As An Outlier: Side Projects, and Also - Ouch!Miss Outlierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01554916486302075437noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post-33929828263323629682010-08-11T16:00:19.426-04:002010-08-11T16:00:19.426-04:00Are you getting your work done? Is your boss happy...Are you getting your work done? Is your boss happy with your progress? Then there's nothing to worry about. You should be pleased with yourself for having a balanced life, and just pity the fool who has nothing better to say about himself than bragging about how he was in lab late on Saturday evening because that's all he's got to occupy himself. Face time in the lab does not equal quality time in the lab. Some people work hard to achieve a balanced happy life where work doesn't suck every bit of energy out of them and leave no room for anything else. If you are already there, good for you.Zuskahttp://scientopia.org/blogs/thusspakezuskanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post-15937937490029529832010-08-06T12:27:03.808-04:002010-08-06T12:27:03.808-04:00I usually spend from 60-80 hours in the lab a week...I usually spend from 60-80 hours in the lab a week. Not all of it is working. I usually spend 10 hours a week working on side projects and one of my side projects I designed I am in the process of patenting through the technology transfer office.<br /><br />I think working hard in the lab is necessary if one plans on pursuing a career in academia or research science. If one has other aspirations I do not think this is necessary. I view it as the fact that my boss's recommendation for me is going to be based on my work output and/or my apparent work output. If he sees me in the lab on a weekend or late at night it probably gives him the view that I work hard. This may or may not be true but if I am at the lab 80 hours a week and goof off 30 of those hours I still work 10 hours a week more than someone who only works 40. I think I am not that intelligent to make 60 hours of progress in 40 hours so I work 60.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post-21829243920690113872010-08-04T19:59:21.211-04:002010-08-04T19:59:21.211-04:00How many hours do you spend on side projects or yo...<i>How many hours do you spend on side projects or your own interests?</i><br /><br />none at the moment (I lack some computers, would like to build a computing lab here to test some ideas).<br /><br />regarding the rest of your post, I would only look at your labmate's comment as an occasion to see if you are as efficient as possible in your research work but then, I have been one to spend all my waking hours on classroom time, school work or RA work, seven days a week; the end result is that I'm still paying the price (this was back in 2007) and I don't ever want to do that (be it for myself or for other peoples).Autistic Lurkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8481001930714468704.post-76011782281495050162010-08-03T13:36:26.782-04:002010-08-03T13:36:26.782-04:00As long as you and your advisor are happy with you...As long as you and your advisor are happy with your progress, don't let others get to you. <br /><br />I think there will always be those people who have to brag about how much they are working. In my experience, people who spend 80hr a week in the lab and often not getting much more actual work done than those that spend 40hr there. I used to be bothered by some labmates who were like this but I eventually realized I was getting more productive work done than them. <br /><br />I do think that it is possible to get too occupied by "other things" if you are not careful but only you can really judge if you have reached that point.Liznoreply@blogger.com