Back in the Swing of Things

One of the things that I really appreciate about conferences is how much of a “recharge” they can be. When research ideas are not as vibrant, when the day-to-day research process seems mundane, when I’m just not motivated anymore, conferences serve as a jumpstart to enthusiasm. The time at a conference helps me to think big picture about projects that I want to do and where different ideas fit in the larger scope of my research. When I return, I tend to be “on fire” for making progress on those projects. Of course the drawback to that is work-a-holic-ness, and I am definitely feeling the pressure of doing more, making sure I’m on track toward that big picture. But with the decreased rhythm of the summer, that pressure probably is not a bad thing. Even if I sound ridiculously busy to some, it’s nice to not be bored!