Eventually, I decided against D, but for A. (As an aside, it turned out that I hadn't really lost any sample. Apparently, I can shave about two hours off of my protocol. So, yay!) By working last weekend, I decided that I could take this weekend off. That should have been an easy decision to make, but it wasn't easy. I never figured myself for a workaholic, but I'm beginning to think I might be.
I have two main projects going on in the lab right now. One is making decent progress, it's just slow (this is mostly a function of the project, not troubleshooting). The other is just riddled with problems and it's been a pain. I've been working pretty much non-stop trying to overcome those problems and I'm stuck. I've been told by a variety of people that I should take some time off, but it's hard for me to do that. I want things to work and I'd like to (eventually) graduate. So my logic goes that if those things are priorities for me, then I should be working. If I'm not working, then I'm not making any progress and I'm just prolonging my stay here. Ergo, I should be working all the time. Burn out be damned.
Except that I am burned out and it's starting to show. Advisor all but kicked me out of the lab on Friday (not in a bad way). I asked him if it would be ok for me to leave early and that I was thinking of taking the weekend off. His response, "I'm not only not standing in your way, but I'm encouraging you. Have a good weekend. We'll get a fresh start on Monday." My response, "But..." His interruption, "Go."Labels: Grad School, work habits