How's everyone feeling about starting 2024/25?

[KStockHERO]

I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I'm really excited about a new direction for my research and I've got some good plans for time-management and not over-investing in work.

On the other, this term's teaching is pretty crappy and some of my colleagues have become unbearable in recent years so dreading having to share space with them again.

Not long until Christmas vacation.... 😅

When i was teaching in secondary school a colleague said to me, on the first day of term, ‘back to reality’. It was at that point I realised I had to get out and by the following year I was working in HE. I don’t think you should have to have your sights set on the Christmas vacation just yet in order to maintain your sanity.

In denial.

I haven’t had a proper summer holiday or any proper time off. Too much work and travelling for work. And it’s all starting again in a fortnight.

I’m ok actually. Submitted a mammoth grant this week and I’m not putting in another this semester. Not teaching anything new. Quite looking forward to it! Aiming to submit a paper - setting aside 6 hours a week for writing and I’m not going to look at emails on Thursdays (my wfh day)

Strapping myself in and facing up to not doing enough prep over the summer. Again.

It'll be grand...

I can tell the new academic year is on its way because those wellbeing emails have started. We have to ensure we take time to have breaks, balance our life and attend the goat yoga workshop.

At the same time the emails that require us to do more with less whilst maintaining a quality educational experience are arriving...

@damekindness Yep - we've had some well-being emails too 😏

Mixed feelings as well. I feel that I am at a point in my career where my work from the past several years is finally being regarded with external recognition, and I have a few exciting trips/external collaborations coming up. Also I keep telling myself that this is my last academic year as a HoD - a job that I didn't want and that I was pressured into accepting like the good little girl that I am. But at the same time I still have almost one more year in the role, and some days it just overwhelms me. It's not just the amount of admin that the role itself entails (which I think it would be manageable by itself) but the politics. With me having always been the good little girl, colleagues think I am some puppet who can be manipulated to suit their own interests and at the same time take the blame if things go wrong.

I have the fear.

We start next week. The wellbeing emails are familiar! We have a much larger cohort this year as we have been asked to help address decreased student numbers across the faculty. We have had to accept a number of students through clearing who are likely to struggle. Big increase in admin and a bonus new parking system (3 x increased daily charge).

All names etc removed from office doors as we are supposed to be hot desking. We are meant to be even more student facing / available...not sure how students will find us :)

I feel a bit sick tbh.

Starting the year with nothing to give - no R and R over the summer due to covering post grad work for colleagues who left on VR in July whilst also caring for family.

keeping my head down so that I can do the work I want to do, rather than someone else’s priorities 🤞

@aridapricot I've bumped into you several times on different threads where you've talked about your role as HoD. It sounds grim and I'm pleased its your last year.

I'm doggedly avoiding preparation for the new academic year - still got four weeks to go. I'm determined not to let September just bleed away into term but to protect the last remaining days and weeks for research.

I totally get this, and hope your final year of HoD passes quickly. I was in a very similar situation but took VS recently, which has felt like a weight has been lifted. About to start a new role which could be frying pan and fire, but it's part time and no HoD responsibilities so I'm hoping that even with the learning curve of a new place it's got to be easier?!

I do hope the new job is nothing like the old one @BlamBlamBlam!

Not great. In a few weeks there will only be two of us left. We had 5 this time last year.

How we are meant to teach 3 cohorts who are all in 3-4 days a week of full teaching I have no idea. 🤷🏻‍♀️. It’s such a specialist subject nobody else from a different course can help.

We have an advert out but nobody applies, colleagues in industry are earning at least 15k more.

im seriously thinking about telling them I’ll leave or go part time.

The voluntary severance scheme at my university re-opened today - the first day of induction week. Interesting....

Please look after yourself. Work just isn't worth it.