Research Delays

Math Research

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Today was the first day of classes for the 2012 spring semester at Western Kentucky University. I am taking Real Analysis and working on my thesis this semester. My professor for analysis gave some insight into research. As everyone who has done math research knows, it is rather easy to get stuck at a certain point. She says when she gets stuck, she closes all of the books, notes, etc., related to the problem on which she is working. She then decides to read something completely different. From this alternate reading, she is sometimes able to discover a method or information that could be applied to her problem. Granted this does not always work; however, it is an interesting approach to take.

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Productive Procrastination: The Importance of Having Several Projects

At one point or another, something in your research will stall. Or it be proven useless, incorrect, or already shown in paper X. Co-authors and journals will take months to get back to you. Or your numerical simulation will take ages to finish. This is why I love the scattered approach to research. I don’t like to be doing one thing. I like to be doing 8 things. At any given time, my research to-do list looks something like this: Continue reading

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Joint Math Meetings 2012

JMM-JointLogoAs you may know, the 2012 Joint Math Meetings concluded today. Participants have shared their experience in live-time on Twitter using hashtag #JMM2012.

I would like to include a slideshow of photographs from graduate students that attended the meeting and some feedback on their experience. If you would like your photos displayed on the blog, please complete the following form. Continue reading

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More on Motivation

Most of us really struggle at some point (if not most of the time) with motivation. Every winter break Jan Allen from Columbia University sends out break writing tips to help you with writing your thesis.The most recent one is on finding motivation to actually write during break. Many of these ideas translate over to getting motivation in general, so I’ll modify a few. Continue reading

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Break Motivation

I hope everyone’s semester has rounded up nicely. Now, it is time for a break. However, does that really mean we have time to just relax and take time to ourselves? I have been home visiting my parents for Christmas. Before I arrived, I told myself I would be super productive and get some extra reading done. Unfortunately, since I have arrived, I have not done anything productive.

I know I have this long list of tasks, but I just cannot seem to get myself to focus. Is anyone else having this difficulty? How are you convincing yourself you have to do work?

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