{"id":4396,"date":"2026-01-30T15:33:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T15:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/?post_type=furman-update&#038;p=4396"},"modified":"2026-02-03T20:07:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T20:07:41","slug":"catch-up-days-and-time-for-play","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/updates\/catch-up-days-and-time-for-play\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cCatch Up Days\u201d and Time for Joy &amp; Play"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4409 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-768x647.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"304\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-768x647.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-1024x862.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-1536x1294.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-2048x1725.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-512x431.jpeg 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/01\/IMG_1466-1280x1078.jpeg 1280w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 360px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 360\/304;\" \/>A common theme in my coaching sessions with higher education professionals is scheduling.\u00a0 While planning out tasks and blocking calendar time is not a technical skill, adhering to the time planned for a to-do task <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">often seems to require some kind of divine intervention<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014especially when that task has to do with research, writing, or time for yourself. While they\u2019re not magic\u2014exactly\u2014these few lesser-used but highly effective tips for building in \u201ccatch up days\u201d can feel like just the blast of magic we need to maintain balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><a href=\"https:\/\/furman.box.com\/s\/g1o95h91gjt7rz9gq7t04jcksuj22j93\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> The Impact\/Effort matrix<\/a> is a tool developed for our \u00a0Associated Colleges of the South Mid-Career Advancement Pathways Program (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acsouth.edu\/core-initiatives\/connecting-people\/acs-mid-career-advancement-pathways-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACS MAPP<\/a>) cohorts. \u00a0Many have found spending 5-10 minutes with the matrix useful in their prioritization efforts, especially prior to committing to a project. Then, consider these tips for building your &#8220;just right&#8221; schedule:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Scaffold larger projects,<\/strong> breaking them down to the smallest possible achievable steps.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t already, practice adding these tasks to your calendar.\u00a0 Tasking up your days can feel overwhelming to some\u2014to others, it\u2019s more like what Atul Gawande avers in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/dBJ5q4c\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Checklist Manifesto<\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: not having to think about what to do next frees your brain up to actually do the thing.\u00a0 All your executive functioning energy is available for the task at hand. Gawande insists that: \u201cunder conditions of complexity, not only are checklists a help, they are required for success.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Adjust time expectations.<\/strong> In our Write Now! Program kick-off, we guide participants in assessing the everyday complexity of their current semester\u2014both personally and professionally.\u00a0 Awareness of what\u2019s really needed and practice at estimating task duration can help reduce unnecessary stress and amplify calm. Be ready to adjust when you can. \u00a0Case in point: your ice-laminated hilly, driveway requires parking on the street in our recent wild weather weeks. This small change increases departure time and introduces a whole host of other factors which require more time than usual to navigate your commute safely. I\u2019m not suggesting we pack more into our days or live tethered to our schedules, but rather betting on the hypothesis that when our time expectations align with our lived experience we are more likely to reduce everyday stress.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Build in catch-up time in your scheduling.<\/strong>\u00a0 Many of us schedule \u201ccatch-up days\u201d on our syllabi\u2014why not also include them in our lives?\u00a0 There are any number of unpredicted bids for our time, energy, and attention\u2014so many, in fact, that it is impossible to predict them. It&#8217;s counterintuitive to schedule a a time block for an unspecified activity, since we typically start planning schedules with the question \u00a0&#8220;what specifically do I need to get done in this time frame?&#8221; Experiment with scheduling a catch-up hour or two a week. \u00a0Call it something fun or meaningful for you. Some folks who have instituted this have found that having that time already saved reduces time concern at other times during the week. Taking longer than anticipated to grade essays? \u00a0Is one of your children or your entire household under the weather? No stress. \u00a0You have your catch up time to&#8230;well&#8230;catch yourself up.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And what do you get for all this investment in self-scheduling?\u00a0 Hopefully time to play in whatever way that makes your heart smile (these<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1p7upg4ijRUArpB0t34j5T89S8XdSEJcq6Gp8MjQVrP8\/edit?tab=t.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> teaching joy cards<\/a> may help in that department!)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And what better way to play than with colleagues in community?\u00a0 I recently learned of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/seriousplayconf.com\/homepage\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Serious Play<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> conference to be held on <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">August 5-7, 2026 <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">at Duke University.\u00a0 Are you interested in playing? Drop me an email (diane.boyd@furman.edu) before<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> February 12th <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and we\u2019ll organize a group to take advantage of the group registration rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in confidential individual coaching with the FDC, please request an exploratory session<a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/programs-grants\/consultations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A common theme in my coaching sessions with higher education professionals is scheduling.\u00a0 While planning out tasks and blocking calendar time is not a technical skill, adhering to the time [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","update-categories":[],"class_list":["post-4396","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/4396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/4396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4422,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/updates\/4396\/revisions\/4422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/faculty-development-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=4396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}