December 2024 round-up

December was a bit of a whirlwind given the end of semester tasks and everybody trying to squeeze in closure on various issues before the festive season. I was actually supposed to go to Bangkok for a conference but had to cancel because of spending cuts in universities. While that was disappointing, staying in the UK throughout December did make things easier / more relaxed. Mind you, I still did not get many items crossed off my to-do list.

Research

My sandpit application was rejected.

I had an idea for a project related to business to business marketing, and applied for ethical clearance for data collection for another one about generative AI. 

Writing

I really struggled with writing this month: I made very limited progress on one paper and prepared an abstract for another. This is the time of the year when I should be busy finalising conference papers, but as it looks so unlikely that I will get any funding for conferences, next year, it seems a bit pointless for me (and unfair for the conference organisers) to submit any papers.

Teaching

I did some end of semester marking, reviewed dissertation drafts, and reviewed a new degree programme.

Service

I got started in my role as Chair of the Business School’s ethics committee, which entailed various meetings, as well as reading policy documents.

I got invited to do two talks in the New Year.

This month, I also spent some time reflecting on 2024 and setting goals for 2025. I used ChatGPT as a coach who would ask questions and prompt me to think about the values underpinning those goals, and the strategies to achieve them. I did have to keep repeating the instruction to stay in coach mode, rather than give me answers. But, overall, ChatGPT helped me engage with the whole exercise much more deeply than in previous years. I found it rather helpful.

My mantra for 2024 was “stretch”, as a commitment to both physical and intellectual flexibility. For 2025, I am embracing lightening up. That will include losing weight, shedding excess stuff around me and, importantly, not being Debby Downer. 

Did you choose a word or theme for the New Year?