Turning work into play

It's my busiest quarter yet, but instead of stress I've found motivation in working most nights and weekends. Going into the quarter, I thought all the work would put me over the top. I'd finally be the harried grad student I'd envisioned since my first day. But this year is the first time I've worked exclusively on my own projects and I have a sense of my future plans. The combination of the two makes me want to work. It's something I have to do not because of pressure to succeed or looming deadlines, but because my brain continually processes information that needs an outlet. In fiction writing, there's a saying: You write because you are unable to not write. That's how I feel about my work this quarter: I work because I am unable not to work. It's exhilarating, exhausting, and totally addicting.

Today's Grad Gravy: Develop a healthy addiction to your ideas.

Postscript: I reread my post and realized that it sounds like I'm neglecting my life in order to by an academic. Not true. I still find time to write fiction for at least an hour every single day, eat three meals, read small chunks of the novel of the month, and galavant into the city for a day off. The only part of my life that's suffering is my television watching time. I have no qualms about ridding myself of that.