Focusing on Successes: Emily's #4

            These days, things are feeling messy because I have all these notes, CABS, and thoughts that I would still like to explore, have half explored, or should scrap.  My note-taking sheet is several pages long and my CABS are over ten pages long.  This should make me feel like I have made progress, but I know that in some ways I am just now getting to the heart of the matter and all those other articles might become less helpful in light of what I find.  From time to time, I need to remind the over-achiever/perfectionist that it is okay that this process is messy. 

            Because this research is also large-scale and long-term, I find myself needing to remind myself of small successes.  I have an overall sense that I can’t rest until it is done, which is unreasonable. 

So, here are my successes of the week:

1.  I have ~17 CABS

2.  I had a great conference with Jolynn where I saw some new researchers to looks up

3.  Some of these new researchers lead me to other new researchers

4.  Some of these new researchers are extremely prolific

5.  I have a better sense of the gurus in the field

6.  I get the sense that the research is the time-consuming part is the research and actually writing the Lit. Review will not be as overwhelming

7.  I am getting faster at skimming!