Reflecting on 2023 I noted “As I look ahead to 2024, I expect the year to be less busy on a professional level but time will tell whether or not this turns out to be the case.” Halfway through 2024 I have published two journal papers, attended two conferences, given four conference presentations, completed my part-time teaching commitments, and am now preparing to take up a full-time role as Teaching Fellow in Project Management at my alma mater, the University of Limerick, for the academic year ahead. Not exactly less busy and certainly a productive half year to date, but no complaints.
Just over seven years ago I wrote the first of 80-something blog posts (to date) as I navigated retiring from a full-time industry role to focus on my part-time teaching and to pursue a PhD in education. I reflected on these ideas for retirement, not really knowing much about what the pathway forward might look like, but prepared to give it a go. In the years that followed I delved into the unknown by continuing my formal lifelong learning journey with a postgrad certificate in Digital Education from Edinburgh and a PhD from Lancaster, alongside journeys of non-formal (a variety of online courses) and informal learning, both intentional and incidental. Alongside, I continued teaching project management modules part-time and widened my volunteering interests and activities. Before long, the many hours I previously spent working in industry were taken up with new opportunities and interests so boredom was never an issue.
Recently I came across the Japanese concept of Ikigai, courtesy of the cardiologist, Paddy Barrett. Writing about Ikigai, Barrett suggests that we consider four important factors when considering how we spend our days, depicted in the diagram below.
- What you love.
- What you are good at.
- What the world needs.
- What you can be paid for.
For me, three of these four factors relate to my teaching practice – something that I love, that I’m good at, and that I’m paid for. Does the world need me as a teacher? I’m not going to answer that, but teaching is certainly a passion for me if not a vocation! I can equally apply three of the factors to my research practice – something that I love, and I believe the world needs. Am I good at it? Well, I could be better, so working on that. As for getting paid for research, well, that’s a resounding no! Still, three out of four factors in each practice is good enough for me. This is my interpretation of Ikigai, filling my days with meaningful work that includes teaching and research, along with reading, writing, volunteering.
The French proverb ‘plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose’ translates along the lines of ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. I like to think of the last seven years as the closing of a circle from a full-time industry practice role alongside part-time teaching of project management and research modules, to a full-time project management teaching role that includes teaching research practice. So, plenty of change, yet more of the same. The academic year ahead will be busy but I’m game, so roll on 12 August!
Until next time, Sandra
Featured image courtesy of Bitmoji
Reference:
Barrett, P. (11 May 2024). How To Spend Your Days. A Japanese framework for finding meaningful work. Dr Paddy Barrett, Preventive Cardiologist writing on how to prevent heart disease and live longer. https://paddybarrett.substack.com/p/how-to-find-work-that-is-meaningful
Sandra Flynn 