Catching Up

So, for the last 6 weeks or so, I’ve found it difficult to get my head back in to my degree for a few reasons. The last week has given me my focus back, also for a few different reasons. I thought I’d share a post on the reasons for the above as a way of breaking myself back in now that I feel like I need to do some serious catching up.

At the beginning of July, my husband and I found out we are expecting our first baby! The month was filled with excitement (and also nerves!), doctors appointments, midwives and migraines. Feeling ill over the weeks following really knocked me off my stride, but, hopefully all will now get back on track.

I read through Part three and that’s partly my reason for putting it off. Shutter speed / Tv has always been the mode which scares me most. I have tried in the past but have never felt I’ve grasped it and really don’t feel confident with it. It seems theres so much to consider when shooting in this mode that I’m anxious to start it.

However, the last week has given me the encouragement, I didn’t realise I needed, to get on with it. I took 2 weeks holiday away from work. The first week I wasn’t feeling so great, so it was good to just stop and relax. Then we booked a few days away in St. Ives. which was the perfect, pretty location to remind me why I love photography. Whilst down there, I received the feedback for Part Two. Good feedback gave me the boost of that “I can do this” feeling, with a little constructive criticism to show me what I need to work on.

My feedback confirmed the one thing I already know. I’m not so good at self assessment. I find it hard to boast about the things I have done well, but also don’t feel I know enough to pick out the little points which make a good/bad difference in photographs yet. I know this is something I need to work on as it’s an important part of the course, it’s just something I’ve always struggled with.

I have used a bullet journal this year, which I’m now finding helpful to keep me on track. At the start of each month, I draw up my monthly diary, add a *things to do* and a *university work* box and add myself little goals for the month (see below for September). I make all of my notes in the same journal so that all is in the same place and I don’t have to go looking for all different notebooks etc for my notes & aims. I plan to start using this monthly page as a reason to add another post to my learning log, perhaps as my aims for the month. Part of my feedback was that I don’t use it enough, so that’s something I need to add to, and this would give me a monthly focus.

Going forward, I need to keep myself focussed, stop worrying about the things I don’t need to do – as that’s why I’m studying, to learn. I’m sure the next 5 months of pregnancy will bring its ups and downs, but this degree is something I really want to work towards, and need to remind myself it’ll all be worth it – and next year I’ll have much more time whilst not working full time (around the baby of course!).