Labbie Check-In

At the beginning of every lab meeting, labbies are invited to "check-in" with the lab. This part of the lab meeting serves a special function for our lab culture. In everyday life, you're expected to "leave your sh*t at the door" when going to work, school, meetings, and even at home. Labbie check-in is the opposite. Labbies are encouraged to share their current highs, lows, appreciations, needs, resources, and opportunities. However, it isn't a requirement to share anything at all. Folks are welcome to attend lab in whatever capacity they prefer! Below is a breakdown of the check-in categories with examples.

Highs

Think of "highs" as anything that might have been a positive point to your week, something that makes you feel good or something you'd be excited to share with the labbies, a goal you've reached, good news you received, and so on... Highs can be pretty much anything. Labbies have also shared their "anticipatory highs"—something that they're looking forward to in the coming days or weeks! Folks are not required to share a high from their week. We're human, and sometimes humans don't have any accessible highs, or just don't feel like sharing. 

What are some things that qualify as a high?

Anything qualifies as a high, no matter how big or small. To demonstrate just how broad this category can be, here are some examples:

• submitting a paper, assignment, application, or exam

• getting a job, position, promotion, etc.

• the weather

• an event you attended/plan to attend

• reconnecting with folks you haven't spoken to in while

• being able to attend lab 

• finally finishing that book you've been reading

• taking a vacation

• incorporating more self-care into your routine

• having no lows to share

Lows

Alternatively, think of "lows" as anything that might have been a negative or low point to your week, something you're not feeling so great about, a new or old challenge you're facing, some not-so-good news you received, and so on... Just like highs, lows can be pretty much anything. Labbies have also shared their "anticipatory lows" - something that they're not exactly looking forward to in the coming days or weeks. Folks are not required to share a low from their week. Offer whatever you're comfortable with. 

What are some things that qualify as a low?

Similar to highs, anything qualifies as a low, no matter how big or small. To demonstrate just how broad this category can be, here are some examples:

• receiving a negative evaluation, grade, feedback, etc.

• being rejected for a job, a position, a program, etc.

• the weather

• family stuff, friend stuff, other interpersonal stuff

• not being able to attend lab 

• lack of progress on your goals

• health issues (for you or anyone else)

• feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and frustrated

• failing to take care of yourself

• having no highs to share

Appreciations

Appreciations are like a sweet spot of check-in. It's like handing out little thank you cards to all the folks who had an impact on your week. It's okay if you forget to do this part or if your name never gets mentioned for this—no one's keeping score! Think of it as a practice in gratitude... whatever comes to mind, you can offer an appreciation. Just like with highs and lows, there is no pressure to share any appreciations. Some weeks, it's hard to be appreciative. We get that. 

Who and what can I extend an appreciation to?

Anyone & anything! 

• You can appreciate someone in the lab for being helpful, meeting with you to go over thesis stuff, coworking, assisting with other tasks, etc. 

• You can also extend appreciations to folks who are not in the lab, such as family, friends, a coworker, a student, a speaker at a seminar, etc. 

• Additionally, appreciations aren't limited to humans! Plenty of labbies have taken the time to appreciate their pets, the weather, and even naps (especially naps). 

• Lastly, it's welcomed (and encouraged) that labbies extend appreciations to themselves. If you made it through the week, don't forget to appreciate yourself for making it all the way to Friday!

Needs

"Needs" are... well, anything you may need some support on from labbies in the following days or weeks. When thinking about what your needs may be, consider if you have any questions regarding your daily, weekly, and monthly goals. For example, if your goal is to write 2 pages of literature review, do you have enough articles to backup your writing? Also, your needs don't have to be directly related to academia. If you're planning a vacation to a new place, it's okay to ask for local restaurant recommendations as a need. If you're looking for a job, it's totally acceptable to ask labbies for potential job opportunities. Alternatively, if your social battery is depleted and/or you are not feeling 100%, you can simply ask for support such as check-ins or supportive memes. 

What are some things that qualify as a need?

In the lab, we view our fellow labbies as entire human beings with all the emotional, social, academic, and other types of needs that accompany the human experience. In order to make meaningful progress professionally, we must first address our equally important base needs. That being said, pretty much anything can qualify as a need! Some things this can include are:

• Accountability checks: labbies check in regularly throughout the week to motivate progress

• Peer review and paper assistance: thesis, dissertation, and/or pre-published manuscript) such as revising, critiquing, finding citations, literature searches, and data analysis 

• Love bombs: similar to accountability checks; sending heartfelt, uplifting, or wholesome messages and memes to a labbie who needs a little extra love

• Coworking: meeting via Zoom and sharing a space to work on projects together or separately

• Other meetings: discussing methodology and/or conceptualization, clarifying a task for a fellow labbie, learning an analytic strategy, etc.

• Application assistance: assistance with CV, personal statement, diversity statement, etc. for graduate studies, potential jobs, etc.

• Other life things: recommendations, advice, opinions, recipes, a person to talk to, etc.

Resources

Resources can be considered the opposite of needs. Labbies can offer whatever resources they have to the lab as a whole or to individual labbies who may be in particular need of some resourcing. You can offer anything from time and attention to a specific skill and expertise. Folks may consider what their strengths are and how much time and effort they have to commit that week. It is also okay (and recommended) to check-in with yourself and acknowledge if you have no resources to give that week!

What kind of resources can I offer the lab?

Common themes for resourcing are identical to the ones for needs, and resources can be academic or nonacademic!

• Accountability checks: labbies check in regularly throughout the week to motivate progress

• Peer review and paper assistance: thesis, dissertation, and/or pre-published manuscript) such as revising, critiquing, finding citations, literature searches, and data analysis 

• Love bombs: similar to accountability checks; sending heartfelt, uplifting, or wholesome messages and memes to a labbie who needs a little extra love

• Coworking: meeting via Zoom and sharing a space to work on projects together or separately

• Other meetings: discussing methodology and/or conceptualization, clarifying a task for a fellow labbie, learning an analytic strategy, etc.

• Application assistance: assistance with CV, personal statement, diversity statement, etc. for graduate studies, potential jobs, etc.

• Other life things: recommendations, advice, opinions, recipes, a person to talk to, etc.

Opportunities

Labbies are welcome to offer up any opportunities they think folks in the lab might be interested in. Just like every other category of check in, opportunities can range from academic to non-academic. 

What kind of opportunities are appropriate to offer in lab?

• Job/employment opportunities

• Guest-lecturing a class 

• Observation, shadowing, or supervision

• Collaborating on and/or attending a conference, symposium, workshop, or poster

• Working on a project or collaborating on a paper

• Thesis and dissertation proposals and defenses

• Other smaller, topic-focused labbie meetings (e.g., Interbehvaiorism book club, project management meetings, RFT study group, mindfulness/meditation group, writing club, journal club)