A few years ago, I was struggling to establish a regular flossing habit. I tried setting firm intentions to floss every day, but that somehow made it harder to maintain. The mental pressure of “I must do this daily” created resistance instead of motivation.

Then I tried something different. I shifted my mindset to “I’ll floss when I remember” – a much more forgiving standard. Paradoxically, this lower-pressure approach led to more consistent action. Now I floss most days without the psychological burden that previously derailed my efforts.

So I was excited to some across what Oliver Burkeman calls the “daily-ish” approach to habit formation. As he notes:

…an every-single-day rule is so rigid, so intolerant of the vagaries of life, that you’ll inevitably soon fall off the wagon.

This principle also applies well to academic work. Rather than pressuring yourself to:

• Write every single day without exception
• Clear your inbox to zero daily
• Read research papers on a strict schedule
• Maintain a perfect planning system

Try adopting a more forgiving “daily-ish” approach to these goals. You might find yourself making more meaningful progress with less psychological resistance.

Remember, what matters most isn’t maintaining a perfect streak of consistent action. As Burkeman points out, “What matters, in the end, is what gets created.”

For busy academics, this more sustainable approach creates the head space needed for truly meaningful work. By releasing yourself from the burden of perfection, you might actually accomplish more of what matters.

Be kind to yourself. Aim for daily-ish.

This ‘daily-ish’ approach works best when it’s part of a larger career strategy. The Academic Career Development course guides you through creating sustainable routines, identifying your core academic focus, and positioning yourself strategically within your field—all while maintaining the kind of self-compassion that enables lasting success.