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Calm productivity for academics
Category: Content Type
Presenting research without over-reaching
Academic presentations sometimes tempt us to overextend our research claims. Instead, articulate specific contributions accurately by presenting findings within their proper scope, using precise language that matches your evidence, and acknowledging limitations transparently. This approach demonstrates scholarly integrity while still effectively communicating your work’s genuine value to colleagues.
[Note] Start immediately
“Once you know you’re going to do something, start on it right away: create a blank document file, create a blank presentation file, start drafting the email (with To: field blank). Then, if at any point in the future, you’re moved to work on it, the transaction cost of doing a little more work is…
Crafting engaging academic presentations
Creating effective academic presentations requires understanding your audience, establishing clear motivation, and simplifying visual elements. Practice thoughtfully to build confidence, especially when presenting in a non-native language. By focusing on clarity and engagement, researchers can successfully share their work in ways that resonate across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
[Note] Write daily with shared goals
“One study suggests that academics who write daily and set goals with someone weekly write nearly ten times as many pages as those without regular writing habits.” – Pat Thomson
The power of lowering your standards
Rigid “every day” habits often fail due to psychological pressure. A more forgiving “daily-ish” approach paradoxically leads to better consistency. By lowering perfectionist standards in academic work—writing, email, reading, and planning—you create mental space for meaningful progress while being kinder to yourself.
Mustafa Suleyman (2023) The Coming Wave
Mustafa Suleyman’s The Coming Wave examines the profound societal, political, and ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies like advanced AI and synthetic biology. Suleyman argues that while these technologies offer transformative potential, they also present unprecedented risks.
[Note] Build a life around mastery and mattering
“…we live in a world full of options for mastery and mattering. Unfortunately, the cultural current is flowing strongly in the opposite direction. Few people—perhaps nobody, unless you live in a monastery—are immune to the vicissitudes of modern life. But most of us have at least some agency to fight back with our actions. The…
Avoid information overload with an effective knowledge cycle
Learn how to combat information overload in academia with a systematic knowledge cycle. This five-step approach helps busy academics convert overwhelming information into valuable insights through purposeful capture, regular processing, deliberate connection, consistent creation, and continuous improvement—all without simply working longer hours.
[Note] Can parents in academia “Have it all”
“…how can we presume that parenthood detracts from one’s professionalism, when, in reality, it often amplifies it?”
Academic stand-up meetings
Discover how academic stand-up meetings can transform endless faculty updates into focused, efficient check-ins. Learn practical tips for implementing this time-saving format in your department, handling common resistance, and protecting more time for meaningful academic work. A practical guide for academics tired of meetings that could have been emails.
[Note] Why do we all work such long hours?
“So with the sector facing yet another financial crisis, do we all just get on the grindset straight away? Put your snowflake-y demands for a work-life balance on the back burner. Take one for the team. Pull that working weekend, that all-nighter. Let’s face it, you’re not even going to do anything as a result…