Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Category: Reading

  • 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.

  • Managing information overload with fewer inboxes

    Learn how to manage information overload by streamlining your information channels. Rather than managing multiple inboxes across email, reference managers, and note-taking apps, discover practical strategies for consolidating your information flow. Create a sustainable system that reduces cognitive overhead and creates space for meaningful work.

  • Thinking with others

    Explore the concept of reading academic texts as a process of thinking with others, as a way of interpreting their writing.

  • Managing academic reading lists

    Managing academic reading lists can feel overwhelming. Rather than trying to read everything, treat your reading list like a river – selectively sampling valuable content while letting less important items flow past. This mindset shift helps create a more sustainable and effective approach to managing academic literature without the guilt.

  • Streamline your research with AI PDF analysis tools in the browser

    Looking for a smarter way to work with research papers? Learn how to leverage AI PDF analysis tools built into Edge browser’s Copilot sidebar for immediate document processing and analysis. This powerful feature helps academics engage with research materials more efficiently, though some advanced features require an Enterprise license.

  • Writing regularly changes what you pay attention to

    I often find my attention being hijacked by whatever happens to show up in my feed. And in the moment, that content may very well be interesting. The problem is that so much information can be interesting while still having relatively little value. When I’ve set aside 1-2 hours of writing time every day, my attention…

  • Intentional note-taking: Moving from capture to curation

    Discover why intentional note-taking is crucial for meaningful academic work. Learn how being selective about what you record can create space for deeper engagement with ideas that truly matter, and explore practical steps for moving beyond comprehensive capture to more purposeful documentation practices.

  • Boost your academic writing productivity with this simple approach

    Discover how reading and writing habits can boost your academic writing productivity. While many academics struggle to find time for writing amidst their responsibilities, the solution may be straightforward: read more, and write more. Learn practical strategies for embedding these essential practices into your academic workflow.

  • From collecting to creating: Managing your reading backlog

    Many academics struggle with managing reading backlogs – collecting papers, articles, and books that never get read. While gathering resources feels productive, it often becomes a substitute for real engagement. Learn how the one-week rule can help you break free from collecting and start creating meaningful academic work.

  • Reading as conversation, not consumption

    Transform your academic reading from passive consumption into active dialogue. Engaging with scholarly texts through questioning, challenging assumptions, and making connections can lead to deeper understanding and new insights.

  • Increase the quality of incoming information

    In addition to reducing the amount of incoming information, you would also do well to increase the quality of that information.

  • Cull your inputs

    We spend a lot of time trying to build better systems for managing more information. But maybe a better approach is to cull your inputs so that you can focus on your outputs.