Calm productivity for academics
Category: Writing
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Ideal habits and routines
Just because you know what works, doesn’t mean that nothing else will work. Remember that the ideal routine is not the only routine.
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Academic writing process: From enduring to enjoying your scholarship
Transform your academic writing process from a source of stress into a sustainable practice. This post explores how shifting focus from outputs to process can enhance both your writing quality and experience. Learn practical strategies for creating an enjoyable writing routine that supports long-term scholarly growth while maintaining well-being.
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Types of notes
Knowing about the different types of notes you’re taking helps inform your approach to note-taking in general.
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Academics should blog
Academic blogging is a great way of sharing your work in public, articulating your ideas, and start building a reputation.
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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…
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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.
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Write so that you can’t be misunderstood
If you’re like me, you probably spend a lot of your writing time trying to persuade; trying to convince the reader of some point or another. You’re intent on making sure the reader understands you. And this is fine. However, when you’re done writing to be understood, you could try editing your work with the…
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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.
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The first draft isn’t the final product
It’s worth noting that the first draft isn’t the final product. It’s the raw material you’ll shape into something better.
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Reduce the friction of writing
The lower your barrier to getting started, the more writing you can fit into your day. We’ve all experienced that resistance to sitting down and putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Even when you know you need to write, it can feel mentally draining to summon the willpower and concentration you need to…
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Publish or perish is the wrong choice
Academics face a misleading “publish or perish” dichotomy, risking lower quality work and unfair demands on those unable to publish frequently. Hard work can coincide with joy, challenging the necessity of this binary. Alternative career goals encourage a balanced approach, promoting both productivity and well-being in academia.
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Writing is the work: Rethinking the academic writing process
Many academics view writing as the final step of research – something to do after the ‘real work’ is done. But the academic writing process is not just about documenting completed work. Writing is thinking, and engaging with writing throughout your project helps clarify ideas and strengthen your research outcomes.