Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Tag: calm productivity

  • Task-batching to reduce mental fatigue

    Task-batching helps academics overcome the mental fatigue of constant context-switching. Instead of multitasking between emails, meetings, and lesson planning, group similar tasks together and tackle them in dedicated time blocks. This simple approach creates the mental space needed for meaningful academic work.

  • Oliver Burkeman: Four thousand weeks

    In Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman reframes time management, focusing on our 4,000-week lifespan to challenge the relentless pursuit of productivity. Burkeman’s insights encourage readers to embrace limits, focus on meaningful work, and find satisfaction in life’s finite nature, offering a refreshing perspective for today’s overwhelmed professionals.

  • Start your week with admin to avoid feeling overwhelmed

    Deliberately dedicating Mondays to admin tasks in academia can lead to a more productive week. By containing administrative work to one day, you create mental space and uninterrupted time blocks for meaningful academic work while reducing the anxiety of scattered administrative responsibilities throughout the week.

  • An update on the Head space project

    Six months after launching the Head space project, I’ve made a few changes to the website redesign and pricing structure, and wanted to share a few plans for the future. I launched Head space a little over 6 months ago, with five courses that I thought were core to academic work, and the idea that…

  • Set up your environment to make it harder to work from home

    What would you do if you couldn’t work from home? One of the biggest benefits of being an academic is that you can work anywhere, any time. And one of the biggest problems with being an academic, is that you end up working everywhere, all the time. But imagine getting home in the evening and…

  • Paul Silvia: How to write a lot

    How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia is a practical guide for academics struggling to boost their writing productivity. Silvia emphasizes disciplined scheduling, self-monitoring, and overcoming perfectionism to make writing a consistent part of one’s routine. His strategies empower scholars to publish more without compromising personal time.

  • Planning to take a real break

    I’m about to go on annual leave over the summer break and usually, this period sees me making lists of All The Things I’m going to finish over the holidays. The thinking is that I’ll start the new academic year afresh, and feeling invigorated because I’ve finally (FINALLY) cleared the ‘to do’ list. What it…

  • Strategy drives outcomes

    If you want your productivity output to change, then your habits, routines, and workflow need to change. Strategy drives outcomes.

  • 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.

  • Sustainable academic productivity

    Sustainable academic productivity isn’t about working harder, but creating effortless systems. Rather than pushing yourself to exhaustion, learn how to build low-effort habits and routines that maintain productivity even on low-energy days. Transform your workflow by focusing on small, incremental steps that lead to lasting success.

  • 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.

  • Transform your workday with fixed schedule productivity

    Discover how fixed schedule productivity can transform your academic workday. By deciding your end time first and working backwards, you can better manage your workload and maintain work-life boundaries. Explore practical strategies to ensure that you finish work on time without sacrificing output.