Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Tag: open loops

  • Use a weekly review to close open loops

    As academics, we carry countless mental threads throughout our week — unfinished tasks, half-formed ideas, looming deadlines, and scattered notes. Left unattended, these “open loops” consume valuable mental bandwidth, even during times when we should be resting and recharging. Every Friday afternoon, I dedicate time to what might be my most valuable productivity ritual: the…

  • How to manage email overload

    Create a practical system for how to manage email overload that transforms your inbox from a source of stress into a productive workflow. Learn why traditional email management advice falls short and how treating your inbox as a temporary processing point rather than permanent storage can reduce anxiety.