Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Tag: rest

  • Fostering a culture of guilt-free time off

    Feeling guilty about taking time off work is common in academia. This guilt often stems from organisational culture where everyone is expected to work during leave. To break free from this guilt trap, we need a strong culture that values time off, starting with leadership and permeating the entire organisation.

  • Academic burnout prevention: The power of doing nothing

    From conference deadlines to funding applications, academia’s relentless pace makes it hard to disconnect. Learn how to prevent academic burnout by embracing genuine downtime, implementing digital boundaries, and recognising that rest isn’t a reward for productivity – it’s a fundamental human need.

  • Effective breaks for academics: Real rest and productivity

    Most academics fill their breaks with pseudo-productive tasks like checking emails or social media. But these aren’t real breaks at all. Learn how taking genuine academic breaks and productivity go hand in hand, and why the most effective breaks are often the ones that feel the least productive.

  • [Note] Adapting to machines and their standards

    “We find ourselves adapting to machines and hold ourselves to their standards: People are judged by the speed with which they respond, not the quality of their response.” – Robert Poynton

  • [Note] Hobbies are a way of letting stress go

    “Even the best jobs create stress. Hobbies are a way of letting stress go before it explodes.” – Matt Might

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Work-life balance can fuel innovation

    The academic myth promotes an imbalanced life consumed by work. However, discipline in life breeds creativity in work. Structured lives allow academics the mental space for innovation. The key is a work-life balance that cultivates a well-rested mind, ready for meaningful academic contributions.

  • Rest may be your most urgent task

    It’s time to challenge the notion that rest comes after completing urgent work. In academia, there’s always another task waiting. By treating rest as your most urgent daily priority, you create sustainable conditions for high-quality academic work. By prioritising rest in academia you can transform your productivity and well-being.

  • Making space for creativity

    Trying to force creativity through long hours at your desk is counterproductive. Setting aside space for creativity to emerge naturally may help lead to better insights. Sometimes, stepping back is the best way to move forward.