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Calm productivity for academics
Tag: workflow
Build an academic prompt library for AI using templates for common tasks
Learn how to create and maintain an academic prompt library to streamline your administrative tasks. This practical guide shows you how to start a personal collection of pre-written, tested prompts that reduce cognitive overhead and create space for meaningful work, helping you develop sustainable systems for academic productivity.
Stop using email as a to do list
Using your email inbox as a to do list seems convenient but creates a chaotic system where other people’s priorities dictate your workflow. Learn how to separate email communication from task management with a simple approach that helps academics regain control of their daily priorities.
Quality over quantity in academia: Balancing institutional demands with sustainable practice
Discover how embracing academic productivity through quality over quantity can transform your work life. Instead of constantly expanding workloads, learn to focus on meaningful impact, sustainable practices, and deeper connections. Doing less, but doing it better, can lead to more valuable academic outcomes.
Schedule personal time first, work second
Most academics make the mistake of scheduling work first and trying to fit life around it. Discover why reversing this approach is key to achieving better academic work life balance. Learn how prioritising personal commitments in your schedule can lead to more focused and productive work hours.
[Note] Arbitrary and ossified processes
“…how we work in the knowledge sector today is ossified into tradition and conventions, some of which are arbitrary and some of which are borrowed from different, older types of work.” – Cal Newport
Use AI to focus on meaningful core work
New research shows how AI tools might transform academic productivity by enabling knowledge workers to focus more on meaningful core work while reducing administrative burden. Like software developers using GitHub Copilot, academics can leverage AI to streamline workflows, work more autonomously, and explore new research directions – particularly benefiting early-career researchers.
[Note] Treat perfection like a process
“Treat perfection like a process, not an achievable state. Perfectionism is crippling to productivity. I’ve known academics that can’t even start projects because of perfectionism.” – Matt Might
Building momentum towards sustainable productivity
In academia, it’s common to feel perpetually busy while at the same time, not making any meaningful progress. True productivity comes from establishing a steady rhythm of shipping important work, not just completing a high volume of tasks. Building and maintaining positive momentum is key to sustained progress.
Leverage your peak productivity hours
You only have 3-4 hours of peak cognitive productivity per day. Identify when you feel most focused and protect that time for demanding tasks. Batch easier activities during lower energy periods. Tracking energy levels, prioritising tasks, creating routines, taking breaks, and guarding peak times can help maximise your limited productive hours.
Strategic content repurposing: Turning research into multiple outputs
Discover strategies for turning research into multiple outputs that make a real impact. Instead of creating each academic output from scratch, learn how to build interconnected pathways that help your research reach different audiences. Transform one project into various valuable outputs while maintaining academic rigour.
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.