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Jo VanEvery

You are here: Home / Archives for Writing / Self-care

Developing a Practice: Self-care

Self-care is not a luxury. Self-care is the foundation of everything else you do. You need sleep, good food, exercise, love, nature, etc. We could debate Cartesian dualism all day but you have a body and it needs to be looked after or you can't do anything with your mind.

black and white photo of a person crossing both hands over each other in a stopping gesture with palms facing outwards to the camera and covering the person's face

Burnout is real!

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Burnout is real! As the Covid19 pandemic and related adjustments extended over months and years, conversations about burnout seemed to increase. The additional pressure of the pandemic seems to have pushed several people over the edge. A client who was already working with me to move a book project […]

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A completely dark room with only a human eye visible in a beam of yellow light projected onto their face. They are looking off into the distant right hand side in thoughtful expression.

Start By Noticing

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Managing Energy: Start by noticing The quarterly planning session in January 2021 was one of the first where I tried a new model for the planning class. Instead of focusing on all the things participants may need to fit into their plans for the next few months, I talked […]

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A white cup full of tea and saucer sits next to an open ring-bound notebook with a silver pen on top. Lay across the notebook is some pink flower cuttings with stems and leaves.

Spotlight On: Writing & Resting

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

One of the main challenges you face in the summer is juggling writing and rest. The first step is to resist the urge to Write All The Things!. I’ve used a hiking metaphor to explain how your summer writing fits with the writing you do in the rest of the year to help you decide […]

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A blue and white striped picnic blanket sits on a white sandy beach with a straw hat, an open book, a disposable film camera, a pair of sunglasses, a mustard yellow cardigan, a small satsuma and a canned beverage in a cooler displayed on top.

How to take a vacation

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · How to take a vacation Just because your work doesn’t always look like work, doesn’t mean you don’t get to take a real vacation. You already deserve this vacation; it’s not a reward for achieving summer goals. In fact, not only do you deserve a vacation, you need a […]

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A white mug of a presumably hot drink with a teaspoon sticking out of it is positioned next to an orange striped box of tissues with some of the scrunched up tissues next to it. A pair of up-turned glasses also sit nearby suggesting a dishevelled, ill-health situation.

Yes, you should take sick leave.

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Yes, you should take sick leave Note: I currently live in the UK and have previously lived in Canada. My statements are based in the general employment situation that pertains in those countries and countries like them, where there is significant employment protection in law, and significant levels of […]

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A flatlay photo of a white desk surface displaying a few items. A black rope noticeboard with walnut frame reads: "Things to do: 1. own today. 2. [empty space] 3. [empty space]. A pair of bright neon turquoise wired headphones, a laptop, turquoise notebook, black coffee in white mug and grey cable knit jumper sleeve decorate the image edges.

Motivation and accomplishment in your writing practice

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

 Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Motivation & accomplishment in your writing practice Given how hard it is for most academics to find time to work on their writing, and how difficult it is to know how long some stages of the process will take, I advocate establishing a regular writing practice and trusting […]

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Managing your energy.

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Managing your energy The academic year varies in intensity. The typical structure of an academic year has 2 teaching semesters, or 3 teaching terms with shorter breaks between them and then a long break in the summer. Everyone involved needs time to recover and recharge, and to integrate knowledge. […]

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"You got this" is written in chalk capitals on a tarmac/asphalt road covered in autumnal leaves.

Are things getting worse? Or is dystopia the new normal?

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Is dystopia the new normal? Things were already bad. You were already more tired than usual before the break. Maybe you’d just started getting your head around how to keep going in a pandemic, even if you didn’t like it much. The readers of this newsletter are based in […]

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A tightly packed wooden bowl of mixed chopped veg and meat is on a wooden tray with a little wooden spoon ready to eat, fuel and nourish the consumer.

Are you dropping the “eating well” ball?

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Jo VanEvery 9 Comments

When you are busy and tired making decisions about what to eat and preparing healthy meals is more difficult. This is particularly difficult if you eat your main meal in the evening. The Covid pandemic just makes it worse. Principles for solving this problem and ideas to try.

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A white and brown cat naps curled up on a green velvet arm chair with light coral red cushion.

Prioritizing rest over the winter break

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Prioritizing Rest over the Winter Break I wrote this in December but it also applies at the end of 2nd semester when you are going into summer. Or, at other times of year when you have a break from teaching and you are feeling exhausted. On the first Friday […]

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A photo of a person holding a smartphone with the low battery symbol displayed on the black screen.

So tired you could cry? Enable Low Power Mode.

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

This post is part 2 of a mini-series called So Tired You Could Cry. The 1st part can be found here. Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · So tired you could cry? Enable Low Power Mode You know when your phone warns you about the battery being low, it also asks if you want to […]

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An illustration of a woman crying with her face resting on her hand in Victorian style dress.

So tired you could cry? Permission granted.

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

This post is part 1 of a mini-series called So Tired You Could Cry. The 2nd part is available here. Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · So tired you could cry? Permission granted. You can cry! In fact, put it on your to-do list. Cry in the shower every morning. Cry in bed wrapped up […]

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