This page uses the standard blog layout: posts in reverse chronological order of publication date with this "sticky post" at the top to explain how things work. I've also created a list of good places to start for those unfamiliar with my approach. The things I write are often not time sensitive, … [Read more...] about Recent additions vs good starting points
The value of intellectual engagement
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Valuing Intellectual Engagement Burnout and stress are not just about the quantity of work you have to do. Lack of control and a sense of meaninglessness are major contributors to burnout. It has become very clear that your difficulty managing your workload is … [Read more...] about The value of intellectual engagement
Email overwhelm as a collective problem
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Email Overwhelm as a Collective Problem This post was prompted by the renowned classicist, Mary Beard, stoking up the embers of email stress recently over on Twitter. https://twitter.com/wmarybeard/status/1321555620105986049?s=20 However, this post isn't … [Read more...] about Email overwhelm as a collective problem
Priorities and boundaries in the face of job insecurity
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Priorities & boundaries in the face of job losses A friend (not an academic) has recently lost their job and noted that one of the most frustrating things about it is: "nobody ever looked at our performance, a decision was made several levels up and … [Read more...] about Priorities and boundaries in the face of job insecurity
What is your plan to rest?
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · What is your plan to rest? I've asked this question of two of my Guide for the Journey clients this week and now, I'm going to ask you. What is your plan for getting more rest? The beginning of a new academic year is a crunch time. It is normal that you work … [Read more...] about What is your plan to rest?
Asynchronous teaching and setting boundaries
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Asynchronous teaching and setting boundaries I've noticed in various conversations on Twitter that there are some issues with setting boundaries in the context of pandemic teaching conditions. In this post I address a particular issue with asynchronous … [Read more...] about Asynchronous teaching and setting boundaries
Juggling, jigsaws, and navigating by the stars: making reasonable plans
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Juggling, jigsaws, and navigating by the stars I’ve written before about juggling as a metaphor for planning out your workload. Consider all of the things you want and need to do, at work and outside of work, as the box of things a juggler could be … [Read more...] about Juggling, jigsaws, and navigating by the stars: making reasonable plans
Dealing with the loss of a physical boundary between work and home
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Dealing with the loss of a physical boundary between work and home The pandemic has made us all hyper-aware of how much of what we’d come to tolerate as “just how things are” is actually deeply unacceptable. The pandemic has not created an impossible to … [Read more...] about Dealing with the loss of a physical boundary between work and home
You are not broken. You don’t need fixing.
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · You are not broken. You don't need fixing. One of the comments I got from my editor when working on the Short Guides was "What do you want them to do with this information?" She was really not happy with a prompt that asked the reader to notice something without … [Read more...] about You are not broken. You don’t need fixing.
Optimism in the face of uncertainty
There is a difference between optimism and positivity, or at least the kind of positivity that tries to pretend that bad things never happen, or never happen to good people. I am an optimist. I read something recently that helped me clarify what that looks like for me. It's a bit like "It'll be … [Read more...] about Optimism in the face of uncertainty
Resting & recharging is preparation for the new academic year
Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Resting & recharging is preparing for the new academic year I wrote this just before taking a 2 week holiday and mentioned how important it is to prioritize rest at this time of year. Fatigue impairs cognitive function. This is a fact. There is lots … [Read more...] about Resting & recharging is preparation for the new academic year
