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Jo VanEvery

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boundaries

A bench looking out to a purple / orange hazy sunset.

Resting & recharging is preparation for the new academic year

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

This post was originally written during a time when many universities and workplaces had shifted to remote work in response to the COVID pandemic. Although circumstances have now changed for many people, much of what I say in this post still applies. Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Resting & recharging is preparing for the […]

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clothes on a rail

The case for getting dressed for work

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

This post was originally written during a time when many universities and workplaces had shifted to remote work in response to the COVID pandemic. Although circumstances have now changed for many people, much of what I say in this post still applies. I’ve been working from home for over 10 years now and the question […]

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A person with heavy black mascara running down their face from their eyes holds up a piece of white paper in front of their mouth with a black pen drawn smile line on it to indicate a fake smile which they hide behind while really sad or upset

Emotional labour is real work

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

This post was originally written during a time when many universities and workplaces had shifted to remote work in response to the COVID pandemic. Although circumstances have now changed for many people, much of what I say in this post still applies. As I watch all the academic Twitter conversations about transitioning to remote teaching […]

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A woman holds her head in her hands with a frustrated facial expression as she stares at her laptop in front of her. there is a wireless mouse, a smartphone and a pair of upturned glasses on the desk nearby.

Not contributing to other people’s email overwhelm

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Not contributing to other people’s email overwhelm As a companion piece to Managing email when you’ve rapidly switched to remote working, I thought I’d also share some tips to make email more effective as a means of communication. Modelling good email practices does create change. If other people find your […]

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A laptop facing the camera on a marble effect desk loading google mail

Managing email when you’ve rapidly switched to remote working

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

This post was originally written during a time when many universities and workplaces had shifted to remote work in response to the COVID pandemic. Although circumstances have now changed for many people, much of what I say in this post still applies.  Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Managing email in the rapid switch […]

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A collection of brightly coloured balls sit in either corner of the photo with a wooden block that has a black question mark on it in the centre.

Planning for known unknowns

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Planning for known unknowns When I write the monthly review newsletter I try to say something specific about that particular month. This is complicated by the international audience for my newsletter. There are different term dates, different holidays, and different weather. I’ve got newsletter subscribers at all stages of […]

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Are you taking breaks?

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Jo VanEvery

 Fatigue impairs cognitive function. In the planning classes I run in the Academic Writing Studio, I talk about the importance of sleep and rest. I suggest things like taking a break away from your desk to each lunch and/or do some kind of movement activity. I talk about doing stretches or something between activities. […]

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the word "WORK" spelled out in wooden letters covered in multi-colour patterns on a white

Lies you’ve been told about loving your work

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Lies you’ve been told about loving your work Your employer exploits the fact that you love your work (or aspects of it) to avoid addressing serious workload pressures, to avoid the cost of appropriate staffing levels, to justifying paying you less, and to avoid addressing the mental health issues […]

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white sign in window of a white wooden door with CLOSED in red capital letter font

Protecting time for writing: Interruptions

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Protecting time for writing: Interruptions I encourage you to make writing a priority and block time so that writing becomes a regular practice, rather than something you only do when you have specific deadlines. Although I recognise that different people will work better in different places, I strongly advocate […]

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Save time on teaching prep, without compromising quality

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · On Definining Learning Objectives I am a fan of articulating learning objectives or expected learning outcomes. (They are outcomes once they’ve happened. Expected outcomes or objectives when you start.) Articulating clearly what you expect students to learn as a result of taking your course can benefit students. It makes […]

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A photo of a neon sign that has been shaped into the word "BEST" in a white glowing light on a dark background.

Don’t do your best!

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Don’t Do Your Best! You know all about perfectionism and why it isn’t equivalent to “striving for excellence“, but is actually a psychological problem that seriously hampers your work. (If you don’t, read the pieces linked here, and maybe talk to a mental health professional.) But I bet you […]

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A painted sign that reads NO on a red background that appears to be the side of a building

Academic citizenship & getting better at saying no

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Academic citizenship & getting better at saying no There are a lot of tasks that when done well, no one even notices. They are essential to the smooth running of your department, institution, and scholarly association, and yet they are often invisible. Even if doing the actual tasks gets […]

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