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You are here: Home / Archives for procrastination

Procrastination

Everyone struggles with procrastination. It may be limited to a particular project or task. Or it may pervade a whole area of your life. Procrastination is not laziness . It is resistance. Posts tagged procrastination look at different things procrastination may be telling you and what to do about it. You might also want to check out posts tagged Focus. Optimizing Focus: 3 elements to consider is a good place to start.

Is this Real Writing or procrastination?

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Jo VanEvery

A recent Twitter interaction with another writing coach helped me clarify some of the principles that underpin my approach to academic writing. Please, please, please remember that what is good advice for writers of young adult fantasy is not necessarily good advice for early career researchers! #AcWri https://t.co/hY9GjO51ml — Thomas Basbøll (@Inframethod) January 31, 2018 […]

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Is tidying your desk procrastination?

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Jo VanEvery

As you may know, my definition of writing as “anything that moves your writing project forward”. Typically, this expands your sense of legitimate activities to include reading, taking notes, going for a walk so you can think through the ideas you are working on, or sorting out your project files. A couple of things have […]

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A row of brown and white speckled dairy cows facing the camera in a line in a grassy muddy field

Pressure vs Ease

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Jo VanEvery

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Pressure vs Ease Deadline Day? I have noticed in social media posts and in conversations with clients that a lot of people use deadlines as a way to motivate themselves. Or at least the story they tell themselves, is that they need a deadline to ensure that they will […]

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When your writing project needs to be left alone

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

Sometimes what your project needs to move forward is to be left alone so the ideas can mull, ferment, or percolate in the back of your mind. This stage will feel painful, unproductive, and like you are procrastinating. Strategies for the mulling phase Physical work is a good option. Our brains work better when we are […]

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A person standing and looking at a dark blue wall filled with yellow post-it notes stuck to the wall in an overwhelming cluster. The notes indicate a place on a mindmap which is drawn in black marker underneath.

One thing at a time?

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Jo VanEvery 1 Comment

This post is part of a series on Optimizing Focus. Finding it hard to focus is normal. Self-flagellation does not work to improve your focus. Furthermore it takes time and energy that takes you away from your writing; it is another distraction. I firmly believe that you can approach your work compassionately rather than violently. […]

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A phone is turned face down on a circular marble table with a small child playing with colourful bricks in the background

Distraction: not the usual suspects

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Distraction: not the usual suspects Distraction is the enemy of productivity. There’s all kinds of time management and productivity advice telling you to track what you are doing and get rid of all the meaningless tasks that don’t contribute to moving your project forward. There are apps and strategies […]

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A hand drawn illustration of a large purple and blue spaceship with beaming yellow light abducting a black silhouette human figure

Abducted by aliens

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

I’m fond of this Eisenhower quote: Plans are worthless, but planning is everything. (From a speech to the National Defense Executive Reserve Conference in Washington, D.C. (November 14, 1957) ; in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1957, National Archives and Records Service, Government Printing Office, p. 818 ) This is […]

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A black and white photo of a shaft of light illuminating the door of prison cell bars.

Getting out of Grading Jail*

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Jo VanEvery 1 Comment

Jo VanEvery, Academic Career Guide · Getting out of grading jail *the term “grading jail” is borrowed from a popular Twitter hashtag #gradingjail At this time of year, it is tempting to drop everything else and just grade all the time. After all, you have lots of grading. You might as well get through it […]

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You are not a procrastinator: Is this a “no” in disguise?

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

I’ve had more than one client recently worry about their inability to get down to their writing. This is not a minor problem. It can lead you to question your ability to do the work you are doing and to question your own identity. If you aren’t an academic and a writer, who are you? […]

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You are not a procrastinator: Will you look like a fool?

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Jo VanEvery Leave a Comment

I’ve had more than one client recently worry about their inability to get down to their writing. This is not a minor problem. It can lead you to question your ability to do the work you are doing and to question your own identity. If you aren’t an academic and a writer, who are you? […]

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You are not a procrastinator: Can you do it?

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Jo VanEvery 1 Comment

I’ve had more than one client recently worry about their inability to get down to their writing. This is not a minor problem. It can lead you to question your ability to do the work you are doing and to question your own identity. If you aren’t an academic and a writer, who are you? […]

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You are not a procrastinator: What needs your attention?

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Jo VanEvery 3 Comments

I’ve had more than one client recently worry about their inability to get down to their writing. This is not a minor problem. It can lead you to question your ability to do the work you are doing and to question your own identity. If you aren’t an academic and a writer, who are you? […]

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