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
Sometimes you need to say "No"
As an academic there are a lot of demands on your time. You can quickly get overwhelmed. I'm assuming you don't want to use passive-aggressive techniques like doing things badly so no one will ask you or being unfriendly to students so they won't come to office hours.
Knowing when and how to say "No" is an important skill. It leaves you time and energy for the things you want to say "Yes" to. It enables you to focus on your best contribution.
Unpacking “busy”: the importance of being proactive instead of reactive
In a conversation with a long-term client recently I had an Aha! moment. Every one of my clients is busy. Working with me, doesn't necessarily make you less busy. Working with me can make you feel less stressed and make the busy feel a lot different. What is "busy"? Busy can mean a couple of … [Read more...] about Unpacking “busy”: the importance of being proactive instead of reactive
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 for the legitimacy of writing … [Read more...] about Protecting time for writing: Interruptions
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 some recognition, thinking about what needs to be done and … [Read more...] about Academic citizenship & getting better at saying no
Before you can say no …
It’s all well and good for people to tell you “You need to get better at saying no” but there are lots of good reasons saying no is difficult. Even the people giving you that advice aren’t very good at hearing no when it’s them asking you to do things. The upside of the autonomy you have in … [Read more...] about Before you can say no …
