Learning to say “no”
…you’re not THAT busy, it’s just that your job IS your life. It doesn’t have to be. Make a break. Take a breath. It doesn’t all need to get done. Learn to make choices. (David Phipps, commenting on...
View ArticleIs your mind always racing?
I heard an interesting interview on my local CBC Saturday morning show* recently. The interviewee was a news anchor who had decided not to be plugged in and available 24/7 but rather to limit his smart...
View ArticlePracticing what I preach
I tell you to take a vacation. I am taking a vacation. My daughter and I are headed to Niagara to visit with my parents and see a bunch of plays at the Shaw Festival. I’ll be back in the office on...
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Are you dropping the “eating well” ball?
During my planning classes I have participants note which balls typically get dropped for them during term time. When I asked how many people noticed that they ate less well or didn’t sleep enough...
View ArticleTaking on a leadership role
Taking on a management/leadership role, even at the department level is a big deal. You might be really excited about the possibilities and have all kinds of plans for how you can make things better...
View ArticleOpposite day as a decision making strategy
An article in Inside Higher Ed about saying “no” and a question on a forum I participate in combined to make me aware of a strategy that might be helpful when faced with a difficult decision. What if...
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You’ve (almost) made it
It’s December. You’ve worked hard this semester. You could really use a real break between semesters to rest and recharge. To make it more likely that you will take that break and be refreshed by it, I...
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Have you come down with something?
Image by Tara Hunt, Creative Commons license CC BY 2.0 I’ve noticed a few people posting on social media about the annual end of term cold. Given how chaotic it already is in December, being sick/ill*...
View ArticleFatigue impairs cognitive function
There is lots of research showing that fatigue impairs cognitive function. This is why the military has “boot camp” to make certain behaviours and decisions almost instinctual so they can be done even...
View ArticleHow 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...
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Introducing That Selfish Bastard
A couple of recent client conversations renewed my motivation to write more about managing the number of things you are juggling. Those conversations made me realize that you want to say yes to things....
View ArticleTaking on a leadership role
Taking on a management/leadership role, even at the department level is a big deal. You might be really excited about the possibilities and have all kinds of plans for how you can make things better...
View ArticleClik here to view.
You’ve (almost) made it
It’s December. You’ve worked hard this semester. You could really use a real break between semesters to rest and recharge. To make it more likely that you will take that break and be refreshed by it, I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Have you come down with something?
Image by Tara Hunt, Creative Commons license CC BY 2.0 Universities bring together people from a wide range of places, each with their own strains of common viruses, and put them in close quarters....
View ArticleHow 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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Introducing That Selfish Bastard
A couple of recent client conversations renewed my motivation to write more about managing the number of things you are juggling. Those conversations made me realize that you want to say yes to things....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Taking a real break between semesters
In the past week or so I’ve had a few conversations with clients about the relationship between accomplishing their writing goals for the semester and taking a real break over the Christmas holiday. As...
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Sleep is not a luxury
It seems that there is an epidemic of sleep problems and inability to actually relax out there. I’m going to share a few thoughts. Sleep is important. Not only does lack of sleep impair cognitive...
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Cycles of the academic year & intensity of work
I am a wee bit bossy about sleep and rest. In this post I want to talk about something related: intensity of work, what is normal, and the importance of cycles in the academic year. You are tired at...
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Mid-semester burnout
Academic staff at 60 UK universities are on strike from 25 November to 4 December. The week before the strike, I saw some Twitter conversations about the upcoming strike, workload, and the fact that...
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