Wednesday Wisdom: Daily Discipline

Ah, once again, I forgot to post my "Monday Motivator."  Instead I'll call it "Wednesday Wisdom."

Monday Motivator aka Wednesday Wisdom: Daily Discipline

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“My life as a writer consists of 1/8 talent and 7/8 discipline.”

               -- John Irving

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*** Are you setting priorities and tackling important items first?

*** Are you making reasonable "to do" lists and then following through?

*** Are you writing, for at least a short amount of time, on a near-daily basis?

*** Are you avoiding long email meanderings and web surf sessions that are periods of procrastination disguised as research?

Any large, long-term project -- whether it is a dissertation, book manuscript, article or grant -- is better accomplished with steady, consistent work than with intense, exhausting binges.

Marathons, not sprints, are the key to becoming a successful academic.

This week aim for productive, disciplined days and focus on the process of building up good work habits.

I'll be curious to hear how it goes.

Until next week,

Mary

Comments

[Don Sturgill]

Thank you, Mary. I am a new reader, having just found your blog, and today's Motivator is just what I needed to hear. Wishing you the very best.

[academic coach]

Thank you Don, hope to see you back here.

[Percival]

And yet the academic who would change the world is, I daresay, nine parts inspiration.

[Kath]

Now that am 'off' for the summer, I have written 62 pages in 11 days; haven't written every day but nearly. I am still a spurt writer, but I am taming it and getting something done every day, even if it is references typed, etc.

And this IS news to me: I am better at writing when I can switch between 3 different writing projects. Instead of stopping at one's writer's block, I can switch to another and still be productive for a few more hours.

Now, if anyone has a cure for the "writers elbow" my ortho doc just diagnosed! I seem to 'lean' on my elbows when I write and think (I write on a laptop on an architect's slant desk - very comfortable but even with the pillow, the tendonitis is back). I got it first when I had a sabbatical to write a book and leaned on it for 6 months straight!

So Mary, your techniques certainly are helping me. Thanks!