Chasing the Dragon, Productivity Addiction and Your CV

Chasing the Dragon, Productivity Addiction and Your CV

Most professional attacks can be defeated by prolific writing and production. 

But sadly, I am not my CV, and no amount of writing can shield me from myself. Just as you aren't your CV, no amount of first-authored publications in grad school and beyond can save you from yourself.

Academic qualifications cannot slay your inner demons, and they may even serve as a socially acceptable addiction in their own right. At my R1 programs, I saw full professors who were credential/competition junkies.  Desperation was a driving force behind them.

Their CVs were terrific. 

It was excruciating to see

You must cultivate an entry-level superpower to rise in modern Academia and reach the high ground where deans quit pondering your trajectory, retention/tenure/promotion (RTP) review committees stop questioning your record. Students applaud when you close out the semester with your lecture on Jon Snow’s famous well, and the beginning of Public Health and John Oliver invites you on his Report to plug your book.

There aren't many articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education that make me sit up and notice, but "Not Quite Bulletproof" is one of them. The author's desire to be "bulletproof," which he describes as a "desperate, futile endeavor," reflects my early days of competitiveness.

Focus on Diverting Missiles

Save your supersonic speed, your laser-beam vision, and your aptitude to speak with aquatic life for emergencies and Christmas parties.

Activating the noun "you" with the verb "to win" diverts missiles like nothing else. Grants and scholarships encase you in armor crafted in the dark reaches of the unknown. People who know you better may tend to believe you're bulletproof if a committee of strangers declares you to be such. They think that to be completely happy and whole; you must let go of what makes you insane. Academia, it seems, demands varying degrees of insanity in all of its adherents.

On the JTTT blog, I urge an unflappable devotion to the length and quality of your CV. I view it as a method of professional self-care. However, the line between productivity and productivity addiction is skinny. Take care of yourself. You don’t put your CV on your gravestone.

So frequently, I desire to detach from academics because I feel like I have failed, even if I enjoy my job. My resume resembles a road map showing all of my blunders. I see only the gaps, the accolades I didn’t achieve, the colleges that didn’t take me. Every time I don’t receive a specific(etc.) feel blueuellikekees a human is so low that I should walk in front of a bus.

I am discovering that I am my mother's daughter. And that I'd be wise to take care of this addiction to productivity before I lose my marriage (as I/'ve seen happen to so many senior academics at R1s.)

Focus on Blocking Attacks.

To acquire a job, to conquer third-year review, to earn tenure, to rise to full professorship, to deserve a Wikipedia article that you didn’t create yourself, all you need to be is bulletproof.

 And if you want a Kevlar career, do as I suggest.

Bulletproofing, like other academic endeavors, begins with those bits of printed black words.

Colleagues launch fire with “the question.” It's an obligatory parting shot after the talk, whether it's about the weather or a hilarious yarn about a cat and a priest who walk into a bar. junior professor responds with a DOI number and a publishing date. “So, how’s the manuscript coming along?”

During my grad school tenure (circa 2012), two publications published in renowned journals defined me as a hard-to-demerit graduate student. In the long run, your manuscripts’ growth (based on your dissertation research) will measure your invincibility after you've been hired.

Grad school has allowed me to write book reviews, review articles, and a chapter for an edited book, all on-demand from the journal's editor. It wasn't until the conclusion of my "training" time that I realized my resume was woefully inadequate for academic achievement. It's true that I also made essential friendships and spent time with people who have become crucial parts of my life during this time. I also saw and enjoyed a lot of places thanks to research trips, and I also had a lot of fun during this time.

On the one hand, I can't understand why people give up their personal lives to feed the academic beast's need for more and more publications. That phenomenon helps explain why the highest ranks of academia are filled with the charred remains of people who were once whole but are now just piles of paper.

On the other hand, I am currently an advanced postdoc fellow on the job market for a full-time TT job in the Medical Sciences. I love what I do, and I find great satisfaction and self-esteem when I get up early every day and sit at my cozy desk to write manuscripts. Do I waste lots of time doing that? Yes. Do I want to do anything else for a career? No. I still gain a lot of rewards (internal and external) when I ‘win’ a fellowship or grant. It feels good to get a poster presentation award. It feels even better when another researcher Google’s you and downloads your most recently published paper.

And, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that education has increasingly become a game for the cis- and non-disabled wealthy white men (with an accent on the words "wealthy" and "man"). It costs t broken hopes when people strive to be bulletproof. This results in an anti-social acid pool that does little to help academics rehabilitate themselves while also giving education's detractors more ammo. Exchange my pleasure for tExchangees of my self-styled superiors beyond my dariboundariessfor anybody who would penetrate their boundaries for one more line on their CV, but I understand.

I once heard someone say that every academic has a “Shadow CV.” A "Shadow CV" with all the fellowships, scholarships, prizes, positions, journal acceptances, and press acceptances that a scholar didn't get is more impressive than a person's accurate CV by someone I heard this from. Sharing our Shadow CVs would allow us to see that our "failures" are not only nothing to be ashamed of but also rich potential grounds for increasing compassion and empathy in our field.

Similar Posts:

• Writing an Academic Research Statement on the Job Market
• Rules of Writing the Academic CV
• How To Write a Journal Article Submission Cover Letter
• How To Write a Revise and Resubmit (R&R) Submission Cover Letter

Flex Your (Academic) Muscle: Happiness is a Skill

 Flex Your (Academic) Muscle: Happiness is a Skill

1. Boost your happiness in Academia this year by intentionally honing these skills and shifting your mindset. 

    “Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.” — Mark Twain

Rejection is unavoidable: 6 meaningful ways to deal and move on

Rejection is unavoidable: 

6 meaningful ways to deal and move on

So you're a writer, right? Are you a scholar? Do you want to be a scientific writer? You're a graduate student, right? Have you prepared yourself for being turned down? What about being mocked? 

You'll have to cope with a lot of rejection, some of which will be nice and some of which will be downright cruel. Some will come from publishers, some from readers, and, believe it or not, a significant portion of it will come from you. You'll start to beat yourself up as you internalize other people's opinions. Even people you don't know will criticize your work. They'll tell you that their granny is a more excellent writer than you are. That's what occurred to me, at least. Recently.

In the end, it will help you become a better writer. But it feels like someone hit you in the gut and left you gasping for oxygen right now. Rejection is unavoidable as a writer, but it doesn't make it less terrible. So, what are your strategies for dealing with rejection? Let's talk about it.

Believe me when I say that I understand. It seems incredibly personal when you've spent months, if not years, creating a novel. You've isolated yourself from family and friends, sat in front of a computer screen for hours, and chronicled a whole universe that exists only in your vivid imagination. You've worked hard to build characters who you either love or despise. To you, everything is factual—every single detail. It's all there.

In the end, it will help you become a better writer. But it feels like someone hit you in the gut and left you gasping for oxygen right now. Rejection is unavoidable as a writer, but it doesn't make it less terrible. So, what are your strategies for dealing with rejection? Let's talk about it.

7 Ways to Regain Happiness in your Academic Career

7 IDEAS TO GAIN BACK HAPPINESS IN YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER

1. Meditate. You know that moment you realize you've been staring at the same paragraph of writing for like 15 minutes? And you don't know how long you've actually spaced out? Yeah,  those are the times to meditate.  Your brain needs a break. Help your brain take a real nice break by taking even just 5 minutes to sit quietly and follow your breath can help you feel more conscious and connected for the rest of your day.

2. Focus On One Thing At A Time. Remember that feeling of overwhelming lists of to do things,  which you did write down, that are strewn across 7 identical white pieces of scrap paper? REAL TALK: My desk is a mess with things to do. When this happens I need to focus on one thing.  It doesn't matter that your lists aren't coalesced into a tidy "Master  To Do List". Just pick one email to answer.  Or pick one Discussion to edit.  Take one reviewer comment and write the response memo. Please sit, and do one thing.  Pick the easiest,  smallest thing to build your confidence (if nothing is due today) (Other Academics might tell you to tackle the biggest task. I wouldn't, but you should try to see if finishing the Big Task relieves your anxiety more.) 

5 Simple Steps IF SOMETHING IS DUE TODAY: 1) clear off your desk,  visually,  quick dump on the kitchen table is perfect. 2) Find your backgrounds nose,  or silence.  3) close the door, sit down in a proper chair,  and 4) Deep breathe In,  hold it for 3 counts of "Mississippi "'s. EXHALE.  5) Get to work! **When you finish your task,  treat yourself.  It will reinforce your brain wiring to enjoy these academic tasks. So,  in the future,  your brain won't panic in waves of anxiety,  imposter syndrome, panic.  <I personally suffered from bi- monthly panic attacks beginning in my Masters coursework.  I sought out a psychiatrist,  counselor,  and intensive therapy to get help. No shame.  I take medication and counseling as current treatments to help my mental health. Get help in grad school if you need it.  It is common to haven anxiety,  panic,  major depression and other symptoms during graduate school.>

3. Slow Down. Savor the process, whether it’s writing a report, drinking a cup of tea, or cleaning out closets. 

4. Eat Healthfully. Eat like a grown up. Eating your meal without the TV, computer or paper in front of you. LEARN how to shop for weekly groceries for meals you'll need.  Do you like coming every night? Once a week meal prep? Either or in between is fine.  Pick a strategy and do the thing every X often. Get 5 servings each day of fresh fruits,  green vegetables,-- not corn,  potatoes or peas. Pack your lunch when you go to your office. Don't rely on gray greasy fast foods to feed your brain. 

5. Keep Phone and Computer Time In Check. Set boundaries and time limits on screen time. Treat grad school like a job. That's the best advice I've gotten during my Masters. Get up at the same time everyday and go to your office/ desk/ library and put in 8 hours, 5-6 days a week.   Go home,  forget about writing, research, classes, teaching. Keep your phone on silent in your top drawer. Try setting up a web browser blocker.  It blocks your favorite websites you tend to waste time on. You get 20 minutes of time to go on these sensors and social media,  then blocks access to them during your work hours. 

6. Move. Whether it’s walking, practicing yoga, or just stretching at your desk, become aware of your body’s sensations by moving. I personally love my electronic lift,  standing desk from Amazon.

7. Spend Time In Nature. Take walks through a park, the woods, mountain trails or by the beach – wherever you can go outside,  relax. Your human-ness doesn't like to be in concrete buildings all the time.  Go to a new park,  walk the sidewalks of the campus for a quick 15- min walk! It's a great way to appreciate the campus you work with. 

Similar Posts:

1. Using the FORCE to Write Better (Academically): "Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try"
2. You Really Need Recommendations From Faculty Outside Your Department: Academic Job Market 101
3. Rejection is unavoidable: 6 meaningful ways to deal and move on
4. How To Write a Journal Article Submission Cover Letter
5. Writing Your Own Reference Letters for an Assistant Professor Job

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5 Easy Steps To Start using Trello Templates for Academic Writing Project Management

When I discovered how to effectively use a project management tool, my publication pipeline blew up!

Every day, I know exactly what sections I need to write for the day when that draft is due to be sent to co-authors or out for review. I keep my Trello "boards" very simple, or else I get overwhelmed. I only use my Trello templates for my publications and research ONLY. Why? Because my academic career goals are focused on XX, in order to accomplish that, I need to write X number of publications each year to get tenure. So, I organize my time according to my goals. If/When my goal changes, my project management style will change with it. Your project management system should be able to grow with you as you progress on you Journey To Tenure Track. 

Just 5 easy steps to get your research and almost-done writing projects organized and ready to tackle in easy, small steps!  These Trello templates address three frequent issues that arise while publishing academic manuscripts. These Trello templates address frequent problems that occur while publishing scholarly writing works.  You can use this template to jump-start an almost-completed article, start new research manuscripts, finish a revise and resubmit (R&R), all with this template. TRELLO breaks down all those paper-related to-do lists in your head into doable chores, so all you have to do now is put them on your planner and go. With these templates, you'll never make the mistake of putting "That Old Summer Manuscript" on your to-do list instead of a writing activity

1.    Sign up for Trello (free). Trello offers academic publication templates for Assistant, Associate, Full Professors to suit your publication needs,  it's free,  and I don't get a commission for this personal recommendation. **Grad students** This academic thesis board was created to help students break down the writing of a thesis into manageable chunks. It can either be private or shared between the student and the supervisor. Aaron Price created and shared the thesis template, Western University Engineering.

2.     Copy the academic template(s) linked above into your new account. 

3.     Edit the board and add ALL of your manuscripts to the board. You can assign tasks to students, RA's, co-authors and yourself. I take the time to quickly add "covers" to my Trello cards. It is one small way to color-code your tasks for quick reference.

4.     Have a Sunday Meeting-- take the tasks from the "Publications" board and copy 1-3 tasks for each day of the next working week. <Comment below: Blog Post Idea: Why Academics need a Sunday Meeting>

5.     Make separate boards for teaching responsibilities,  mentoring tasks,  and/or administrative tasks.  You could add a board for each committee you are actively working on. Trello offers limitless possibilities to organize your academic tasks more efficiently during the workweek and enjoy your "off" time without Guilt. 6) [optional] takes 15 minutes to sign collaborators' or student researchers' names to any publications, teaching,  or administrative tasks.

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Ok fellow Academicians--WHAT DO YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR THE WEEK OF WRITING, RESEARCH, AND TEACHING? Personally, I've been trying out having a 15- minute meeting with myself on Sundays to re-assess the week ahead.  I personally use,  Trello.com to organize my publications in writing,  a daily breakdown of specific tasks to do each day (i.e., Monday,  Tuesday,  Wednesday, ...).

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Academic Guilt: The Consequences of "Publish or Perish"

 

Similar Posts:

1. Cover Letter Series pt.4: The Worst Job Application Letter Ever Written
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Welcome to my Journey to Tenure Track: All things Academia

Welcome to My Journey To Tenure Track

I'm still at my first job. I'm now 30-ish and I've been at this University for 3 years going on for.  Since it's technically still my first post,  I am still reading professional situations wrong.... and subsequently feeling upset that my expectations weren't met.  I'll elaborate on this later...

So,  on my blog on this cozy corner of the internet,  I want to share REAL professional advice,  career troubleshooting, Q&A brainstorm REAL LIFE problems we specifically face as women trying to make it in a "working man's" world.** Cheugy, but very true today. I don't know about you other professional ladies, really I've been living in an academic rock for a decade, what advice so you need? What advice would you tell your younger self, sister or niece? 

**Academia is my career field and in research heavy jobs,  men are often the Principal  Investigators (PIs) that get the grant money to pay for the scientific study.  Women are able to get money and grants and run scientific studies,  but the ratio of male Full Professors to female Full Professors varies greatly from department to department.

Tuesday. First day back at work (remotely from 1 highway exit away from the University ha!).  (Comment below if you're interested in my long break of from work. ) I meet with "Dr.C" online over the prominent video internet platform.  In a nervous wreck! My boss and mentor had always been super laid back but I was expecting a backlash of harsh professional academic speak that amounted to a 30 minute scolding "I should have fired you a long time ago" in a tenured tone. AND yes know what ladies,  I sat there with my makeup on and hung my head low, put my hands over my face and tried to hold on those tears.  Kinda failed. Kinda held it together long enough to ask for my job to keep and continue the meeting with the questions I had for my projects to move forward. 

I guess that's what working is sometimes... or, rather, just having trouble starting your career. Kinda failing while also kinda snapping it back to kinda hold it all together. You see,  I always wanted to be a doctor. Always. I studied extra biology,  statistics, aging, and later on post- graduate studying more on gerontology,  Alzheimer's, and more abscess statistics. I've spent 13 years studying for my education to be called a doctor.  But here I am, a young married woman in her 30s...crying on camera in her hands,  then sitting up and holding it together like a m*thrf*king Full Professor. Life happens and work gets pushed lower down in priority because my family needed me. Then one day you push through the depression and anxiety... and you pick it up and GO! I don't mean go demean your physical limitations or mental illness. Those are real and legitimate barriers to be successful in any career. Academia gets pretty competitive. 

But for most of you reading who are able- bodied or disabled, we as humans are sensitive. We get hurt and depressed by doing all the work while getting no recognition. But we all start our career somewhere.  If you have more experience,  do you remember your first real career as an independent woman job? How did you feel? Did you get respect,  indifference, ignored or listened too? I'm genuinely concerned at how I am going cope with having a work relationship with coworkers,  keep motivation to keep publishing or perishing, and take more time succeeding? I do admit, y'all, I still have some residual fears and neurotism held over from grad school. But that's another post, another day on how to succeed at graduate school,  tenure, retention and promotion (RTP). 

I find my best professional advice--and one way to get some of that depressy feeling to go away is,  "If you can't be happy,  be useful." My mother-in-law said it to my younger,  now-husband if he was ever feeling down,  bored or sad for no reason.  And she was right.  I even asked my therapist and she confirmed that one of the best things we a humans can do is to keep a schedule.  Keep doing the boring things.  Keep getting up. Make the need.  So the laundry.  Go to work.  Eat.  Shower.  Exercise.  Repeat.  And eventually,  my mood lifts enough to see the sunshine in the everyday. 

One of those things I just love to get super involved in is baking and cooking (Above: My kitchen).  More baking and making food stuff-- crafting artisan cheese made from local NY Jersey cows and goats. I would like to share my hobby of simple Midwest home cooking, artisan cheese crafting and adding, and sharing some first- career- job tales with you.  I hope you like following my day-to-day and not-so-adventurous living as an early career professional. 

Thank you for reading and spending some time on my corner of the internet. Fellow students and grad students and postdoc and Assistant  professors, or anyone else trying to make it in your first career job,  please start tuned for more as I document my first job... and cooking and baking my way thru my 30s. 

Sincerely Yours xx,

JOURNEY to TENURE TRACK

Start Reading our Cover Letter Series:

1. Cover Letter Series, part 1: The Crucial First Paragraph
2. Cover Letter Series, Part 2.: Research and Contribution Sections
3. Cover Letter Series pt.3: The Teaching-Centric Letter
4. Cover Letter Series pt.4: The Worst Job Application Letter Ever Written
5. 12 Sentences That Should Be Included in Your Academic Cover Letter

More Posts to Read:

1. How to Write a Killer Scientific Research Paper 
2. Using the FORCE to Write Better (Academically)
3. You Really Need Recommendations From Faculty Outside Your Department
4. Rejection is unavoidable: 6 meaningful ways to deal and move on