Creating a Satisfying Academic Career with Jo Van Every

If you feel like you are working hard but not accomplishing anything, or that everything takes longer than you expect it to, the problem is likely that you aren't acknowledging all the things you are doing. Related tracks and posts: • Juggling 101: elements of a good plan (soundcloud.com/jovanevery/juggling-101-elements-of-a-good-plan)• You get a lot done (JoVanEvery.co.uk/get-lot-done)• The...

A follow up to "Being an academic in dystopian times (reprise)" with some practical next steps. Things referred to in this post include: • the track "Hope is better than fear"• https://americansofconscience.com • https://jovanevery.co.uk/where-does-confidence-come-from-part-1-meaningfulnessRead the post here: jovanevery.co.uk/prioritising-meaningful-work-when-overwhelmed-powerl...

Thoughts on the value of academic work in the wake of the 2019 UK general election and other things in the news. Read the post here: https://jovanevery.co.uk/being-an-academic-in-dystopian-times-repriseFor more content like this, sign up to the monthly newsletter: jovanevery.co.uk/newsletterFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/JoVanEveryFind my Facebook Page here: facebook.com/JoVEAcademicCareerCoach...

Yes, you read that right: you don't need to do your best. This post is a short pep talk to help you *move on* when you get to "good enough", so you still have time for all the important things you want and need to do. Read the post here: jovanevery.co.uk/dont-do-your-bestFollow me on Twitter: twitter.com/JoVanEveryFind my Facebook Page here: facebook.com/JoVEAcademicCareerCoachJoin...

As an academic, it’s not enough to write. You need to publish your writing. Although those publications are important in hiring, promotion, and other processes, the primary reason you publish is to communicate ideas. Publishing, from the latin 'publicare', means to 'make public'. You do that in several different ways and perhaps for several different audiences, within and beyon...

Focus is crucial to your writing practice, and indeed to keeping your plans on track. Everyone struggles with focus at least some of the time. There is nothing wrong with you. You might frame this struggle in terms of distraction or procrastination. You might think of it terms of willpower. You may have a story about what you need in order to focus that is at odds with what is possible in your cur...

Juggling is a better metaphor for managing your workload (and the relationship between your work and the rest of your life) than balance. This is because it acknowledges the number and variety of responsibilities you are trying to find time for, adjusting for prioritisation and focus. This track sets out some key principles. Composed with academic careers in mind, but probably useful to other care...

My approach to academic careers, academic writing, and academic workloads, is relentlessly optimistic. I am not unrealistic about the difficulties. However, I prefer to focus on the bright points of light and try to expand them rather than despair about the negatives. This post gives you a sense of how that works. Read the post here: jovanevery.co.uk/hope-better-than-fearFollow me on Twitter: twit...

There are a lot of different ways to have an academic career. Your academic career is affected by both your own values and desires, and by forces beyond your control. Although a lot of academic career advice suggests that there is one clear path to success, there are lots of reasons you may not end up on that path. You have choices. You are not alone. Read the post here: jovanevery.co.uk/what-an-a...