How to get your work done when you are distracted AF
Plus a cat photo, as these times call for cat photos
Hello and welcome to Academia Made Easier. I am so glad that you are here.
The past week felt like a lot to me. I was very sick for most of it, alternating sleeping with sniffling, sneezing, and self-pity. I am feeling a bit in limbo due to a recent change of plans. And, in case you hadn’t heard yet, my country is facing economic attack from our closest ally, undoing decades upon decades upon decades of cooperation and trust, and leaving me worrying about national sovereignty, our country’s future, and the wellbeing of Canadians about to face job loss and/or economic hardship due to [insert your own theory about why Trump does things here].
I am distracted. Very distracted.
Perhaps you can relate?
My distraction hasn’t changed any due dates or job responsibilities. Emails keep coming and my to-do list keeps growing despite the fact that my mind is in many places. And I want to get my work done, because I like (most of) my work. I like feeling productive. I like moving forward. And I like being distracted from what is distracting me. (Fact: obsessing about your country’s future is Not Fun.)
The good news is that it is possible to move your work forward even when you are distracted as fuck. So if you, like me, have a lot of things competing for your mental space right now, today’s small thing to try immediately is for you.
One Small Thing to Try Immediately: Set a timer
Over a decade ago, I learned about the pomodoro technique and it changed my life. The basic idea is to set a timer for a short interval of time (20-30 minutes), work without distractions or interruptions for the time interval, and then take a short break. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
It is a popular technique because it works. It is a good way to get started, as you know you will stop after 20 minutes. It is a good way to build momentum. (See “How to quit waiting for motivation to get started on important projects” for why momentum is so valuable.) If, like me, you like to pair breaks with treats, it is a good way to achieve your daily caffeine, chocolate, and cat-petting goals.
Here is how to implement this idea:
1. Pick a timer to use. You don’t need a new app for this (but if you want one, there are many pomodoro timer apps out there). If you have access to a digital assistant (Siri, Alexa, whatever the Google assistant is called…), a timer on your phone’s clock app or on your watch, or even — GASP!!!😱 — a physical kitchen timer, you are good to go.
2. Pick a time interval. The ‘official’ pomodoro technique calls for 20-30 minutes of work time. I often use that. I also often use shorter intervals — as short as 5 minutes. Adapt the time interval to fit your needs. If my goal is to get myself launched on something I am avoiding, 20 minutes can be just enough time to trigger my highly developed procrastination system, so I aim lower. If my goal is to limit the amount of time I spend on something (hello, email!), I definitely aim lower. If my goal is to build momentum, I will pick 20-25 minutes. I rarely select 30 minutes — I really do enjoy my cat-petting, coffee, and chocolate breaks.
3. Work the interval without distraction or interruption. Turn off your email and message apps, shut your door, silence your phone. For the time interval, focus on what you committed to working on. If your brain is like mine (aka: a bit of an asshole), you will have regular impulses to ‘just check’ something. Tell that impulse to fuck off and keep working. Get to the end of the interval. Then walk around a bit, allow yourself to check news or email or social media if you must, and feel satisfied that you moved your work forward.
And then, if you want to, when the short break is over, do another interval.
I have gotten through full work days this way. I have written books this way. And grading is so much more bearable with this approach. I strongly encourage you to try it out, or to try it again if it is a tool you rarely use. It is worth the 20 (or 10, or 5) minutes to experiment with.
Until next time…
The world is a lot these days. In this chaotic context, I am more convinced than ever of the necessity of higher education and the advancement of knowledge. The wellbeing of everyone working in postsecondary education is important to achieve our sector’s potential. So please, look after your coworkers and students, and look after yourself. You matter. And we have a long road ahead.
Stay well, my colleagues.
P.S. Time for a cat photo! Below is Storm, with Bandit in the background. Such sweeties!
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Have you got your copy of my new book, For the Public Good: Reimagining Arts Graduate Programs in Canadian Universities? If not, please order it now (and/or ask your university library to get a copy), be sure to sign up for the related Substack “Reimagining Graduate Education”, and note that my coauthors and I welcome invitations to work with units to implement the book’s ideas! Reviewer feedback of note:
“It is the kind of quietly good book we need to see more of. … This book provides a very solid description of the process of defining and developing excellent, sustainable arts programs that serve students rather than academics. And not only is it dead-on in terms of its recommendations about how to design and evaluate programs, it has a lot of helpful matrices and worksheets to help those who are put in positions requiring them to do exactly that … More like this, please." - Alex Usher
“Nearly half the book is dedicated to charting a transformative course for liberal arts departments.... If For the Public Good can provide the impetus for social sciences and humanities departments to refine their graduate studies programs, the career outcomes for tens of thousands of grad students will be the better for it. That alone would move the needle on Canada’s public good problem." - Literary Review of Canada
Hey friend, hope you feel better soon, in all the ways 🤍
Dear Loleen, Thank you so much for your post today. As a recovering perfectionist academic, I have often taken much comfort and inspiration from the personal experiences and suggestions you've shared. Having grown up just across the lake from Toronto, in Rochester, NY, I am disgusted, ashamed, and deeply saddened by the cruelty and arrogant ignorance that nearly half of the people on this side of the border voted into office. It's heartbreaking to know that the damage and stress is being felt well beyond U.S. borders. I have always felt that Canada was a more sane and civilized place than the U.S. Now more than ever I wish I had been born on the other side of the lake (although living in Philadelphia now provides somewhat of a protective bubble.) Thank you for sharing your tips to maintain sanity where we can. I've found that investing and identifying with the people we love and care about, including family, friends, students, and colleagues, rather than the bigger evils that I can't directly control, helps me stay grounded. All the best.