“Let’s be real.
Writing is gratifying when our thoughts gush out of our heads like cream from a cake. When we pump out a good piece by the end of the day.
Those are our BEST moments.
But every so often, we fall into a pit. Our minds blank out. We burn out. And no matter how hard we force ourselves to jump back into writing, we can’t.”
Sorry. Please. Thank you. #KindnessMatters
What should we really start with having in mind that emotional intelligence is nothing but just a list of things to check or exams to pass? Where can I start when I don’t have time to read books, perform EQ tests or develop new skills? Three words are enough!
Source: The 3 Words Used By Highly Emotionally Intelligent People
I also recommend people keep a file or box of the kind notes, emails, etc. you receive from students and colleagues. It helps on those days where the being faculty doesn’t always feel like a great job.
Many people in the working world have one, or if we don’t, we’ve looked, wondering, “Would so-and-so make a good mentor?” But when was the last time you asked yourself, “Am I a good mentee?”
“Make email a visible task. Emens refers to admin work as invisible labor because it’s not recognized as work tasks but something people do compulsively on devices while multitasking. Try giving this task a name, that is, build it into your to-do list or time on your calendar.”
Source: “Work Email Is a Task That Needs to be Tamed, Not Ignored” – HigherEdJobs
This article has some great tips for videoconferencing and interviews.
“Just make the best choices you can about the things that you can control, and greet the surprises with grace and humor. Once you’ve done your best to create the right professional conditions, the only thing to do is relax.”
https://chroniclevitae.com/news/2160-ready-for-your-close-up?cid=VTEVPMSED1
“You’d think that sitting down and putting pen to paper wouldn’t be that life-changing of a practice. But trust me, without it you wouldn’t be reading this.”
Let go of the fantasy that you must use every minute of a strictly planned class schedule to introduce, explain, clarify, and cover.
Source: How to Prepare for Class Without Overpreparing | ChronicleVitae
“This is a list of books and software I use in my work with PhD students and my own academic life. I only recommend what I genuinely think is awesome.”
“When we’re tempted to be harsh, critical, and judgmental with ourselves, can we instead choose to have compassion: acknowledging our suffering, noting how this makes us human and that we are not alone, and trying to be gentle or kind with ourselves (or at least refrain from beating ourselves up—’if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all’)?”
Source: Six Habits of Highly Compassionate People | Greater Good Magazine
Brandon Hunt, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS 