Real Academics Blog

Dear Real Academics Are you ready for the Fall semester? If yes, great! If not, I get it. Regardless, here are some tips to make sure you are off to the “write” start — and yes, “write” is intentional… (1) MINDSET - Prioritize your writing. As important as all the meetings, classes you need to prep, and emails you need to answer are, NOTHING is as important as your writing. Writing is what helps you graduate, get promoted, and…most importantly…get your academic research/thinking out into the world. So, get in the mindset — first and foremost — that writing is a priority in your academic work. (2) TOOLS - Use a calendar to map out your first month Whether you use an electronic calendar or a paper based calendar or planner, write out your events for the first month (or, if you can, for the entire semester). My suggestion of how to do this? Write in all the non-negotiable meetings times your administration sets. Write in all your class time and office hours. Write in your scheduled writin

Dear Real Academic, Anyone frying or melting, yet? We hope not! Tiberio and I are certainly getting used to humid, boiling heat here in Miami, Florida (we were in dry, furnace summer heat in Las Vegas, Nevada for 8 years previously which, isn’t any better , in our opinion). But, we are so very thankful for air-conditioning, ice, shade, and water. Of course, if you are in a place where summers are anywhere between 70 and 80 degrees F, then…just stop reading...yup…just stop…just kidding! You can keep reading. :-) I wanted to share 3 tips to keep you writing through the hot summer months: Tip #1: Sleep in Yup. Contrary to any and all productivity recommendations, I am going to recommend you sleep in. Why? Because: (a) You are probably in a time of the year where you don’t have to make a morning meeting or teach a morning class. (b) Sleep is critical for creativity. Disclaimer: Do NOT do this if (a) You have a killer routing going for you and (b) You are NOT even slightly tired, exhaust