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Dear friends,
This month’s topic was inspired by a mentee's question about managing simultaneous deadlines. What do you do when you have multiple papers and a grant to push out the door? How do you efficiently work on more than one writing project? The more senior you become, the more critical it is to master this way of working. I don’t have a perfect solution, but I can share a few strategies.
If you need to finish something, work on it every day. On the days when I have 8 hours of meetings, I write one sentence. I know it seems trivial, but it actually saves a lot of time. If you look at your writing every day, you don’t have to re-familiarize yourself with it when you have a longer window of work time. You also will find yourself thinking about it during your idle time, in the shower or doing dishes or whatever.
I know that all of you have time set aside in your week for writing (if you don’t, open your calendar right now and block off time!). Plan in advance what you will work on during your writing block. Don’t lose time figuring out what you’re in the mood to do! Over time you will learn how many distinct scientific products your brain can handle in one day. For me, whether I have a whole day or 2 hours, I cannot move between more than three papers or grants. Switching tasks creates cognitive demand, and I can’t think if I add on a fourth intellectually demanding project. So, if I put in substantive work on 3 separate items, I switch to lower-demand work like planning my education/ training work or addressing my email.
If you stall out on a writing project, don’t stare at a blank page! There are several strategies for getting unstuck: (1) take a break- I find movement helps, but some people get into a better brain space even if they do some chores. 5 minutes can make a difference here, so don’t be afraid to try this even if you feel pressed for time; (2) have a meeting- ask a collaborator to chat with you for 10-15 minutes. Articulating an argument or dilemma to someone else can spark new insights; (3) find low-hanging fruit- can you make a figure? Find some references? Give yourself permission to do something writing-adjacent, knowing that you may be cognitively maxed out and can turn back to this tomorrow.
Finally, use your team! You can ask co-authors and mentors to contribute, more than you expect. It’s completely acceptable to send out specific requests to collaborators and to ask mentors to help you strategize. If someone can give you a starting point, it can be much easier to move it over the finish line than if you’re responsible for every step.
I’ll end with a request- Please share this blog widely and encourage your friends and colleagues to subscribe here. I truly appreciate hearing from all of you, and I love to amplify your work. Keep the good news coming!
Warmly,
Urmimala