Thread by @MushtaqBilalPhD

Academic folks, do you know your ONE HABIT that's HOLDING YOU BACK?

FAKE-WORKING

What's fake-working and how to stop doing it?

🧵

1/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #PhDlife #PhDchat #PhDvoice

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Fake-working is when you *think* you're working but actually you're NOT.

Example: Browsing JSTOR aimlessly, answering unimportant emails, etc.

2/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Fake-working is NOT productive procrastination.

Why?

Because in productive procrastination, you're still doing something "productive."

Example: You're reading articles to avoid writing. You're not writing but what you're reading is still useful.

3/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics How to detect if you're fake-working?

After a work session, write down what you accomplished in the session.

If you struggle to write down precisely what you did, it was fake-working.

4/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics How to stop fake-working?

Simple!

Start an Accountability Journal.

5/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Before starting a work session, write down what you will do.

Keep these sessions limited to 25 min (in the start).

Or 45 min, if 25 min is too short a period for you to get into your groove.

After the session, write down what you did, and if you faced any problems.

6/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Leave your work station the moment a session is over.

This is a MUST.

Don't be like, let me watch a few cat videos.

If you want to watch cat videos, schedule a session for that.

Then put it in your Accountability Journal.

7/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Once your work day is over you MUST NOT work anymore.

I know people who properly pack their laptops at the end of the day even when they work from home.

NOT WORKING is as important as working.

8/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Fill your non-working hours with activities YOU ENJOY.

I enjoy watching my son practice drumming.

I also enjoy listening to music while having (quite) a few drinks 😀

9/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Be intentional when you're working.

Be equally intentional when you're NOT working.

BOTH are important. EQUALLY!

Follow these tips for a week and see your productivity increase manifold.

10/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Quick question: What do you do when you fake-work?

I used to write unimportant emails and pretend I was working.

11/12

@AcademicChatter @Momademia @PhD_Genie @ThePhDPlace @PhDVoice @OpenAcademics Hopefully, this thread will make you more self-aware and you will stop fake-working.

Cheers!

12/12