We're thrilled to introduce THINK Academia, a new @Cactusglobal initiative against bullying.
Join the movement to build a safer academia - one that is Thoughtful, Humane, Inclusive, Nurturing, and Kind.
Sign the THINK Academia Pledge: bit.ly/3SvxCoK#ItsTimeWeTHINK
ALT CACTUS presents THINK Academia - a global initiative against bullying in academia.
To learn more, follow us @CactusMHS | #ItsTimeWeTHINK
ALT This is an illustration by @lizandmollie. It depicts two pages out of a notepad, appearing side-by-side. The one on the left-hand side is titled "TO-DO LIST" and has lines drawn on it with no text.
The one on the right-hand side is titled DONE List and mentions these as a numbered list:
1 Goals you've achieved
2 Projects you finished
3 Obstacles you overcame
4 Hard moments you survived
5 Progress you've made
This creative encourages us to focus not just on the things that need to get done (a task list), which might be overwhelming, but rather on what has already been done/achieved.
It's perfectly okay to say no to an interesting opportunity if you don’t have the time, energy, or if it means sacrificing your personal time. 💯
You’re allowed to say ‘no’ even if your reasons don’t make sense to others.
@ThePhDPlace#AcademicTwitter
Image: @lizandmollie
ALT This is an illustration by @lizandmollie depicting a flowchart that addresses the question: 'Should you take on that non-urgent, non-important request?'
The flowchart starts with the question, 'Do you want to do it?' and offers three possible responses: yes, sort of, and no.
- Choosing 'no' leads to the final point: 'Say no.'
- Opting for 'Sort of' leads to 'That's a no,' which ultimately leads to 'Say no.'
- If you select the 'yes' option, the next question to ask yourself is, 'Do you have the capacity?' which leads to two possible options: 'I think so' and 'No.' If you choose 'I think so,' it leads to 'No, you don't,' which ultimately leads to 'Say no.' If you choose 'No,' it also leads to 'Say no.'
ALT This is an illustration by @positivelypresent via Instagram, wishing Happy Monday to:
- To anyone tackling a tough project today
- To those alone at home feeling isolated
- To people with challenging relationships
- To those worrying about their futures
- To anyone reminiscing about the past
- To those who felt dread upon waking up
- To people anxious about today's agenda
- To those not feeling like themselves
- To people doing the best they can today
- To anyone overwhelmed by the work week
- To those longing to be somewhere else
- To people tackling tough conversations
- To those at home who don't want to be
- To anyone already ready for the weekend
- To people trying but not yet succeeding
- To anyone in need of some compassion today
Balancing #AcademicLife & parenting is no easy feat.
There's an urgent need for more institutional support to ensure researchers don’t have to compromise on their responsibilities.
Here’s a look at how those in academia are navigating this balancing act: ow.ly/w2e050SIgGX
We’re usually good at setting goals and even better at being hard on ourselves when we fall short.
This is your cue to take a moment to recognize and celebrate all your wins, big and small.💚
#AcademicTwitter#PhDChat@OpenAcademics@PhDMindfulness
Image: worrywellbeing | IG
ALT This illustration by @worrywellbeing (on Instagram) is titled 'Be proud of your progress.' It showcases five rosette ribbon awards with the following labels:
-No matter how big or small it is
-Even if no one has noticed it
-Even if you've had difficult moments on the way
-Even if you're still struggling
-Even if you still have a long way to go
The illustration encourages embracing and taking pride in one's progress, emphasizing that it's valid and significant regardless of size, recognition, challenges faced, or ongoing struggles.
ALT This is an illustration by @crazyheadcomics, showcasing some tips to deal with task paralysis.
- Rewrite your to-do list with only the most important things. Add the little things to a different list
- Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and do as much as you can in that time
- Don't wait until you have "more time" or it "feels right," starting is half the battle
- Push aside perfectionism. Tell yourself you can fine tune little details after you've completed the basic work
- Start small. With the part of the task that feels the most doable
- Take a big deep breath when you start to feel overwhelmed
- Have someone sit near you to help you feel more anchored and you're not all on your own
- Move your body for a little bit to help your brain out of the freeze state
- Work in a different place for the novelty
- Do something to increase your dopamine. Like listen to a song or eat something before
- Think of ways to add reward and accountability to your task
- Acknowledge your negative emotions
When you sit down to write, what’s the one thing you absolutely can't do without?✍️
Whether it’s your favorite writing nook, your playlist, or a go-to snack, what helps you stay focused and productive?
#PhdLife#AcademicTwitter#ThesisWriting@PhD_Genie
Hey #futurePIs and #newPIs! 🎉 Stefanie and I are thinking about designing a workshop to tackle three of the biggest challenges that #newPIs face.
- How to recruit the right people to support your research program?
- How to manage your budget and make sure you don't run out of money?
- How to meet productivity expectations when you already have more work than time?
We're planning on co-creating something amazing with you that helps you dodge the biggest pitfalls and get your new lab off to a flying start! 🚀
Interested? Drop a "Yes" in the comments! Know someone who might be? Tag them below! Can't wait to hear from you all! 🙌
Sometimes, the fear of missing out or letting others down can make it challenging to decline opportunities.
Here's a way to rethink saying "no" if you struggle with it.
#AcademicTwitter#PhDChat@OpenAcademics@thephdstory
Image: life_of_learning | IG
ALT This is an illustration by @life_of_learning via Instagram, titled, 'When you say "no" to an opportunity,' contrasting perceived outcomes with reality.
What you think happens:
1. You will miss out
2. You are letting someone down
3. It will be important for your goals
What actually happens:
1. There will be more opportunities
2. They understand, everyone goes through the same process
3. Your mental and physical health is more important
If more and more #phd students are asking for help and #support, it speaks itself for the need of changing the current #research env.
We can't just ignore them saying "they are just lazy" or "there are no good PhD students anymore".
@PhDVoice#AcademicTwitter@PostdocVoice
We often wait until we reach the threshold of complete exhaustion to take a break.
Here's a reminder to look out for cues from your mind and body telling you to slow down, and most importantly, listen to them.💚
#AcademicTwitter@PhDMindfulness@ThePhDPlace
Image: @lizandmollie
ALT This is an illustration by @lizandmollie. In it, we see a curved progress bar stretching from left to right. The left end of the curve is labelled 'thriving' and the right end is labelled 'barely surviving'. At the left-side of the curve, the progress bar is a bright green and this color gradually transitions to bright red towards the 'barely surviving' end.
At the top of the curve, at a point closer to the left 'thriving' side, well before the green transitions to red, there's a point labelled 'When we need a break'. On the right-hand side, just a little above the 'barely surviving' corner, is another point labelled 'When we actually take a break'.
The image highlights key moments when recognizing and taking breaks are crucial for well-being.
Wasn't sure to share it, but thought it might help someone.
How I published 0 first-author papers in my 3yrs #postdoc
-changed research topic
-moved to a foreign country
-#mentalhealth breakdown
-existential crisis on my #academic career
-#fellowship rejections
-COVID