Checking Email is not Working On Your Dissertation

Ok, I admit it- I sometimes check email WAAYY too much, and I notice (often!) that it’s my convenient excuse for not jumping into other, more important, and way more lucrative things. It’s easier, sometimes to ’seem busy’ than it is to be busy. I just spent last week at a conference, and was reminded of some really important time management tips- one of them being, "turn off the email". I have started doing this during the day, and it’s made a HUGE difference in my productivity. Now, I’m already a very productive person- I get a lot done each day- but even I have seen tremendous gains by turning off the email.   Instead of checking it 5-6x per day, I’m gradually cutting back to just 3x per day- once in the morning, once after lunch, and once at the end of the day. It’s amazing how much more mind-space I have to actually produce new things. My creativity is coming back, as is my enthusiasm. It’s easy to link checking email and internet surfing with working on the dissertation- after all, you do both at the computer, and it’s easier to check email or surf the ‘net than it is to make real progress on your dissertation. However, you must learn to focus your energies, even for just 30-45 minutes at a time. Once you learn to do this, and apply it consistently, you’ll be enthusiastic about your dissertation because you’re actually closer to finishing it, instead of wishing you were. If your dissertation is important to you, act like it. Stop checking email and surfing the net when you should be working. While I’m glad you’re here, and reading, this blog post will still be here at the end of the day.    

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