If you're like me and spent years studying and eventually worked your way into a post-doctoral researcher, or professor role, you’ve probably noticed how your relationship with time shifts. Early on, time feels like a big, floating loop - marked by two key points: the start of the academic year and the transition between semesters. It’s a rhythm that makes sense when semesters define your life.
But then something changes. Time narrows as you begin juggling projects, mentoring, securing grants. It’s no longer about semesters. Now, it’s about fitting things into weeks, days, sometimes even hours. What used to feel like an open loop now feels like a series of sprints with a never-ending to-do list.
Short-term planing has its advantages. It forces you to get stuff done. The urgency kicks in, and you tick off boxes on your to-do list. And if you’re lucky, those tasks move projects forward. But here’s the catch: when you focus too much on checking boxes, it becomes all about the next checkbox. You risk losing sight of the bigger picture.
Research, in particular, is vulnerable to this trap. It shouldn't be just about the next checkbox. If that’s all you focus on, you miss the point. You’re not in it to just get stuff done - you’re in it to contribute something meaningful and relevant. And let’s not forget, research should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun or feeling a sense of curiosity, then you’ve probably lost one of the key reasons you got into this field in the first place.
The tricky part is keeping it all in balance. The grind gets things done, sure. But if that’s all there is, what’s the point? We all get caught up in the day-to-day tasks - meetings, emails, deadlines. It’s easy to lose sight of the larger picture when everything becomes about ticking off boxes. You might start wondering: What am I really working toward? Are those tasks actually moving the needle, or are they just distractions dressed up as progress?
Maybe it’s worth taking a step back now and then. Think about why you’re doing what you’re doing. Time spent reflecting on that might be the most valuable part of your week. You start to see how today’s grind fits (or doesn’t) into the bigger picture. And suddenly, those mini-deadlines or packed schedules might not seem as critical as you thought.
At some point, you’ve got to ask yourself: Am I just busy, or am I moving toward something meaningful? There’s a difference. And the moment you stop to think about it, you might realize what really needs your attention - and what doesn’t.
-- João
But then something changes. Time narrows as you begin juggling projects, mentoring, securing grants. It’s no longer about semesters. Now, it’s about fitting things into weeks, days, sometimes even hours. What used to feel like an open loop now feels like a series of sprints with a never-ending to-do list.
Short-term planing has its advantages. It forces you to get stuff done. The urgency kicks in, and you tick off boxes on your to-do list. And if you’re lucky, those tasks move projects forward. But here’s the catch: when you focus too much on checking boxes, it becomes all about the next checkbox. You risk losing sight of the bigger picture.
Research, in particular, is vulnerable to this trap. It shouldn't be just about the next checkbox. If that’s all you focus on, you miss the point. You’re not in it to just get stuff done - you’re in it to contribute something meaningful and relevant. And let’s not forget, research should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun or feeling a sense of curiosity, then you’ve probably lost one of the key reasons you got into this field in the first place.
The tricky part is keeping it all in balance. The grind gets things done, sure. But if that’s all there is, what’s the point? We all get caught up in the day-to-day tasks - meetings, emails, deadlines. It’s easy to lose sight of the larger picture when everything becomes about ticking off boxes. You might start wondering: What am I really working toward? Are those tasks actually moving the needle, or are they just distractions dressed up as progress?
Maybe it’s worth taking a step back now and then. Think about why you’re doing what you’re doing. Time spent reflecting on that might be the most valuable part of your week. You start to see how today’s grind fits (or doesn’t) into the bigger picture. And suddenly, those mini-deadlines or packed schedules might not seem as critical as you thought.
At some point, you’ve got to ask yourself: Am I just busy, or am I moving toward something meaningful? There’s a difference. And the moment you stop to think about it, you might realize what really needs your attention - and what doesn’t.
-- João