Dear beloved reader,
As Christmas approaches, I wanted to send a festive cheer your way.
The tree is up, the jazz is playing, and my coffee cup is warm. It’s the perfect mood for sharing with you a few highlights from 2024 and a special playlist to brighten your holidays.
But first, let’s start with the highlights!
Spring – The Launch That Felt Like Climbing Everest
After years of work, my online course Scientific Writing Made Easy is finally out in the world! Honestly, there were moments when I thought I’d never finish. Now that it’s live, I’m so proud—and a bit struck of how much work it took.
The launch has been slower than I expected, and at first, I wondered if all that effort had been for nothing. But now, things are picking up: the first researchers have started using it to write their papers, and they love the process!
The course is also now available for employees at Innsbruck University and will soon be accessible for those at Klagenfurt University and the WU in Vienna. If you’re at one of these universities, you can get free access (ask your university’s personal development service). And if not? Suggest it to your institution—it never hurts to ask, and sometimes, it works!
Summer – The Slow Productivity Experiment
This year, I did something radical for me—I slowed down over the summer. I worked, but less intensely. Instead, I focused on things I’d been neglecting: exercising, cooking, and spending quality time with the people I love.
I decided to give rest a try after having read the book Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. And it felt like a deep exhale! I returned to work with a fresh perspective and renewed energy—just as the book promised. Who knew not running on adrenaline 24/7 could feel so… good?
Fall – Rediscovering the Importance of Meaningful Science
I’ve been giving workshops for years, but these past months, something struck me: how often we forget why we started our research in the first place. A major challenge for many of us as researchers is that we’re so consumed by the pressure to “publish or perish” and keep up in the academic race that we lose sight of a fundamental question: What do we want our contribution to the world to be? This disconnect creates an inner conflict that, over time, slowly erodes our motivation.
It sounds a bit hippie to say that science should serve the world, but it’s absolutely essential. In my workshops, whenever we discuss meaningful, high-quality research, I see people’s eyes light up—whether they’re PhD students or professors.
So, if you’re feeling unmotivated, it might help to ask yourself why you’re doing your research (beyond just earning next month’s paycheck) and how you want it to make a positive impact on the world.
🎶 And Now… My Christmas Playlist 🎶
As I write this, my favorite Christmas jazz playlist is keeping me company. It’s cozy, uplifting, and exactly what I need to focus during the pre-holiday madness. I thought you might enjoy it too.
Here’s how I like to use it:
- While sipping coffee (or a glass of wine).
- Wrapping presents (and mostly massacring the paper).
- Baking cookies (or just eating the dough).
- On a winter walk or drive, admiring snowy landscapes or twinkling lights.
- Simply chilling with loved ones—or your own fabulous self.
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May it bring joy to your ears and warmth to your heart!
Heading to France
I’m off to France soon to spend the holidays with my family. I’ll be back in the second week of January, ready to slide into 2025, as the Germans say!
Thank you for reading my blog and being part of my world this year. Your presence means so much to me.
Wishing you a magical Christmas and a cozy New Year!
Gaya
