This is a reflective post on the concept of balance (wellbeing and productivity) introduced in ACADPRAC 702: Academic Citizenship (PGCert Academic Practice).

“…for students it would be better to be clear about the purpose of what they are studying and identifying the high-priority areas rather than simply reading more or reorganising their notes” (p244). Who would dare tell this to their students? Aren’t we in the process of churning out mass graduates to keep our revenue lines healthy?

Kearns & Gardiner (2007)

Is it time well spent? The relationship between time management behaviours, perceived effectiveness and work related morale and distress in a university context (Kearns & Gardiner, 2007)
I really liked this paper and have already started thinking about how I can get onto my PhD without further procrastination! Procrastination is considered a “bad habit” (p236). The standout value of this paper was the fact that they had given student life some consideration and balanced the view on workloads by comparing students and teachers alike. “Today’s students will tell you that, with demands of lectures, study… there is barely any time for life” (p236). However, what intrigued me most was the behaviour that they prioritised most ‘having a clear purpose in your career’. I am sure, early career academics would agree with me that in the early days, irrespective of the focus and sense of purpose one has, it comes down to sink or swim and time management becomes an unknown issue. I also thought that being organised was an all-encompassing behaviour rather than something at the bottom of the pyramid. For example, for me planning and prioritising is part of being organised.