Why You Should Appreciate Academic Writing Resources

By Angelica Ribeiro, Ph.D.

Recently I found myself feeling grateful for a book that has been incredibly helpful for my research study. While it might not seem significant to express gratitude for a book, I learned from Kristen Mosley (2022) that we should appreciate the resources we have. Let me explain.

Mosley’s research has examined the relationship between teachers’ demands and the resources available to them to assess their risk for stress. She discovered that the demands placed on teachers, combined with the resources they have to meet those demands, can significantly affect their stress levels. When teachers face high demands with insufficient resources, they may experience burnout—manifesting as emotional exhaustion and a sense of low accomplishment—along with increased stress and diminished well-being. In contrast, having greater resources can enhance teacher well-being.

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How to Get Unstuck When Facing a Writing Challenge

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Some years ago, while I was checking my emails, I came across a message from my advisor. As soon as I opened it, I wished I hadn’t. The email contained feedback on my dissertation proposal, and she asked me to rewrite the entire document. Since I only had a few weeks to complete it, I felt overwhelmed, stuck, and lost. Many writers have likely gone through a similar experience situation when working on a project. If that resonates with you, read on.

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How to Use Stress as a Helpful Tool

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Last month was especially stressful for me. In addition to my regular teaching and writing commitments, I had to complete two other major writing projects and present at a conference. As if that weren’t enough, I unexpectedly experienced significant pain in one of my legs, which required several medical appointments. Juggling all of this work and managing my physical discomfort made last month particularly stressful. I found myself faced with two choices regarding how to view stress: I could see it as either helpful or harmful.

While many people tend to view stress as harmful, Kelly McGonigal encourages us to see it as helpful. In her book The Upside of Stress, she points out three key ways in which stress can benefit us:

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How to Navigate Difficult Moments in Your Writing

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

The other day, a friend shared she was frustrated with her dissertation progress, feeling stuck in her writing. I responded with empathy, saying, “I completely understand how you feel. What do you think you need to get unstuck?” I could relate to her emotions because I had experienced the same situation while working on my dissertation. However, I realized that I wasn’t as supportive of myself as I was of her. Instead of acknowledging my negative emotions, I forced myself to keep working. Looking back, I wish I had treated myself with the same compassion I offered my friend. Here’s how.

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Three Simple Science-Based Strategies to Create Happiness at Work

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Imagine this: You get a new job, which makes you very happy. But soon you realize that the job involves the following aspects, to mention a few:

  • too much sitting, too little movement
  • too much computer work, too few social interactions
  • too many demands, too few flow experiences

After experiencing all those issues on a daily basis, you notice that they negatively impact your well-being and happiness level. What do you do then?

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How Your Professional Purpose and Identity Can Impact Your Work Life

By Angelica Ribeiro, Ph.D.

Being aware of our professional purpose can play an important role in leading us to a happier life at work. That’s because our purpose can reveal elements of our identity that encourage us to live up to our values and create meaningful habits. Let me explain.

My professional purpose is to contribute to (a) language learners’ education by teaching, researching, and sharing knowledge with educators and (b) other people’s happiness by writing books and sharing positivity. After identifying my professional purpose, I realized that it revealed three main elements of my identity: a professor, a researcher, and a writer.

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