The Value of Continued Connections

By John Bond

Writing, to many, is solitary work. Research, as well, can connote time by yourself spent interpreting data, not to mention the time spent on the literature review. When it comes time to submit for publication, there are numerous hours of combing over your writing for accuracy and grammar. Then checking proofs prior to publication.

All of this adds up to time alone. Many academics, by nature, are solo people. Not all, but some. They understand the heavy lifting the individual has to do. Don’t get me wrong. I have met some big personalities in writing and publishing that love to talk. But they may not be, hmm, the rule.

TAA Members Receive Discount on May Writing Retreat

TAA has partnered with TAA member Michelle Rivera-Clonch, Ph.D. to provide members with a discount on her 13th annual Writing in Depth: An Academic Writing Retreat, which will be held Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26, 2024 at the Hope Springs Institute in Peebles, OH. The primarily self-directed retreat, open to faculty and graduate students, provides an environment for serious academic writing, reflecting on your writing practices, and establishing systems of accountability in regional working groups that will aid in your movement toward completing your writing project.

Gain space and support to reinvigorate your writing process and reconnect with a community of writers.

The Power of Planning: Embrace Mindfulness and Prioritize With Ease

By Kimine Mayuzumi

In a world that seems to revolve around deadlines and outcomes, I’ve found myself immersed in enlightening dialogues with clients about the power of planning.

One question, in particular, lingers in my mind:

“How do you navigate planning when it tends to make you become outcome-oriented?”

Echoing the ethos of our “Be mindful, Trust the process, Let go of outcomes” philosophy, this query on planning is especially relevant in today’s fast-paced world, where time management is paramount, but so is the call to be present in our own lives.

Why You Should Sit Less and Move More

Are you someone who spends a lot of time sitting while working or writing? If so, it’s important to understand the negative effects of prolonged sitting on your health and well-being.

Research has linked sitting for extended periods of time to a decrease in happiness levels and an increase in mortality rates. This was discussed in an article by Gretchen Reynolds, a physical education reporter for the New York Times. She explains that previous studies have shown a connection between “prolonged sitting and higher risks of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and premature death,” as well as an “association between inactivity and cancer deaths.”

Create Moments of Joy: Listen to Music

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

“Should you listen to music more often?” The answer is yes, and here’s why: to create moments of joy. Kelly McGonigal, author of The Joy of Movement, says, “Listening to music that you love is one of the simplest ways to produce joy.” What’s impressive is that the benefits of joy go beyond making you feel good. According to McGonigal, “Joy also affects things like your motivation.

Busy TAA People: TAA Member Angelica Ribeiro Authors New Book on How to Create Happiness at Work

TAA member Angelica Ribeiro, Ph.D. recently authored a new nonfiction book, How to Create Happiness at Work: Seven Evidence-Based Strategies to Enjoy Your Day (Kindle Direct Publishing, March 2024).

Based on scientific evidence and her own journey toward happiness in the workplace, Ribeiro shows how to create happiness at work, especially if we have experiences such as too much sitting; too little movement; too much time stuck in traffic; too little time building positive habits; too many tasks to do; too few hours of sleep; too much computer work; and too few social interactions.

Combining storytelling and science, Ribeiro shares how we can transform such experiences into happiness strategies, including making time to move, building positive habits during traffic, and creating social connections at work.