Like a deer in the headlights

[historyrocks]

I've got so much work to do, I don't know where to start. Instead of picking something to do, I'm sat stressing over how much I have to do. And being stressed stops me from concentrating, which makes it harder to figure out what to do. And so it continues.....I have free time right now to get on with research, but I'm stuck staring into space.

Does anybody have suggestions to help? I've got a 'to do' list of research jobs, but it doesn't help as I still can't figure out where to start. I have an article to finish revising, a book to write, a grant application to write, another article to start writing. Argh!

Quickest item first. Assuming no specific looming deadlines, I always do the quickest one first.
My guess is the order would then be:
article to finish revising (1-4 hrs?)
grant application to write (assuming 2-6 hrs then share with whoever comments on it),

Of next 2, do the one that you can most quickly get the first draft ready to share with others:
another article to start writing (8-25 hrs)
a book to write (forever & ever time)

2-6 hours for a grant application??

I would do the article revisions and send it off. Then have a day off, then start the grant, but only big picture / brainstorming. Then talk to someone about the grant and develop ideas.

First draft for grant application. I'm assuming OP has a clear idea what to do (with looming deadlines) just needs to put her ideas down in first draft form. If she has NO IDEA what to do or when she'll submit it, then she could still devote 2-6 hrs to mind mapping out some ideas, then leave it to digest.

In my dept. grant app would then be shared with collaborators or the design service before submission. Although in my experience academics only do things when there are very imminent deadlines, so I kind of expect OP to say the grant applic submission deadline is in 5-10 days.

I only do one journal article at a time- as I am the world's worst multi-tasker, so I'd do the article revisions first. That could be off your desk by the end of the week depending if you've got anything else on.

I'd then like MedSchoolRat says start outlining the grant application- just the basic contours, any key research questions or body of literatures, because that may be enough to circulate to potential collaborators.

Article vs book, depends on deadlines- writing books is really intensive and would take months/years, but needs doing bit by bit. How important is the article? I'd allocate some time to the book, but you might break and do the article at some point- depending on if it's urgent/REFable.

It's not planning that is important here, it's doing a bit every day- say one or two hours writing, without looking at social media/emails, and doing it every day. This is way more productive for me than waiting til 'Writing Friday' or whatever and doing very little in 8 hours!

You have my sympathies, orchid. Sometimes there' s been so much to do that I've found myself paralysed. I'm going to suggest something counter-intuitive, which has worked for me in situations like this.

Instead of trying to plough through this pile, I would give yourself a couple of days off. Don't try to do anything. Your brain will be working away at these tasks but step back and do some non academic stuff for a few days. Read a real book. Go for a walk. Go to a matinee. Buy your Christmas presents. Watch daytime tv. Do it all without guilt. Let your brain and your body calm down.

Then come back to this list. Sort it according to how much work needs doing/when is it due and then start to tackle it, depending
on whether you like to have several things on the go at once or you like to do one thing at a time. Break down those jobs into smaller bits - are the revisions just footnote tweaks or something more substantive? How long will this take?

Oops, sorry, I meant to reply to MedSchoolRat.

Aargh, I meant history rocks.

Sorry I've only just got back here and thanks for the advice. I had a bit of a breakthrough on the article this week, but there's still at least another 2 full days of work on it (and that may be wildly optimistic).

I'm going to park the grant application for now--there's no deadline so nothing pushing me on with that.

I've also made promises to develop a cross-discplinary MSc, which isn't even on my radar right now. I need to start talking to people about this.

I'm trying to keep the stress down. I have a disability that is trigerred by stress and lack of sleep, which only increases my stress levels. It's a vicious cycle.

All my teaching will be finished on Tuesday and all marking is done, bar 18 exam papers next month. I've got the opportunity to make progress with research between now and mid-January, which I really need to do as I have a ridiculous teaching load next semester.