Graduate Writing: Staying Motivated and Productive

Sometimes getting words onto paper (or screen) can be tough. Here are some tips for staying motivated and productive during your graduate program.

• Avoid multitasking
  • Most people cannot multitask effectively—so when taking on a cognitively challenging task (like writing), eliminate as many distractions as possible (e.g., email, phone).
• Set time-bounded, concrete, and achievable tasks
  • Have a tangible goal in mind before sitting down to write and commit to completing it in a set amount of time (e.g., two introductory paragraphs in 60 minutes).
• Schedule breaks
  • Use the Pomodoro technique to schedule short breaks to help reset focus and attention.
• Embrace the messy first draft
  • Avoid deleting words (or sentences) and write without judgement in the initial drafting stages; treat the first draft as the raw material for the revisions that will produce a polished piece.
• Get moving
  • Take a walk, stretch, or move your body to help get ideas flowing.
• Join a writing group (whether in-person, virtual, or email-based) for accountability
  • Want a less formal meet-up? Attend the Virtual Write-Ins that are promoted on the Featured Sessions page.
• Reward your writing
  • Decide how you will treat yourself for completing writing tasks.
• Know yourself
  • Reflect on how you are using your time and/or managing procrastination.
• Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing
  • Keep your long-term goals in mind and give yourself credit for the effort you are making toward meeting those goals.
• Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)
  • We become better and more productive writers by writing—there’s no way around it!

Looking for resources to help with focus and productivity?

Manage distractions

• Cold Turkey Software. (2021). Cold Turkey Blocker. https://getcoldturkey.com/
• Hayton, J. [James Hayton PhD]. (2018, July 30). Day 18: PhD writing tip: Where is your attention? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq_wKtbb2KM

Pomodoro resources

• Pomofocus. (n.d.). An online Pomodoro timer to boost your productivity. https://pomofocus.io/
• Sword, H. [Helen’s Word]. (2020, July 4). Blue owl [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL7QYdcygcM

White noise/background noise

• Familjen STHLM, & Red Pipe Studios. (n.d.). The sound of colleagues. https://soundofcolleagues.com/#
• Relaxing White Noise. (2017, July 12). Campfire & river night ambience 10 Hours | Nature White Noise for Sleep, Studying or Relaxation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsOUv9EzKsg

Additional advice for graduate students

• Allen, J. (2019). The productive graduate student writer: how to manage your time, process, and energy to write your research proposal, thesis, and dissertation, and get published. Stylus Publishing.
  • Ebook available via USask library
• Brabazon, T. (2022, Nov 24). Post 36 - Publishing productivity for PhD students [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhXK5gGy7k8
  • Primarily of interest for students who wish to pursue an academic career