Slow Productivity for Academics

Chuck embarked on his journey as a graduate student with an exciting opportunity for fieldwork in the tropics. His tasks involved collecting samples and making biological observations. Over the subsequent two years, Chuck synthesized his findings, examined data, conducted an extensive literature review, and engaged in collaborative discussions with fellow scientists to refine his ideas.

However, despite his efforts, Chuck's groundbreaking work wouldn’t see the light of publication for two decades. By contemporary benchmarks of productivity, Chuck might have been perceived as somewhat unproductive. He published some small notes during these two decades, but nothing that a scientific journal or funding agency might consider groundbreaking or transformative. During this time, Chuck worked around 3-4 hours per day and spent the rest of his time outside, in his greenhouse, or with family and friends.

Now, the above story is not about some graduate student named Chuck, but instead that of Charles Darwin and the publication of On the Origin of Species. The book is viewed by many as one of the most important books in the history of science. His work changed the course of history.

In the decades following his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin’s days were mostly filled with leisure and not work. On any given day or week, someone may believe he was simply unproductive. Yet, we know he was extremely productive over the span of years and decades. In addition to his major books, he also published many interesting notes and scientific articles (I think it is entertaining to scroll through Darwin’s Google Scholar). So, where is the disconnect? How was he so productive yet most of his days seemed unproductive by the standards of the modern world?

For the sake of this post, I’ll set aside the important fact that Charles Darwin was born into a wealthy, upper-middle-class family and he had the help of many people around him¹.

I think the story of Darwin’s work has important lessons for academics. Darwin took his time to ruminate over his ideas. He was not distracted by emails or social media. Of course, he also wasn't subjected to the same pressures as academics today. These lessons are encapsulated well in Cal Newport’s new book, Slow Productivity, which debuted last month. Cal Newport argues that the prevalent approach to time management among knowledge workers, academics included, is largely unproductive. For instance, he highlights the detrimental effects of constant multitasking and the hyperactive hive mind workflow. The hyperactive hive mind workflow is one of frantic working and constant communication. We are trying to do more with less all the time as academics. We are asked to submit more grants, advise more students, collaborate on more projects, serve on more committees, and teach more courses. Many academics are feeling burnt out. We cannot keep up this pace.

Cal’s thesis is that Slow Productivity boils down to three core principles.

1. Do Fewer Things

2. Work at a Natural Pace

3. Obsess Over Quality

Cal’s point is not to simply produce less. Instead, he makes the case for higher production by slowing down and obsessing over quality.

In his book, Cal delves into the narratives of productive knowledge workers, such as John McPhee and Jewel, who diverged from the conventional paths to success in their respective fields. For instance, Jewel made a pivotal decision to reject a million-dollar record contract despite her financial struggles. She recognized that accepting such an offer would confine her creative potential, hindering her ability to craft the high-caliber music she aspired to produce.

Academics frequently encounter similar dilemmas. Many of us find ourselves ensnared in the relentless cycle of emails, class commitments, and the perpetual juggling act of scheduling meetings within a hectic workweek. Consequently, the essential tasks—like writing and engaging in deep thought—are often relegated to weekends, holidays, or sabbaticals.

I appreciate Cal’s book as he provides actionable advice for how to build a slow productivity mindset. I think this practical advice is more useful than simply imploring the academic community to publish less (see here or here). There are lots of lessons and stories to unpack from his book. He also has lots on his website and has been on a host of podcasts recently.

In reflecting on my academic journey, I now recognize how easily I succumb to the relentless pressure of the publishing and grant-writing rat race. However, now that I find myself in a stable position with a bit of breathing room, I'm determined to shift towards a mindset of deliberate, slow productivity.

Recently, I made the difficult decision to return a substantial $150,000 grant. Despite the potential benefits it could have brought to my lab's financial resources, I couldn't shake the feeling that fully committing to the work outlined in the grant would have veered us away from our core mission. While our lab isn't exactly flush with funding, I firmly believe that staying true to our fundamental objectives outweighs the allure of additional resources.

Moreover, I've begun to adopt a more discerning approach to my commitments outside of research. This includes exercising the power of “no” (see here for a nice writeup of saying no) by declining certain journal review requests and opting out of some unpaid university service obligations. While individual efforts to slow down and assert boundaries are crucial, I think it is equally important to advocate for systemic changes. Simply saying no isn't enough. I think we must also ensure that service burdens aren't unfairly shifted onto those in more precarious positions.

What advice do you have for others hoping to slow down?

1. Charles Darwin came from a wealthy family and had support from others in his work.