The Academic Imperfectionist

A white cat with a black ear and a mucky eye stands in a white sink drinking from a tap, with his silly tongue out.

Friends, I'm about to take a summer break. Next episode will be 22nd August, when I'll be telling you some mind-blowing stuff about procrastination that you never realised you needed to know - don't miss it! In the mean time, here is Lou drinking from a tap. #academicsky

I haven't been here for a while but the episodes haven't stopped coming! Do you worry that you haven't achieved enough? This is for you. Listen at www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/115 or wherever you get your podcasts! #academicsky #achievement

Belatedly, thank you so much, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview!

#93: Guest interview! Professor Joli Jensen on draining the drama from writing — The Academic Imperfectionist Your Imperfectionist pal here has lost count of the times she's recommended Joli Jensen's mind-bogglingly helpful book, Write No Matter What, to struggling, anxious academics. So, she was the perfec...

#AcademicSky! I sing the praises of @academicimp.bsky.social whenever I can, but this weeks ep interviewing Joli Jensen about the challenges of focusing on writing is particularly good!

Trang, håp eller forhåpninger? La oss snakke om det som driver oss i akademia.

Denne måneden har jeg skrevet om håp og trang som drivkrefter i akademia, bl.a. inspirert av @davidbrax.bsky.social og @academicimp.bsky.social og med henvisning til @annesigrid.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/campusli...

I found this very moving.

#99: Hey! What you reading for? — The Academic Imperfectionist It's a familiar story. We're feeling stuck and out-of-our-depth with our writing, so we decide we'll go and do a bit more reading - just, you know, to soak up some of the wisdom out there and become b...

This, from @academicimp.bsky.social, is a useful reminder that you don't need to read everything before you write.

Really interesting discussion on academic 'hope labour' from @academicimp.bsky.social

www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/96

Ah, I'm late finding this (forgot about this account) but yay! ❤️ Glad my voice is in back in Wales even when I'm not!

Photo of max with headphones drawing at plastic garden table. On the table : Max's pen bag, my iPad and watercolours. In the background : the Irish Sea.

Grey day on the patio. Painting, drawing and listening to the @academicimp.bsky.social

#81: Are you trying to live a final draft life? — The Academic Imperfectionist Are you hesitant to make certain changes in your life, like changing careers or ending a relationship, because you don't want the time and energy you've invested in your life so far to be wasted? If...

New episode! Is your fear of regret holding you back? It doesn't need to. It doesn't even make sense. Listen: www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/81

#80: What are you so afraid of? — The Academic Imperfectionist When you're procrastinating, reluctant to knuckle down and get on with your work, taking way too long to do what ought to be a straightforward task, do you respond with self-compassion and non-judgm...

Latest episode: are you procrastinating, holding back, stalling? Reflecting compassionately on why can help you move forward. Listen: www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/80

On Monday I'm going to be a guest on
The Guilty Feminist podcast, which is recorded in London with a live audience - come along!
Eleanor Conway
is also a guest. Tickets available here: shop.kingsplace.co.uk/30025/30026

#79: My imperfect but adequate working day — The Academic Imperfectionist I keep getting asked what my working day looks like. You know, as if I've cracked this whole productivity thing. I definitely haven't, but I have managed to make positive changes over the past few y...

New episode! What my working pattern looks like today, vs how it was a few years ago before I started to work on my procrastination, inner critic, unrealistic standards, and all the rest. Listen: academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/79

#78: Fix your self-compassion with the metaphysics of personal identity (and an Aeropress) — The A... Your problem with self-compassion: the one that leads you to be kind and supportive to other people, but nasty and vindictive to yourself. One reason you struggle with the 'self' part of 'self-compa...

Are you kind to everyone except yourself? Philosophy can help you view yourself - and treat yourself - in the compassionate way you view others. Listen: www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/78

#78: Fix your self-compassion with the metaphysics of personal identity (and an Aeropress) — The A... Your problem with self-compassion: the one that leads you to be kind and supportive to other people, but nasty and vindictive to yourself. One reason you struggle with the 'self' part of 'self-compa...

New episode: #78: Fix your self-compassion with the metaphysics of personal identity (and an Aeropress)! Listen: academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/78

#77: Mediocrity is underrated! — The Academic Imperfectionist Here we are, a third of the way through January. Have you slipped up on your new year resolutions yet? Will you be kind to yourself if you do? Or will you tell yourself that you're a failure, you ca...

Feeling jaded because you've already ballsed up your new year resolutions? Here's a lifeline! Listen: academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/77

#65: Reflections on a recent failure — The Academic Imperfectionist We all hate failure. We're terrified of it. And so, when I chalked up a big fat failure a few days ago, I knew immediately that I needed to dissect it for you lot. The key lesson here? Our unwilling...

Here's the episode in question. Episode #65: Reflections on a recent failure. Listen: academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/65

Cover of In Praise of Failure: Four Lessons in Humility by Costica Bradatan. The cover design is a target with the text curving around the rings, surrounded by arrows.

Fun podcast story! After I drew on his work on failure in one of my podcast episodes, Costica Bradatan had his publisher send me a copy of his book! Really looking forward to getting stuck into this.

#77: Mediocrity is underrated! — The Academic Imperfectionist Here we are, a third of the way through January. Have you slipped up on your new year resolutions yet? Will you be kind to yourself if you do? Or will you tell yourself that you're a failure, you ca...

I'm back! First episode of 2024 is out. #77: Mediocrity is underrated! Your antidote to all that 'new year, new me' pressure you've been piling on yourself. Listen: academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/77

The benefit of breaking your New Year's resolutions <p><em>The beginning of the year has become the temporal landmark for setting out new goals and making promises of transcending our old faulty selves. But this practice is accompanied by the all-too-f...

New year isn't a software upgrade for your personality! My article for IAI on taking a self-compassionate approach to your new year resolutions:
iai.tv/articles/the...

Podcast | Philosophy for Our Academic Wellbeing Subscribe for free. Philosophy for Our Academic Wellbeing

I had a great time being interviewed by Daniel Shea on the Scholarly Communication podcast! Listen to 'Philosophy for Our Academic Wellbeing' here:
newbooksnetwork.com/philosophy-f...

Thank you for listening, and for the kind words! ❤️

Thank you for a great year of eps! And for modeling what you remind us of: that rest and breaks are not only needed but ok to take. 😀

I had plans for a podcast episode for you tomorrow ... but the end of the year has been so hectic that I'm going to let myself off the hook and take a break. Happy whatever you celebrate. Back on 12th January!

What can you let yourself off the hook for this holiday season? ⛄⭐

This is a very good episode in a very helpful series.

Silly fluffy white cat with a black ear sleeping on human's lap with his silly paws in the air

That's Lou miaowing at 2m54s

#76: This is what positive change feels like — The Academic Imperfectionist Are you a sucker for self-improvement advice that offers to overhaul your life for the better overnight, even though you know that (unfortunately) it's not that simple? Yeah, same. There's a reason ...

Getting from where you are now to where you want to be means confronting some hard, scary, and painful truths - but you can do it! New episode: academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/76

#75: Your progress tunnel vision — The Academic Imperfectionist Yeah, I know you're diligently working towards that big goal, and that you STILL haven't got there yet. But are you stopping to reflect on your progress along the way, and to celebrate small wins? I...

New episode! Is focusing on achieving your end goal stopping you from recognising the progress you've already made? Listen: www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast/75

Would you like a complimentary code to download the audiobook of For F*ck's Sake? I have 6 codes to give away to people who follow me on Bluesky and who repost this. I'll give away the codes next Friday (1st December).