#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 55: Embrace the Little Things!
Chasing big wins – grant awards, recognition, high-impact publications, tenure-track positions, social capital, popularity, being visible and popular – we can easily overlook the small experiences that quietly enable and sustain us. We currently live in an academic culture that conveys the feeling that we are never doing enough. Yet, it is the ‘little things’ – enjoying our work, a kind word of support from a colleague, a productive hour of writing with friends, a student’s breakthrough – that can make our academic life meaningful.
“I like to look for the things no one else catches.” – Amelie Poulain
Here are three tips that support you in embracing the ‘little things’ in your academic life:
Feeling – Pause and notice how even the tiniest act – a smile of a colleague or student, or a joke, helping someone up the stairs – makes you feel more connected to your academic self.
Knowing – Recognize that these little moments are not ‘distractions’ from your productivity, but foundational elements that support your well-being and motivation to keep going.
Proactive Engagement – Intentionally develop the habit to note one ‘little joy’ at the end of every day and celebrate these moments and experiences at the end of the week
We would be very happy to hear about your strategies for embracing the little things in your academic or non-academic life!
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish