Academics often think about productivity as a matter of willpower: “If only I had more discipline, I’d be writing more.” But in reality, writing success isn’t about being superhuman. It’s about noticing what is draining you and what is driving you—and then adjusting your environment, habits, and mindset accordingly.
This quick check-in is designed to help you run a personal audit: where are you bleeding energy and momentum, and where are you gaining it? Because once you know that, you can stop fighting yourself and start working with yourself.
Why an Audit Matters
Academic life is relentless. You’re juggling teaching, supervision, admin, service, and research. Writing is the thing most closely tied to your career advancement yet it often ends up at the bottom of the list. That’s not because you don’t care about it. It’s because you’re caught in a web of “drainers” that sap your focus and leave you spinning.
On the other side, there are “drivers”: small practices, supports, and mindsets that lift you, energise you, and make the work flow.
Without clarity, you end up defaulting to survival mode and drowning in the drainers. With clarity, you can shift your week, even your day, so you’re investing more in the drivers and cutting off the drainers at the root.
Step One: Spot the Drainers
Drainers are the habits, contexts, or patterns that quietly (or loudly) sabotage your writing. Some are obvious, others insidious. Ask yourself:
Time Thieves – Where does your writing time actually go? Endless emails, admin tasks that feel urgent, students dropping by? If your writing slot is constantly at risk, you’ve found a drainer.
Mental Clutter – How often do you sit down to write but can’t concentrate because you’re carrying unresolved decisions, too many to-dos, or general overwhelm? Cognitive overload is one of the biggest productivity killers.
Toxic Comparisons – Scrolling social media or hearing a colleague announce yet another publication can drain your energy before you’ve even opened your document.
Pseudo-Productivity – The endless tinkering with references, formatting, or outlines that makes you feel busy but doesn’t move the text forward.
Unrealistic Expectations – Telling yourself you should be able to “write a draft in a week” or “work like you did during sabbatical” only leads to guilt and paralysis.
Burnout Creep – Low energy, cynicism, and lack of focus are not signs that you’re lazy; they’re signs your system is running on empty.
Write these down. Which ones show up most for you right now? Even naming them takes their power down a notch.
Step Two: Identify the Drivers
Drivers are the practices and supports that help you move forward with less resistance. They don’t necessarily make writing easy, but they create conditions where writing is more possible. Think about:
Protected Time – Even 30-60 minutes of protected, non-negotiable writing time can transform your output. The consistency matters more than the length.
Clear Next Steps – Knowing what your very next move is (drafting, revising, adding sources) prevents decision fatigue. Writing plans make writing flow.
Micro-Wins – Finishing a paragraph, hitting 250 words, or making a decision on structure can feel tiny but builds momentum.
Accountability – Sharing goals with a writing buddy, coach, or group keeps you honest and supported.
Joy in the Process – When was the last time you noticed the fun of exploring an idea? Tapping into curiosity often flips writing from a chore to a driver.
Rest and Recovery – Counterintuitive as it sounds, taking proper breaks is one of the most powerful writing drivers. A well-rested brain writes better.
Circle which of these you already have in your week. Then ask: which ones could you experiment with adding?
Step Three: Weigh Them Up
Here’s the real power of the drainer/driver check-in: put them side by side.
If you’ve listed six big drainers and only one or two weak drivers, no wonder writing feels hard.
If your drainers are minor but your drivers strong, you’re probably closer to writing flow than you realise.
The goal isn’t to eliminate every drainer (some are unavoidable), but to tip the balance so your drivers outweigh them.
A quick exercise: draw two columns. Left side: your top three drainers. Right side: your top three drivers. Now ask: what’s one drainer I can reduce this week, and what’s one driver I can double down on?
Step Four: Make Small, Concrete Adjustments
Productivity isn’t about overhauling your entire system overnight. It’s about small, sustainable shifts. For example:
If “email first thing” is a drainer → try writing before opening your inbox, even if just for 20 minutes.
If “unclear next steps” is a drainer → finish each session by jotting down exactly where to pick up tomorrow.
If “burnout” is a drainer → commit to one genuine rest activity (a walk, a nap, a book for pleasure) each day.
If “accountability” is a driver → schedule a co-writing session with a colleague or join a structured programme.
Why This Matters for Your Career
Publications don’t emerge from bursts of inspiration. They come from sustainable writing habits that accumulate into finished projects.
By doing a drainer/driver audit, you stop blaming yourself for “not being disciplined enough” and start treating writing like what it is: a professional practice that depends on context, support, and energy management.
This isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. The academics who thrive are not the ones who push through at all costs, but the ones who design systems that protect their energy and momentum.
A Quick Challenge for You
Take 10 minutes today to do your drainer/driver audit. Write down:
Three things that are draining your writing right now.
Three things that are driving your writing right now.
Then decide: one drainer to reduce, one driver to amplify.
You’ll be surprised how much lighter and more productive you feel with just that small shift.