A Positive Testimonial

I recently shared some research strategies of mine, which were also discussed over at the Smoker (where many people were, not surprisingly, quite skeptical of some of them). Anyway, one of of our readers, "Derek", recently posted in a comment here about his experience trying out some of the strategies I suggested. Here is what he wrote:

I actually did pick up the idea to write in the morning from here. Although, I have picked up quite a few things from this blog I found the posts titled "Research Strategies" and "More Research Strategies" *exorbitantly* helpful. Here are some of the more beneficial things that have happened since I have been writing every morning.

1.) Increased productivity -- Perhaps this one goes without saying, but the sheer increase has been mind-blowing. In the last couple of months I have pounded out five new papers, an outline for my book/dissertation (three of the papers will most likely be incorporated into the book, though I wrote them first) and a rather inordinate amount of outlines/notes of readings. The mind blowing part for me is that I struggled to even write one paper -- outside of class at least -- last year and I was not especially happy with the ones that I wrote for class. 

2.) I can see my ideas build on each other each day in a way that they never did before. I have always struggled with the thought that I have nothing to write and so have ended up just reading and reading and reading in hopes that an idea will strike me, fully formed and that I will then be able to just spit it out on the page. Of course, that never happens. The habit of writing everday has quelled this tendency and I have learned that If I just start writing I have plenty to say. Further, I have all afternoon to read and so I am able to read just as much as I was before. 

3.) I no longer "force" myself to write on one specific topic. Instead, I often work on several projects at once. Using this method I find that my ideas are able to breath a little, so to speak. For example, I often think of ideas for one project while working on another and, since I don't feel so much pressure to get a paper done as quickly as possible, the ideas in my paper seem to grow more organically and end up being better for it.

4.) I feel more productive and so I don't feel so much pressure to work nights and weekends. This allows me to spend more time with friends and family. Ironically, even though I work less now I feel that I get more done. I suspect that a large part of this is because I feel better emotionally and hence am always motivated to pick up where I left off the morning before. Research has also become enjoyable again and less like I'm running on a hamster wheel haha.

5.) Lastly, and this is a tip I picked up from Stephen Mumford -- check out the handout posted on his website "The Mumford Method" -- I write detailed outlines first and then, after I have done all of the creative/philosophical work, I write a draft. In my experience, this has a number of benefits. For one, I am not focused on trying to "follow the argument" while also trying to present the argument in a clear and focused manner -- which always seems to end up in a jumbled mess. Instead, once I commit to writing a draft I can focus solely on presenting my ideas in a clear and engaging manner. Another perk is that I am able to get feedback on my outlines quickly, as people are much more willing to comment on a three page outline than they are on a thirty page draft! I have just begun revising my papers using the "reverse outline" method, so I will let you know how that works out. This is where I picked it up --
http://getalifephd.blogspot.com/2011/08/easy-way-to-complete-major-revision.html

I don't know if the strategies work for everyone, but the most striking thing about Derek's experience is how it matched my own almost exactly.  And Kris McDaniel and Chris Stephens report similar experiences here (though they report having some of these strategies antecedently).

Anyway, although I wouldn't dare hold that the research strategies I've presented are "proven" by the experiences of a handful of people, I thought it might be relating these stories for a couple of reasons: first, to make the case for them a bit stronger to those who haven't given them a serious try, but also, second, to ask whether there have been any people who have seriously tried the strategies (not just halfway, but really tried them) for whom they didn't work.

Just to be clear: I'm not out to "prove my point" about the research strategies.  I didn't relate them in the first place for my own edification.  I've related them because I'd sincerely like to help people who are struggling as much as I once did, as I could have used the research strategies long before I stumbled across them as a result of dumb brute luck! So, with that said, I open up discussion: for all who have seriously tried some of the research strategies I've related,

1. Are there any other people out there that some of them have worked for?
2. Are there any people out there that some of them have not worked for?

Please do not chime in merely because you have your own research strategies that you think work for you.  For all I know, there may be other research strategies that work for people.  I would like for the discussion here to be one among people who have seriously changed their way of doing things to at least give some of the strategies I've mentioned a serious try (and not just for a couple of days, but at least several weeks, to give them a fair shot). I'd like to see whether people who have tried them have found that they worked (and, if not, then all well and good!).

Comments

[Matt DeStefano]

I would be very curious to know if people who are "night owls" have tried this and had success. I know that many people claim to not be morning people, but I am a truly awful version of myself in the morning. My most productive hours are usually in the late afternoon, and I find it hard to believe I would be very productive if I attempted to write during the mornings.

[Marcus Arvan]

Matt: *I* am a night owl. Until my final year at Arizona, I did work in the afternoon and evening, went to bed no earlier than 2-3 AM, and didn't get out of bed until at least 11 in the morning. The last year, after I got this advice, I started getting up at 8am to do work in the morning. I am still not a morning person. Going to be early comes so unnaturally to me that I can't do it without sleep meds (which I have to take every night). And it hurts to get out of bed every morning. But I force myself to do it, and it has gotten easier with time...and I am a FAR more productive philosopher than I ever was between the ages of 17-29 (my night owl years).

Again, I think it's important not to just assume that your natural way of doing things is best. How do you *know* you do your best work late when you haven't tried early? I would have had a hard time believing it too -- but when I actually tried it I found I am *far* better in the morning. As an aside, there's an entire body of empirical research which shows that people are *more* creative when they are tired. And this has been my experience with morning work. I am so exhausted that my "censor" is off and ideas -- good ideas -- just flow out.

[Dan Dennis]

It is good that you help people focus on their work routine, Marcus – it is very easy for one to get into certain habits without really standing back and questioning them.

I too find it best to start the day with writing, broadly conceived – as opposed to reading, teaching, preparation, marking, admin or any of the other things which clutter up and weary one’s mind. Better to do the original creative work whilst one is fresh.

Writing can mean many things though. Thus ideally I start the day being purely creative, just thinking deeply, trying to deepen my understanding of my area of philosophy, build on the account I am developing, come up objections and replies to them etc. Here I typically take notes, but it is not always necessary (some people find it easier than others to think without writing at the same time).

At some point I then move on to thinking about writing for others’ consumption. This is a very different activity. I generally start by doing what your correspondent mentioned, drafting general ideas and plans for essays (utilising, of course, ideas had whilst just thinking freely and deepening my understanding of my area). Then there is writing the essay, then revising and polishing it. Each stage is a little less creative, and a little less enjoyable…

I’d also agree with you Marcus that its best not to have one’s internal censor on when working creatively. However I think it best to learn to simply turn it off, or let go of it, so one can work whilst wide awake rather than whilst hampered by tiredness (one would not run one’s fastest sprint time whilst physically tired so I cannot see how it is best for one’s writing that one be mentally tired). Not consuming caffeine helps, I find…

I too am a night owl, but feel I would work better if I could go to bed earlier and get up earlier. But I don’t want to risk the use of meds – anyone got any tips?

[Marcus Arvan]

Dan: thanks for your comment. For my part, I think it's very hard to *consciously* turn one's internal censor off. It's like trying to not imagine a pink elephant by telling yourself not to think of one. This is, to the best of my understanding, why research has consistently suggested that people are more creative when tired: our censor is not entirely under our control, and so the best way to disable it is to be so darn tired that you can't help it. Anyway, this has been my experience. I can *try* too free write later in the day, but it almost never goes well, as I find myself almost compulsively editing my words and thoughts, undercutting my creativity and overall productivity.

[Dan Dennis]

Hi Marcus

I am not disputing that it is best to think and write creatively as soon as one wakes up. I am rather questioning whether the reason for this is because you are tired when you wake up and its best to write when tired. For my own part I am inclined to think that it is actually being rested, having a clear mind, being relaxed and open, which counts, rather than being tired. Later in the day one’s mind is cluttered with all sorts of things, and one is running on the rails one regularly runs on as one strives to get things done, so naturally it isdifficult to get all that out of one’s mind in order to then write openly. There is also more of a danger of being interrupted, which prevents one getting so deeply into one’s work (this is another reason why being out of the home and office – eg down the park – may help). Besides I would have thought that later in the day you are actually more tired, even if you are perhaps less aware of it. To say otherwise would be to say that you get less tired as the day progresses, which sounds a bit odd (a bit like saying you get less tired as the race progresses…)

[Marcus Arvan]

Dan: maybe you're right. I certainly *feel* more tired in the morning, and I'm a far, far better teacher -- I feel much more "on my game" -- later in the day. On the whole, I feel mentally the strongest between about 1pm-6pm. But I do my best work on the computer in the morning. Strange. Maybe there are different types of tired? My creativity seems strongest in the morning and lessens as the day goes on, but my overall mental "quickness" actually seems to increase as the day goes along. I dunno! :)

[Alex H]

I am not a morning person, but have also found that I am most productive prior to noon. If you need to ease into it: you can start out with editing material from the previous day's work, which is not very demanding and helps remind you of where things were going, and then move on (within half an hour or so) to new material.

[Dan Dennis]

I am in many ways similar. Practical things, interacting with people and the world (teaching, reading, doing DIY etc), I do quicker and better in the afternoon or evening. Once I have done my deep thinking in the morning, got it out of the way, then I can just get on with things. I think it is quite common to unsociable in the morning… :-)

[Dan Dennis]

Does your department accommodate your preference for afternoon teaching, by the way?