Perseverance- The struggle is REAL

After receiving a very positive reception of my article, I struggle to keep the momentum going.  This is not my first post about this particular concern, however some things bear repeating, at least for me.  Maintaining momentum following publishing and managing the enduring pressure to produce can be overwhelming.  The potential for rejection following submission only augments this anxiety.  A considerable amount of time has passed, however I have been quite active in my efforts to write.  I have attended Writing Boot Camps, the OpEd project, and continue to participate in our monthly writing group. I have contributed to group articles and agreed to co author a book chapter. I attempt to contribute to any relevant publication undertaking. I am determined to publish for promotion but it seems as though my efforts are insufficient.  I question whether I have the bandwidth or attentional capacity to do all that is required in order to achieve this goal. Academic practitioners (pracademics) in medical settings are called upon to teach, supervise, consult, see patients (not my usual term), and engage in research and publication.  There never seems to be enough time to accomplish everything AND indulge in work-life balance.  Journal submission and promotion deadlines are helpful in keeping me focused and on track, but the stress of it all can be afflictive.

Obviously, I am writing... and writing... and writing even now.  What is helpful to ensure that I stay relatively centered?  At one time, I found writing anything post grad school that was not a note entered into someone's medical record to be utterly daunting.  I obsess over eveything I write to a dysfunctional degree which has hindered my productivity in the past.  Participating in my writing group has aided me by acknowledging the difficulties and complexities of writing in a medical setting.  I am cognizant of the fact that I am not companionless in this predicament.  I have been encouraged and supported in my endeavors.  The group also affords the opportunity and privilege of peer mentoring and review prior to submission. For this I am truly appreciative.

Writing, work and life balance?  Well that is another blog altogether!  I get up EARLY 5 days a week to indulge in some "me" time.  Some refer to this as mindfullness, I call it keeping the chaos at bay! This tends to facilitate personal peace prior to my frequently busy days.  As recommended in writing boot camp, I attempt to manage the drowning feeling associated with the writing process by working on projects for at least 30 minutes per day.  At work this rarely takes place and I regularly strain to find pockets of time for writing when at home.  The positive note is that 30 minutes goes by quite quickly when I can navigate the tumultuous landscape of my life.  It helps to pre plan and do as much as possible beforehand and give others an activity to do that will last for at least 30 minutes! In other words, I contract for 30 minutes of "off duty" time with family, friends, and fur babies.  When the writing is on a deadline and more than 30 minutes is required, I take brain breaks.  I am a gamer so I find it a valuable opportunity to decompress by playing online games.  I am party of a community of fellow gamers that cause me to smile and laugh, when writing does not.  I don't allow myself to get too far from my laptop out of fear that I might not return to my writing if I do!

The moral of the story?  Despite the ambiguity coupled with writing, I have to and will trudge on and hope to love it.....one day.

Erica D. Marshall - Lee, Ph.D.