The demands in academia for early-career researchers can often feel endless, which requires a solid and sustainable system for maintaining productivity. Isabelle Kohler shares her journey towards balanced productivity, exploring strategies to optimize her work without compromising her well-being.

I always look forward to my long summer holidays as a time to slow down, spend more time offline, and catch up on the books I’ve been wanting to read. This summer was no different: I spent hours in my hammock, immersed in reading. Interestingly, many of the books I chose to read focused on personal development, especially productivity, such as ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey (which I’ve read many times already) and ‘Slow Productivity’ by Cal Newport.

The focus on books about productivity is no coincidence. After a year of part-time sick leave, I’m now settling into a more stable work routine. Going through such a significant life event has encouraged me to redefine the word ‘productivity’. I don’t want to fall back into old patterns of overwork and stress, and sacrifice my well-being. I need a system to manage my tasks, requests, and overall workload even more effectively, one that balances sustainable productivity with fulfillment and well-being.