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I put together some tips for my group members while they work remotely - basically things that helped me transition from being a lab researcher to mostly writing. Thread 
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1) Install Rescue Time ( https://www.rescuetime.com/ ). The free version will keep track of how much time you spend on different programs. You can set goals â for example, spend 4 hours a day in word or 8 hours being âproductiveâ.
Rescue Time has good defaults to tell the difference between unproductive time on the web (i.e. social media, news, reddit). You can tell the program that time you spend on sites like scifinder and ACS is âproductiveâ or Chemdraw, Igor, Adobe, etc.
When you have a âbig projectââlike writing a paper or proposal, it is helpful to set smaller goals. I find half-day goals the easiest. The goals can be 1) time spent writing, 2) a word count goal, or 3) a discrete goal (like âdraft the introductionâ or âmake a few TOC optionsâ).
You can also set a goal like âread 10 papersâ although I find it more helpful to set a more concrete goal â âread all 10 papers by X author on Y topic and summarize their contribution to the fieldâ.
You will probably find it quite tiring to sit down and actually concentrate and write â even for 30 minutes. Like many things, concentrating while writing takes mental stamina, which you can build with practice.
One way to do this is the pomodoro technique ( https://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique-1598992730). I started with 'sprintsâ of 15 min and worked to longer stretches. I can now usually go for 45â75 min. If I am feeling unmotivated, I start a 15 min. âsprintâ and once I get started, I can usually keep going.
Getting started is the hardest part! Most people find a routine a good way to begin their writing time. I usually make a cup of tea or coffee.
When I started writing my thesis, I used to always put on headphones because I worked in a big communal office. Even now just the act of putting them on gets me in âwriting modeââeven if I donât put music on. Once you do the routine often enough, it'll prepares you mentally.
Once you set a time for focused working, do everything you can to prevent interruptions. Research (from @UCIrvine) found it takes over 20 minutes to regain your focus after an interruption ( https://lifehacker.com/how-long-it-takes-to-get-back-on-track-after-a-distract-1720708353).
When I start a writing time-block I donât check email and keep my phone across the room (instead of next to me). I also turned off all the notifications on my phone and keep it on silent. I know the latter is not practical for everyone, but I find it helps me stay focused.
Reward yourself. If you hit your goals (even if itâs a 25-min writing block) take a break. Walking breaks or getting up to stretch are much better for your eyes and body than surfing the web. Make an incentive for hitting your goals for the day, like watching a favorite TV show.
ON WRITING: This may sound obvious, but writing is different from thinking. Many people sit down to âwriteâ but donât know what they want to say. First thing â think about what you want to say. Write down all the important points.
You can make an outline which can be sparse or extremely detailed â the point is to *know what you want to say* before you start writing.
Donât be afraid of terrible 1st drafts. The point is to get your thoughts down on paper. My 1st drafts are full of grammatical errors and typically donât follow a logical sequence. Itâs hard enough to write, donât make it harder by trying to make it perfect.
Which leads me toâŠediting. Editing is much easier than writing. Thatâs why itâs good to split the 2 tasks â terrible 1st draft, followed by successive editing. Once you get your thoughts on paper it will be easier to work on the flow and logic of the ideas and correct grammar.
Good paragraphs have topic sentences. Making sure they do is a good way to organize your thoughts & write in a cohesive fashion. Good use of topic sentences means someone should be able to read the first sentence of each paragraph and understand what the paper/proposal is about.
More information about topic sentences here: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-topic-sentences.html, https://owl.purdue.edu/engagement/ged_preparation/part_1_lessons_1_4/index.html, https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/.
Writing fresh text is the hardest part of writing. You should find out when itâs easiest for you. For most people, itâs in the morning. I try to write new material in the am and edit in the pm, although because editing is âeasierâ, sometimes I start with it if I am unmotivated.
If you find yourself âstuckâ while writing â like unsure of how to structure an idea or the logical progression of an argument, go for a walk. Itâs scientifically proven to help! ( https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-life/201901/taking-walk-will-boost-your-creativity-and-problem-solving).
I have a colleague who once said âproposals are written on the ring roadâ (a 1 mi loop @UCIrvine). Just make sure you bring the problem with you on the road instead of using the time to make a phone call, listen to music, etc.
Addendum because @NSethakorn made a great point - if you need to take a break from worrying about 'productivity' through this chaotic time - do it and don't forget to take care of yourself!
