#AcademicWriting Tip: when just returning to research and writing, don't expect yourself to be able to work for 6 hours straight, like you might have at the peak of previous work. It takes time to build up to that. Be gentle to yourself.

Even if I can only manage an hour, I think to myself: has the work gone forward or backward? *Anything* moving forward is a good day's contribution, even if it doesn't feel sizeable.

These messages brought to you by someone who's done enough therapy to know that I can't afford to beat myself up over unpaid labour.