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#AcademicTwitter Let's talk about rejection in academia. It hurts - truly it does. And it's a key aspect of the discipline that we don't talk about much and don't get training for. So here's some thoughts on how to cope with rejection in the academy. [thread] 1/
Have a rejection ritual. For some people, it's venting. For others that might be working on another project. A good cry can also do wonders. Or watching one of your favorite movies. A rejection ritual can help you work through and process or avoid your feelings if you need. 2/
Keep a praise folder. Seriously, it helps. It's so hard not to internalize rejection but I find that focusing on other things I'm doing well can help offset the sting of that rejection. Save those nice notes you get from colleagues or students and remember that you are awesome 3/
About that whole internalizing thing: remember a rejection is not an indictment of you. It feels so personal, I know. But it probably isn't. Maybe the paper just needs to be retooled a bit or that job you applied for just wasn't a good fit. You are awesome don't forget it. 4/
Reach out. So often we feel embarrassed by rejections - but you are not alone! It's a normal part of the process. So reach out to friends or colleagues. This has been so helpful to me when I've had rejections that really stung. 5/
Remember it's okay to feel however you feel. Angry? That's okay. Sad? That's okay. Confused? Okay too. There is no one right way to feel and different rejections might evoke different responses. So give yourself the time and space to feel however you feel. 6/
Try to keep moving forward in whatever way makes sense for you. Recognize that rejections are not interdependent. Just because one article got rejected doesn't mean the next one will. I've had some pieces hit on the first try, others have taken many tries. 7/
Focus on what you can control. Sometimes the system is just broken - I'm looking at you 2020 job market. I have found that refocusing on the things I can control can help me to shift my energy. Sometimes that means giving the kitchen a good scrub
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Remember that you are awesome and valuable. Let me tell you that again. You have value and the academy does not determine that value. 9/
How do you cope with rejection in academia? Has your strategy changed over time? Do you handle different kinds of rejections differently?
