Presentation From Overwhelm to Workflow: Digital Tools for Productivity more

Digital productivity tools are increasingly promoted as cure-alls to heavy research and teaching workloads that educators face, yet practical integration often involves experimentation, setbacks, and adaptation. In this presentation, I introduce four digital tools used in my own academic workflow: Focusmate for structured accountability, Scrivener for managing long-form writing projects, Elicit.com for AI-assisted literature exploration, and Headspace as a supportive practice for sustaining focus and well-being. Drawing on reflective classroom and research experiences, I examine what has worked, what has failed, and what required rethinking and tinkering when incorporating these tools into daily professional practice. While some tools significantly improved writing consistency and research efficiency, others revealed limitations. Rather than promoting technology as a universal panacea, I emphasize thoughtful, deliberate, and critical adoption of digital tools. Participants will gain concrete strategies for experimenting with free productivity technologies, insights into common pitfalls, and practical suggestions for building sustainable digital workflows that support both teaching and research. I will encourage participants to reflect on their own productivity challenges and to approach technology integration as an evolving process of trial, reflection, and refinement.