How to Prioritize Writing in the Busy Life of an Academic Emergency Physician

Boost your academic writing as a physician with daily habits. Learn to balance patient care and scholarly work, prioritize quality, and leverage writing accountability groups for success.

Many academic physicians need help to balance patient care with writing. The unpredictable shifts and pressing responsibilities often push writing to the back burner. Yet, we're about to change that.

Introduction

Boosting your academic career might be simpler than you think.

By the end of this article, you'll discover the power of a daily writing habit. As someone navigating the tumultuous waters of emergency medicine and academia, I've found a rhythm that works.

Balancing Patient Care with Scholarly Work - The Challenge of Finding Time

Finding time to write feels like searching for a needle in a haystack.

It's not just about being busy; it's about unpredictable schedules. How can we create a system that adapts to the variation while creating pockets of protected writing time?

Prioritize short, daily writing sessions. Even 15 minutes can make a difference. In How to Write a Lot, Paul Silvia says, "Instead of finding time to write, allot time to write." Allowing time might feel daunting when looking at your already time-constrained calendar, though don't dismiss it outright. Each week, sit down and pick 15 minutes each day to write. Put it on your calendar and commit to it like you would a meeting with your boss. If you can't carve out 15 minutes, you're either doing too much, or writing is less of a priority for you than you think.
Integrate writing into your daily routine. Treat it like a critical task, not an afterthought. Attaching this to a habit you already have established may be helpful. Each time you get home from the gym, you sit for 15 minutes at your favorite table, working on the current writing project. Or you can take the last 15 minutes of your lunch to copy figures into Table 1 of your manuscript.
Leverage technology. Use apps to block distractions and set reminders. I like the app Flow, which is a Pomodoro timer that works. There's something powerful about seeing a timer to motivate me. It shows me: 1) the session has an end time and 2) the limited nature of time (if you want to get this done, time's passing, so you better do it!)

The big win? Consistency beats intensity. Why does this matter? Because small, consistent efforts lead to significant achievements over time.

Next, let's tackle the myth that you need large blocks of time to write effectively.

Daily Writing Habits for Academic Physicians - Quality Over Quantity

It's not about how much time you spend writing but how you use it.

Many believe they need hours of uninterrupted writing time, which isn't true. I've recently started to dig into books and articles from Cal Newport. His new book, Slow Productivity, argues that sustainable success depends on doing less, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. He says obsessing over quality is the "glue that holds the first two principles together." This idea resonates with me. If you can focus on making what you create the best version possible, the output rate matters less. Each artifact will matter more, be better received, and be more likely to lead to opportunities in the future.

How can we make the shift?

Focus on quality, not quantity. Aim for productive writing sessions, no matter how short. Optimize for the highest quality work you can create. Even if you only have a 15-minute block to work, use the fifteen minutes to craft the best sentence possible. As you show up consistently, the sentences will accumulate.
Set clear, achievable goals. Know what you want to accomplish in each session. Clarifying my intentions ahead of time has been huge for me. When you are in the throws of a chaotic workday, putting in the cognitive work to define your tasks is a setup for disaster. I'm a big fan of sitting down each evening and writing the specific things I will work on the following day onto a schedule. Your goals or intentions should be as specific as possible; "outline introduction," "edit methods section," or "continue drafting discussion section from the outline." When you open the document the next day, no decisions need to be made; you do the work.
Create a conducive writing environment. Minimize distractions and set up a dedicated writing space. This might mean communicating with your family that when you are in the spare room, no one should come in unless it's an emergency. Or driving into an office space and shutting the door. Leaving your phone in the pantry or in your work bag. The only way to write a lot is to give your nervous system the time and space it needs to ease into a writing session. Writing is hard and creates anxiety and other uncomfortable emotions–if you don't manage distractions ahead of time, you'll be more likely to let them in and "save you" from the difficult work. aka distract you.

All of these concepts take upfront work, to be sure. The main benefit, though? You'll make more progress in less time.

This shows that setting the right conditions and clear objectives can enhance writing efficiency. Consistent, effective writing is possible even with the busiest or most variable schedules.

Now, we'll explore how to make this habit stick.

Building a Lasting Habit - Writing Accountability Groups in Medicine

The secret to a daily writing habit isn't willpower; it's routine.

Turning writing into a non-negotiable part of your day is vital. I've leaned into this by joining a Writing Accountability Group or WAG. This concept has existed for centuries; thinkers, scientists, and artists have gathered to share ideas and push each other's work forward since the ancient Greeks gathered in The Symposium. Here are three ways writing accountability groups help create good writing habits:

Start small. Commit to writing a few sentences daily. Set the bar so low that it will be embarrassing if you don't hit your goals!
Celebrate small wins. Acknowledge every successful writing session. Just because the bar is low doesn't mean you should ignore the success! Part of the work that goes into developing habits that stick is creating the reward structure around the behavior that makes you gravitate toward doing more of the behavior. Each time your group meets, share all of the successful writing sessions you've had.
Be accountable. What happens if you miss a writing goal? Tell the group. Part of the social cost of missing your writing goal is feeling like you let the group down. If you trust your group and have created a safe space for each other's work, there's no actual harm, but it is a little nudge to show up to the work.

The ultimate benefit? Writing becomes a natural part of your day. Habits formed through small, consistent actions are more likely to stick. By focusing on building a habit, you ensure long-term success.

Next, we'll wrap up with key takeaways and your next steps.

Collect Small Wins to Increase Scholarly Writing Productivity

Implementing a daily writing habit can transform your academic career. Don't let the constraints of your schedule be a barrier to accomplishing your writing goals. Schedule small chunks of team each day, focus on quality, and lean on your peers and colleagues to help keep you accountable.

Start tomorrow. Pick a 15-minute block of time and sit with the work. Once you stack enough of those blocks together, you'll be more productive than you ever thought possible.