Being focus in the moving world

 

    In the first week of April 2025, I hit a research slump—zero productivity!

    I was staying in Groningen, the Netherlands, in April. This is my first one-month secondment at the Computer Science, Bernoulli Institute, and Kapteyn Institute at the University of Groningen as an EDUCADO PhD candidate.

    The EDUCADO Doctoral Network allows me to undertake secondments at two other institutes: the University of Groningen and the DiRAC Institute. I will visit Groningen once every six months until the end of my second year of PhD. I also plan to visit DiRAC at the beginning of 2026. While I am excited about these opportunities for collaboration and networking, I also face the challenge of maintaining focus on my work when transitioning to new environments.

(Picture of windmill De Helper near my rental flat in Helpman, Groningen)

 

    I had a comfortable workspace at the Kapteyn Institute, where I could meet my astronomy colleagues, and another at the Bernoullibourg, for my computer science colleagues. However, the excitement of being in a new institute filled with fresh perspectives often comes with a challenge: the temporary nature of the workspace. That desk, which isn't quite mine, can serve as a reminder of its transience, making it surprisingly difficult to settle down and focus. It lacks the comforting familiarity of my own research space. I am unable to maintain my usual daily routine, which I have established at my home institute.

    Compounding this challenge was my travel schedule for the month of April. In the first week, I visited the main office of ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy in Dwingeloo, and gave a talk about my PhD project. The following week, I spent a day visiting my former LEAPS supervisors at Leiden Observatory and gave another talk about my master's project. In the third week, I traveled for two days to catch up with an old friend at Radboud University Nijmegen and visited another colleague of mine at the Astronomy Department there. 

 

    I believe that traveling is essential for researchers to connect with colleagues, foster new collaborations, and generate innovative research ideas. However, it can also be quite draining and time-consuming. While Groningen is a charming city, it is more than two hours away from many other cities in the Netherlands. And the worst is that I have a terrible motion sickness issue.

    In the first two weeks, I totally failed in maintaining my concentration at work. And I did not allow myself to let it happen that way. My experience has taught me that establishing a routine is crucial for enhancing productivity. When transitioning from my usual workspace to a temporary desk, I recognize that it requires even more self-discipline and consistency to adapt my routine effectively in a new environment. 

    To bring myself back on track, I started by making myself a cup of coffee. Then, I opened arXiv to read new papers, which I always do to start my day at my home institute. When I was already in the working mode, I started opening my code and working on it. I did lose my concentration sometimes and check my email or posts on social media, but as soon as I recognized that I was doing that, I told myself: " Hey, I am in my working hours!". With that simple trick to kick off my day, and a bit tough on myself, I was successful in bringing back my focus. The following two weeks ended well, with my working efficiency coming back to a normal rate. 

    Traveling is unavoidable. As a researcher, visiting other institutes and attending conferences are integral parts of the work. From my first secondment, I have learned, the hard way, that working in a new environment often demands a heightened level of discipline and focus. By maintaining a consistent routine and practicing self-discipline, one can effectively enhance their productivity, even amidst the challenges of a shifting environment.

    Be Brave.