Positive Affirmations for Academic Writers - Academic Writing Club

Positive Affirmations for Academic Writers
Keep these positive statements nearby, and read them whenever you
need a boost!
Something is better than nothing.
I only have to work on it a little bit
today
I don't need to have everything
planned out or know exactly what the
paper is going to look like before I start working on it.
Take it one step at a time.
Focus on this task now; don't worry about what will come later.
Even if it's hard, I'll figure it out, I always do.
Only 25 more minutes..... Only 20 more minutes....
I don't have to understand all of this; this is not my main topic, but I can
still make use of parts of it.
I bet a lot of people don't understand it either.
Not doing it doesn't make it go away.
It's not going to be as hard (or unpleasant) as I'm imagining it to be.
Not doing it makes you feel worse than doing it.
You've completed another task.
Of course I can get this done.
I am making progress every day.
Others struggled while working too and I am simply evaluating their
finished product.
I am sticking close to the data and not making things up.
I need to persevere through the hard bits and it will get easier.
Switching to another section will not get this hard section done.
Maybe you are feeling a bit burnt out today.

Instead of starting off with something hard, start off with something easier.
The easier stuff needs to get done, too, so you are still moving towards
the finishing line.
So what if it is a lame statement.
Just write that beside it and you can always
delete it later.
Don't let the inner critic disrupt your flow.
Any work is better than no work
I am making progress.
The work I do today will make it easier to do work tomorrow.
I have written 13 pages in two weeks, just by working steadily every day.
By working every day, it makes it easier to work the next day.
I will finish this program.
I will get tenure.
My advisor/mentor/chair thinks I am smart enough, and I know that I am
smart enough.
There's no law that says I have to work on the paper in order.
Do your best. Your best varies.
Keep focused, I can do it
I can make this work
It is important to me to follow through and will be worth the time invested
I will get a job and am applying for positions.
Enjoy the process
Remember this is not your life's work, just the keys to the club.
It's not the end of the world if I miss something.
I’m building on existing scholarship.
Everyone adds incrementally to what went before.
I'm taking their ideas and combining them in a different context that might -
no, that will - shed new light.
It is not supposed to be your best piece of work, only your first.
I will decide later whether it's any good.
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Just do what you can do
I don't HAVE TO do write this; I
CHOSE to do it and it is mine.
Something is better than nothing.
Doing anything is helpful.
I am building good habits.
I know I can, I know I can!
I deserve to take time off to rest.
One day off won't ruin everything.
Slow and steady gets you to the finish line just fine!
The students are lucky that I’m showing up today.
I can get back to writing once I am in better health.
Look forward and live in the moment
I'm open to comments that improve the manuscript but ultimately the story
is mine to tell.
I know my system better than anyone and therefore I have the last word.
I can write and do a good job.
My mind is logical and my writing is good.
Just get it down; it's easy to fix the writing later.
Write it all and it will become clear how it has to be organized.
I can make this work.
It's okay to ask for help; s/he won't think any less of me if part of it needs
to be corrected.
Trust.
The data are rich.
I have excellent skills.
I am simply telling a story.
It will all come together.
I can do this.
Others think I can do it and I can.
Get something on paper so it can be improved.
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I am making progress every day.
It is okay that it is hard.
It is not okay for me to give up.
I am a very strong and determined person.
I am persistent and capable.
I can get this done.
Good enough is good enough
I'm just writing to find out what I think.
I will trust the writing process.
It doesn't have to be the best, just the best I can do right now.
I can let go and be surprised at what I'm able to write.
It's ok if it doesn't make sense right now -- I'll remain curious about how it's
going to turn out.
There's no such thing as perfect.
Just keep plugging.
I will figure this out.
Free write and it will come.
Be clear about your intention: to finish this dissertation.
Take specific action and direct it toward your goal.
You know how to edit; use your skills.
Put your attention where you want your energy to go.
Writing is a productive use of my time regardless of the outcome.
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