5 Good Deadline-Meeting Habits # 4 五個養成準時交稿的好習慣之四
學術界的人都很忙，永遠有比寫學術論文更要緊的事，論文截稿或發表期限往往一不小心就被忽略了，最後只能在緊要關頭手忙腳亂地完成。這種被死線追著跑的過程可謂苦不堪言。其實，輕輕鬆鬆按時交稿跟任何習慣一樣，是學得來的。此系列將逐一介紹有哪些習慣可減少面對截稿期限的恐懼，還能增進論文的品質，最後會在TPS粉絲專頁為各位做個總整理。
Authors of academic papers have other things to do. In the general busyness of academia, the deadline for a paper to be handed in or published can get overlooked. The subsequent scramble to complete the paper on time can be painful. Painless deadline-meeting can be learned like any other habit. This series will describe some habits that not only make deadlines less threatening but can improve the quality of the papers themselves. Each of the habits will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
Good Habit # 4 – Take a Break
好習慣之四：適時地休息，釋放壓力
At some point in the development of your academic paper, you need to take a break. I know this flies in the face of the whole idea of meeting a deadline. However, as important as systematically working ahead on a project is walking away from it at the right time. The old maxim is, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” That could read, “All work and no play makes for a dull paper.” Unrelieved immersion in research or writing of an academic piece is likely to produce unrelieved yawning—or worse—among readers. Taking a break helps avoid this consequence.
寫作論文讓你的精神持續緊繃，這時你需要暫時放下手中的工作、釋放壓力。這聽起來似乎和準時交稿的目標背道而馳，然而，適時地休息和努力不懈、有條不紊地完成工作一樣重要。俗話說的好：「整天埋頭苦讀而不願意停下來喘口氣，天才都會悶成呆頭鵝。」換句話說：「光顧著埋首寫作而不懂得釋放壓力的人，只會寫出艱澀難讀的蹩腳文章。」一味埋頭鑽研字句、沉浸在論文寫作不作他想，對讀者而言只是在創造難以理解的學術篇章，更甚的像是將研究成果放在學術的高塔，讓人高攀不了。適度的休息能夠避免這種狀況發生。
However, make it a structured break. I know, that also flies in the face of usual counsel about the value of spontaneity in vacations. Yet the purpose of the break is to replenish mental strength, not become flaccid in your thinking. So some mental calisthenics are a good idea during the break. Write a long, chatty letter to your mother, or sister, or fiancé. Why? You tap into the emotional side of your vocabulary and flush the impersonal, academic stuff. It is an exercise in grounding. Also, read a good book or articles written by an admired writer. It might inform your own writing.
然而，即使是休息也必須是精心策劃、有目的而為的。我了解這和休息的動機南轅北轍。在這說的休息，是為了達到有效釋放心理壓力，暢通停滯思路的目的。建議你作些轉換心情、感性的活動，像是寫封真情流露的信問候父母、兄弟姊妹，或是許久不見的朋友。將自己從嚴肅、一板一眼的氣氛中抽離，能夠幫助你緩和心情、沉澱思緒。你也可以在這時讀些喜歡的書、短文，因為透過閱讀能幫助你修正和增進自己的寫作技巧。
How long a break is advisable? You might drop the work for a few days, perhaps a week. This will not be possible, even for a day, if you haven’t scheduled the break at the start of the project and stayed on schedule. In that sense, the break is a reward for good planning and good work. The real reward is a brain that has been rested a bit, and eyes that can see the project with fresh, new perspective. Portraitists work intensely, close to the canvas, and then step back to see what they have wrought. Writers must do the same, stepping back for a few days for a better view.
休息多久才恰當？如果事先周全計劃，你就有暫時放下手邊工作幾天或一星期的餘裕。休息是對自己努力工作達成目標的犒賞，同時能讓思緒重整，為大腦注入新的刺激，讓你從不同的角度檢視工作成果。畫家不眠不休地對著畫布的一角作畫，最後總會起身、退後幾步，從完整的角度重新審視自己的作品，作最後修正。寫作學術論文也應如此，試著放下已完成的章節，跳出原本的框架再次檢視，能幫助你將文章修飾得更加完美。
Authors of academic papers have other things to do. In the general busyness of academia, the deadline for a paper to be handed in or published can get overlooked. The subsequent scramble to complete the paper on time can be painful. Painless deadline-meeting can be learned like any other habit. This series will describe some habits that not only make deadlines less threatening but can improve the quality of the papers themselves. Each of the habits will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
Good Habit # 4 – Take a Break
好習慣之四：適時地休息，釋放壓力
At some point in the development of your academic paper, you need to take a break. I know this flies in the face of the whole idea of meeting a deadline. However, as important as systematically working ahead on a project is walking away from it at the right time. The old maxim is, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” That could read, “All work and no play makes for a dull paper.” Unrelieved immersion in research or writing of an academic piece is likely to produce unrelieved yawning—or worse—among readers. Taking a break helps avoid this consequence.
寫作論文讓你的精神持續緊繃，這時你需要暫時放下手中的工作、釋放壓力。這聽起來似乎和準時交稿的目標背道而馳，然而，適時地休息和努力不懈、有條不紊地完成工作一樣重要。俗話說的好：「整天埋頭苦讀而不願意停下來喘口氣，天才都會悶成呆頭鵝。」換句話說：「光顧著埋首寫作而不懂得釋放壓力的人，只會寫出艱澀難讀的蹩腳文章。」一味埋頭鑽研字句、沉浸在論文寫作不作他想，對讀者而言只是在創造難以理解的學術篇章，更甚的像是將研究成果放在學術的高塔，讓人高攀不了。適度的休息能夠避免這種狀況發生。
However, make it a structured break. I know, that also flies in the face of usual counsel about the value of spontaneity in vacations. Yet the purpose of the break is to replenish mental strength, not become flaccid in your thinking. So some mental calisthenics are a good idea during the break. Write a long, chatty letter to your mother, or sister, or fiancé. Why? You tap into the emotional side of your vocabulary and flush the impersonal, academic stuff. It is an exercise in grounding. Also, read a good book or articles written by an admired writer. It might inform your own writing.
然而，即使是休息也必須是精心策劃、有目的而為的。我了解這和休息的動機南轅北轍。在這說的休息，是為了達到有效釋放心理壓力，暢通停滯思路的目的。建議你作些轉換心情、感性的活動，像是寫封真情流露的信問候父母、兄弟姊妹，或是許久不見的朋友。將自己從嚴肅、一板一眼的氣氛中抽離，能夠幫助你緩和心情、沉澱思緒。你也可以在這時讀些喜歡的書、短文，因為透過閱讀能幫助你修正和增進自己的寫作技巧。
How long a break is advisable? You might drop the work for a few days, perhaps a week. This will not be possible, even for a day, if you haven’t scheduled the break at the start of the project and stayed on schedule. In that sense, the break is a reward for good planning and good work. The real reward is a brain that has been rested a bit, and eyes that can see the project with fresh, new perspective. Portraitists work intensely, close to the canvas, and then step back to see what they have wrought. Writers must do the same, stepping back for a few days for a better view.
休息多久才恰當？如果事先周全計劃，你就有暫時放下手邊工作幾天或一星期的餘裕。休息是對自己努力工作達成目標的犒賞，同時能讓思緒重整，為大腦注入新的刺激，讓你從不同的角度檢視工作成果。畫家不眠不休地對著畫布的一角作畫，最後總會起身、退後幾步，從完整的角度重新審視自己的作品，作最後修正。寫作學術論文也應如此，試著放下已完成的章節，跳出原本的框架再次檢視，能幫助你將文章修飾得更加完美。
Posted at 2013-06-11 13:03:33
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