Writing It! Episode 78: Getting It Done with Ayelet Fishbach
5 snips
Jun 15, 2026 
Ayelet Fishbach, a University of Chicago behavioral scientist and author of Get It Done, explores the science of motivation for academics. They discuss choosing meaningful goals, turning purpose into action, making writing routines sustainable, and staying motivated through feedback and difficult tasks. The conversation also tackles sunk costs, intrinsic motivation, and keeping collaborations productive.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Connect Lofty Goals To Concrete Actions
- Start with an inspiring why, then connect it to a concrete how.
- Keep asking why until the goal becomes meaningful, but stop before it becomes so abstract that it no longer guides action.
Turn Academic Chores Into Meaningful Work
- Reframe academic chores as contributions to teaching, knowledge, or publication.
- Revising a paper becomes more meaningful when treated as improving an argument and advancing knowledge rather than merely answering reviewers.
Use Targets To Structure Academic Time
- Set numerical targets for loosely structured academic work.
- Define what you will finish or how much time you will devote, because missing a target feels like a loss and creates useful urgency.
