So, you've had a long layoff from work. Maybe it was because of COVID-19, maybe it was for another reason. Regardless of why, here are 12 things to check/do before you go back to the office, lab or classroom: 

1. Look in the mirror. 

2. Try your work clothes on. 

3. Check it all fits and works together. 

4. Get into a routine. 

5. Be prepared to say no. 

6. Be prepared to ask to do more work from home. 

7. Confirm your commute. 

8. Remember what you learnt from COVID-19. 

9. Pay attention to your pets. 

10. Pack your bag. 

11. Don't expect to be productive immediately.

12. Thank researchers, schoolteachers, and health care workers.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/twelve-things-to-do-before-going-back-into-the-office-2/

COVID-19 is driving me a bit crazy. So I'm reaching out to you - my friends and followers on the internet- saying "let's meet". You set the agenda. But it could be anything. Work. Soccer. Beer brewing. Drums. Gardening. Cooking. Religion. Politics. Money. Mental Health.  

Reply, DM, email, call or SMS. I'll sort the rest.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/covid-19-driving-me-crazy-so-meeting-with-subscribers-friends-and-followers/

COVID-19 is throwing everything into chaos. And, there are lots of articles and videos focused on being productive in spite of all that. I've written and published my share.   

BUT - it is okay to have an off day, week or month. So, have empathy for yourself. Getting through is enough. You'll have time on the other side of this to get productive.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/have-empathy-for-yourself/

Three different strategies for career planning: 

1)Ten year back casting - start ten years from now. Think about how you'd like that to look/be and then work backwards (hence back casting) from there to now. 

2) Future skills - look a lists of skills of the future and build the needed skills. 

3) What you love - make lists of what you love, what you are good at, what people will pay you to do and what you would happily do for money. The thing(s) on all four lists are good options for careers. If there's nothing on all four, then you'll need to adjust the lists. Or, you might need to adjust your goals around work.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/three-different-strategies-for-career-planning/

Working from home is a new challenge for many. 

Seven things that I reckon help are: 

(1) Set up ergonomically. 

(2) Communicate your needs with your housemates. 

(3) Keep good records so you can claim costs later. 

(4) Take breaks. 

(5) Dress the part. 

(6) Schedule your workday. 

(7) Keep your "work" space separate from your "home" space.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/seven-tips-for-working-from-home-2/

PhD students regularly stress of selecting the "right" topic. But it is not something that you can know when you start. The important thing is to recognise that each change you make to your original idea is likely to increase the time it takes to complete your PhD.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/how-will-i-know-if-my-phd-topic-is-a-good-one/

Networking is essential to career success. Yet, we often overlook the easy networking opportunities right in front of us - learning about and knowing the people you are studying with.   

Watch the video and read the blog https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/are-you-really-networking/

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/are-you-really-networking-2/

What kind of CV do you have? Is it one for industry? One for academia? Do you have many?

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/thinking-about-writing-your-cv/

A great book to help people get started on LinkedIn.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/connect-book-review/

Want to increase the citations of your work?  

Try: 

1. Long descriptive titles. 

2. Promoting it on social media. 

3. Let the authors you cite know about your work. 

4. Write multi-author papers. 

5. Repeat! Read more (https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/nine-ways-to-increase-awareness-and-citations-of-your-research-work/) or watch the video.

Link to transcript: https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com/four-tips-to-increase-citations-and-industry-uptake-of-your-work/