Chips, Chunks, and Email Hygiene with Ashley Paul, MD

In the age of distractions, and a time of “doing more with less” in academic medicine, our guest on this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast is Dr. Ashley Paul, MD, who offers us hope.

Specializing in treating patients with movement disorders, Dr. Paul is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Paul is an expert in productivity, focusing on a technique we’re calling “chips and chunks.”

In case you missed her first appearance on our show or need a refresher, you can explore Faculty Factory Podcast Episode No. 254, “Happiness in Academic Medicine Comes from Better Time Management,” here: https://facultyfactory.org/happiness-in-academic-medicine/.

This time, she brings us even more efficient time management approaches and email hygiene guidance, discussing how she organizes her inbox to prioritize essential communications while eliminating unnecessary noise.

Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of maximizing productivity in small increments rather than relying on long, uninterrupted blocks of time, which can feel daunting. She introduced the concept of “chips,” small tasks that can be completed in a short timeframe, and “chunks,” larger tasks requiring more significant focus.

Breaking work into manageable parts allows us to make progress even amidst a very busy schedule.

In addition to this guidance, she helps us tackle digital distractions with useful tips. She offers us strategies for overcoming the constant barrage of interruptions, such as deleting social media apps from our phones altogether.  

"Our phones are constantly pinging for our attention, making us feel busy all day long, and we don't create the time we need to be truly and deeply productive," she said.

Highlighting the value of establishing boundaries, she pointed out that being unavailable doesn’t mean neglecting responsibilities; rather, it fosters a healthier, more sustainable balance.

More Resources: https://facultyfactory.org/