Systems for Scholarship: Three Low-Lift Ways to Stay Current with the Literature
If you're having difficulty keeping up with the latest published research in your field, this post outlines three easy strategies you can implement today to stay connected to new scholarship without burning out.
Last week’s post about managing research assistants was one of my most shared ever.
I’m so glad it resonated.
This week, we’re turning our attention to a different kind of work system: a strategy to stay engaged with the literature without constantly feeling behind.
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash
I knew I wanted to write about this topic after I came across this viral LinkedIn post last week. The post—written by a current postdoctoral fellow—celebrated a huge milestone: 1,000 academic paper summaries tracked in a personal Excel spreadsheet database.
Over 4,000 people liked the post. More than 150 commented. One called the author’s practice of tracking every paper she read as “unusual and inspiring.” Another said they wished they had done the same.
As I read the replies, I was reminded:
Some of us in academia naturally think in systems and we don’t always realize how valuable that is.
When I responded to the post, I shared that I’d done something similar as a graduate student and that I still refer to the 800+ page Word document I created back then.
But I also know that some scholars prefer newer tools like SciSpace or Elicit, which promise to summarize articles in seconds.
These tools have never appealed to me because I view reading as thinking.
Thus, when I hand off this task—whether it be to a research assistant or an AI tool—I miss something vital.
I lose the spontaneous connections my brain makes when I’m immersed in the work.
I lose the “aha” moments when I see how to bring two distinct literatures together to understand a particular phenomenon better.
So today, I want to offer you three easy-to-implement actions that will help you create a sustainable practice of staying current with the literature in your field (and perhaps one day create your own personal database 😎):
✅ Action Step #1: Make the literature come to you
Set up a few Google Scholar Alerts using your core research keywords, key theories, or even scholar names you want to follow. This one-time setup sends new work directly to your inbox each day.
You don’t need to read everything. To avoid overwhelm, create a Gmail filter that sends these emails into a “To Review” folder. Skim it once or twice a week. Download only the articles that align with your current research agenda.
✅ Action Step #2: Create a “To Read” Folder
Download articles you’re interested in and store them in a clearly labeled folder on your desktop or cloud drive.
Bonus points for subfolders by project or theme. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s to reduce friction when you sit down to read.
One double-click to get started = no excuses.
✅ Action Step #3: Block the Time (and Make Sure to Honor It)
Choose a 30-minute daily reading window.
If you’re an early riser, maybe you choose to read during your morning coffee.
Or perhaps a post-teaching session is better for you, or the short window between two back-to-back meetings.
It doesn’t really matter when you schedule your daily reading window.
The key is to set aside time, write it down, and treat it like a doctor’s appointment to establish a consistent reading practice.
Even 30 minutes, done consistently, can restore your connection to the literature and open up space for new ideas to take root. (Eventually, you may stretch this block to 45 minutes or even an hour.)
In a time when we are being asked to do more with less, implementing systems to reduce overwork and grind culture is a power move.
In this Friday’s post for paid subscribers, I’ll share:
A downloadable, ready-to-use literature tracking template (inspired by the viral post)
A sample entry with the exact fields I recommend
Three examples of how this practice can support writing, publishing, and research mentorship
Closing Reflection
We’re living through a moment of accelerated automation. And yes, I’ve experimented with tools that summarize papers, extract themes, and even simulate lit reviews.
But for me, these tools are most useful after I’ve done the deeper human work.
That’s why I refer to the three strategies above as human automation.
You set the rhythm.
You design the structure.
Over time, the system carries you.
What’s not to love about that?
Work friend, I need your wisdom.
If you're reading this and thinking, ‘I need more of this kind of support’—can you take 60 seconds to answer the questions below? They’ll guide what I build next.
I’m building out a new season of values-aligned professional development offerings for faculty who are navigating burnout, leadership roles, and big career questions. Before I finalize what’s next, I’d love your honest feedback.
When responding, please imagine your department gave you professional development funds and you are deciding how to use them.
Thank you for your time!
[NOTE: Only subscribers can vote. You will be prompted to subscribe when you try to vote if you are not already subscribed. Substack rules, not mine. 🤪.]
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Until next time,
Brielle aka Your Cooperative Colleague