From November 13th to 15th, the first-ever 'SP&H Writers Retreat' took place at 't Paviljoen in Rhenen. Over the course of three days, around 35 Societal Participation & Health (SP&H) colleagues from different departments of Amsterdam UMC immersed themselves in a beautiful environment conducive to both writing productivity and building connections.

The mornings began with collaborative plenary sessions, where participants set and shared their writing goals in small groups. Reflective discussions at day's end facilitated the exchange of effective writing tips and tricks. Beyond writing pursuits, the retreat featured various activities. A physically challenging boot camp, led by Lima Emal and Donny Kreuger, and a meditation session by Lily Anzion on the acceptance of thoughts and feelings. Both sessions underscored the importance of both physical and mental well-being.

A pivotal moment of the retreat was a futuristic presentation by Bart Cillekens on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) as a valuable tool for researchers. His inspiring presentation triggered contemplation on the ethical considerations associated with incorporating AI into our field.

The retreat proved to be an unforgettable experience, not only enhancing individual projects but also strengthening the bonds among SP&H colleagues. Additionally, valuable lessons were learned to boost everyone's writing productivity. Here's a summary of the key insights gained during the retreat:

  • Movement and fresh air: Take short breaks for a walk or coffee when concentration wanes.
  • Email management: Disable email or set an out-of-office reply for uninterrupted work.
  • Planning: Create a concrete and achievable daily schedule for writing tasks.
  • Peer review: Seek feedback from colleagues, including those less familiar with your subject.
  • Creating conditions: Establish a conducive writing environment, clear your mind, and allocate time for writing tasks.
  • Digital distraction: Turn off phone notifications during writing time and consider using apps like 'ZennMode.'
  • Exercise: Move, stretch, and walk regularly to stay fresh.
  • Structure: Outline paragraph structures and key content before starting to write.
  • Inspiration: Use others' articles as inspiration.
  • Tools: Leverage tools like Thesaurus and ChatGPT to support the writing process.
  • Literature management: Organize articles with folders and labels (e.g., in Endnote), highlight text, and keep a log of key article sentences for overview.
  • Flexibility: Be flexible during writing; if stuck, temporarily switch to another task.
  • Background sound: Consider soothing background sound.