How do you cope with the pressure and expectations of citation indicators in your academic career?

1 Understand the limitations of citation indicators

Citation indicators are not perfect or objective measures of research quality. They can be influenced by many factors, such as the field, the journal, the citation practices, and the time frame of the analysis. They can also miss important aspects of research, such as the novelty, the relevance, the social impact, and the ethical standards. Therefore, you should not rely on citation indicators alone to judge your own or others' research. You should also consider other forms of evaluation, such as peer review, feedback, awards, and recognition.

2 Set realistic and meaningful goals

Citation indicators can be useful tools to set and monitor your research goals, but they should not be your only or primary motivation. You should also focus on what interests you, what contributes to your field, what solves a problem, or what makes a difference in the world. You should also set realistic and attainable goals that match your skills, resources, and opportunities. You should not compare yourself to others who may have different backgrounds, circumstances, and objectives. You should celebrate your achievements and learn from your challenges.

3 Seek support and collaboration

Citation indicators can sometimes create a sense of isolation and competition among researchers. However, you do not have to face them alone. You can seek support and collaboration from your colleagues, mentors, peers, and friends. You can share your experiences, challenges, and successes with them. You can also collaborate on research projects, publications, and outreach activities that can enhance your visibility and impact. You can also seek advice and guidance from librarians, who can help you with citation analysis, bibliometrics, and research dissemination.

4 Manage your time and stress

Citation indicators can also affect your time management and stress levels. You may feel pressured to publish more, to publish faster, or to publish in certain journals. You may also feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and expectations that you have to deal with. Therefore, you should manage your time and stress effectively. You should prioritize your tasks, plan your schedule, and avoid procrastination. You should also take breaks, exercise, relax, and enjoy your hobbies. You should also seek professional help if you feel depressed, anxious, or burned out.

5 Keep learning and improving

Citation indicators can also provide you with opportunities to learn and improve your research skills and practices. You can use them to identify your strengths and weaknesses, to discover new trends and gaps, and to benchmark your performance. You can also use them to improve your writing, communication, and presentation skills. You can also learn from other researchers who have achieved high citation impact or who have overcome citation challenges. You can also attend workshops, seminars, and courses that can help you improve your research quality and impact.

6 Be ethical and responsible

Citation indicators can also raise ethical and responsible issues in research. You should avoid any practices that may compromise the integrity and credibility of your research, such as plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or misconduct. You should also avoid any practices that may inflate or manipulate your citation indicators, such as self-citation, citation cartels, predatory journals, or gaming the system. You should also respect the rights and contributions of other researchers, such as acknowledging their sources, giving credit, and following the norms and standards of your field.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?