Academics unable to predict peer review outcomes and timelines, causing anxiety and career planning paralysis

Researchers submitting papers to academic journals face agonizing uncertainty about whether their work will be accepted or rejected, with no clear signals to guide expectations. The peer review process is opaque—reviewers complete evaluations on unpredictable timelines, and researchers obsessively search for patterns (like review completion speed) to interpret their chances. This uncertainty delays career decisions, funding applications, and research planning, while current solutions (journal websites, email notifications) provide no predictive insight or emotional support.