Time Management

After a hopefully relaxing holiday break, the work load is likely ramping up again for another semester. While your research may be continuous, other necessities including teaching, courses, and semester deadlines are likely back on your radar as the winter semester begins. Balancing all the demands of grad school with personal life (family, exercise, volunteering, hobbies, social, etc.) can be a daunting task. Start off this semester on track by brushing up on your time management skills.  

1. The breakdown: It is near impossible to manage your time if you don’t know what projects or activities require attention.  Make a list of everything you need to do.  Break each project into smaller tasks which will seem more manageable, you will have an easier time getting started and accomplishing the task in an efficient and logical manner.
2. Prioritize: Using your list, decide which projects and tasks need to be completed first.  From this prioritization of your list, you can create a long-term schedule.  This will reveal not only when projects need to be completed but when smaller tasks should be accomplished to stay on schedule for projects due in the future.
3. Schedule: Schedule each day in blocks for work on a variety of tasks.  Take into consideration which tasks are priorities and that you are only able to concentrate effectively on one task for a limited amount of time.  One scheduling strategy that works for some students is Fixed-Schedule Productivity wherein school is treated as a job and you commit to staying on task from 8:30am-5:00pm, the remainder of the day is then open for personal activities.  Another strategy commonly used is the Pomodoro Technique where 25 minutes of work are separated by 3 minute breaks, longer 10-15 minute breaks are allowed every 4 cycles.  Everyone has personal preferences for scheduling, but find a tactic that works for you and stick to it!
4. Be reasonable: When allotting time, be realistic how long something will take, if you estimated incorrectly adjust accordingly for next time.  Leave time for personal activities and breaks, however find a time of day and environment where you will be most productive (minimize distractions).  Learn to say no when you just don’t have time to commit to something extra. Don’t get down on yourself if one day wasn’t as productive as you hoped, this will lead stress and less productivity: simply adjust your schedule, stay positive, and refocus for tomorrow.

Finding time management strategies that are effective for you is integral to enjoying your time at grad school!

Information on time management consultations, workshops, and resources for graduate students at the University of Guelph can be found at the following link: http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/assistance/learning_services/graduates/time_management.cfm

This post was adapted from Michigan State University Graduate School Time Management & Productivity: http://grad.msu.edu/wellness/occupational/timemanagement.aspx , the University of Guelph Learning Services Guide for Time Management: http://www.learningcommons.uoguelph.ca/guides/time_management/, and the Pomodoro Technique: http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/