Grace Gallacher Karol Nedza The Researcher Toolkit Session aims Understand effective strategies for time management Learn some useful planning techniques Consider and practice getting things done ID: 779756
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Slide1
How to finish your PhD on time
Grace
Gallacher
, Karol
Nedza
The Researcher Toolkit
Slide2Session aimsUnderstand effective strategies for time managementLearn some useful planning techniquesConsider and practice ‘getting things done’
Understand how reflection can be used to improve time-management
Slide3The number one reason people don’t finish their PhD on time isn’t that they don’t work hard enough or long enough…it’s that they burn out.
“”
Slide4How to manage your timePREP
PLAN IT
DO IT
REFLECT
Slide5Time
Warm-up task
Time – what would we do without it?
When would you start work?
When would you take a break?
When would you stop?
Slide6Prep: work better, not longer!
Time of day
What I’m usually doing
How I’m usually feeling
Early morning
Mid-morning
Mid-day
Early afternoon
Mid-afternoon
Late afternoon
Early evening
Later in evening
Night
A typical day
Getting up, getting ready, eating breakfast, walking dog, arriving at office
Awake, alert, focused
Answering emails, admin tasks
Awake, alert, focused
Begin writing, eating lunch at desk
Starting to slump
Reading, writing
Tired, sleepy
Emails, admin, coffee break
Re-energized, focused
Reading, writing
Bored, restless
Coming home, catching up with partner / family, walking dog
Refreshed, relaxed, hungry
Cooking and eating dinner, writing
Guilty, tired
Finish writing, going to bed, trying to
sleep
Wired, restless
Slide7Prep: work better, not longer!
Time of day
How I’m usually feeling
What I could be doing
Early morning
Mid-morning
Mid-day
Early afternoon
Mid-afternoon
Late afternoon
Early evening
Later in evening
Night
A more efficient day
Awake, alert, focused
Awake, alert, focused
Starting to slump
Tired, sleepy
Re-energized, focused
Bored, restless
Refreshed, relaxed, hungry
Guilty
, tired
Wired, restless
, sleepy
Getting up, getting ready, eating breakfast, walking dog, arriving at office
Reading, writing
Take a break, have lunch with friends
Answer emails, admin tasks, coffee break
Reading, writing
Emails, admin, wrapping up, take a break, go home
Catch up with partner / family, walk dog
Cooking and eating, relaxing, recharging
Winding down, going to sleep
Slide8Planning
Time-splintering
Deep work
vs
Slide9Planning: ‘chunking’
Slide10To-do lists
Accountability
Good for smaller daily or weekly tasks
Good way to keep track of progress
Should be ongoing rather than time-limited
Agree plans with supervisor / mentor / ‘buddy’
Extra motivation to make progress
Not extra pressure!
Planning: some practical tips
Calendars / Gantt charts
Shows you the bigger picture
Helpful to work backwards from a deadline
Allow flexibility
Slide11Planning:
competing
priorities
What other responsibilities do you have, outside of your PhD?
Slide12Doing
perfectionism is not productive!
“”
Just startAllow for mistakesRedraft (or discard!)
Slide13Doing: distractions and solutions
Distractions
SolutionsSocial media
Log off
Work?
Slide14Doing: getting over the hump
Ask for help! (Don’t worry about ‘looking smart’) Negative thoughts / worry
Alex
Charlie
Alex’s undergraduate degree was in Psychology but their PhD is in Computer Science. Alex isn’t sure how to interpret some of the literature, and isn’t familiar with code-based statistics software such as R and
Matlab. Charlie has been working on the same section of their thesis for three weeks now. Charlie thinks about it all day and night, but has barely written anything and just can’t work out the best way to do it.
Slide15Reflection
YOUR PLANS
YOURSELF
REWARD YOURSELF!
Slide16What to do…
If you aren’t doing so well?
Take some time to reflect
How are you feeling?What is making you feel that way?Do something to lift your mood
Spend time with friendsCall / Skype a family memberDo some exercise / an outdoor activity
Talk to someone about itA friend / colleagueA family memberUniversity support services
Slide17People who are here to support youThe Learning GatewayThe Doctoral CollegeThe Writing CaféThe S.P.A.C.E. CaféStudent Wellbeing Services
Anytime Advice and Mental Health Helpline: 0800 042 0134Disability servicesSHINE e-resources
Slide18Session aims
Understand effective strategies for time management
Considered several time management strategies, considered own schedule
Learn some useful planning techniques
Chunking, practical tips, identified and considered competing priorities
Consider and practice ‘getting things done’
Considered the perils of perfectionism, learnt about free writing technique, thought of solutions to distractions and case studiesUnderstand how reflection can be used to improve time-management
Considered importance of reflecting on plans, self, and rewarding oneself✓
✓✓
✓
Slide19Any questions / reflections on today?