Time management

Whilst undertaking a research degree you will have a lot of independence. This level of independence is a highly attractive part of a research career it can also be stressful if you fail to manage your time effectively. This section suggests some practical ways to manage your time effectively. Everyone can be a better time-manager and there are significant benefits from improving this skill for both your own research and as a skill you can offer employers.

Where are you going wrong?

Reflect on how you generally manage your time, where you lose time and what activities prevent you from achieving your objectives.

Researchers often identify the following reasons for their poor time management.

• lack of objectives and deadlines
• disorganisation
• poor communication
• lack of information or clarity about the task
• procrastination
• can't say 'No'
• never finishing tasks
• lack of self-discipline
• unforeseen crisis or difficulty juggling multiple commitments
• excessive socialising

Effective time managers are not workaholics, the task is not to put in more hours, but rather to use your time more efficiently.

How can you improve?

"Plans are useless but planning is essential."

These are a number of good principles that you can utilise to help you improve your time management:

• have clear objectives. Knowing the aims of your research will clarify your objectives
• devise a project plan. Make sure to include clear milestones and deadlines in your plan, and stick to them.
• classify tasks by urgency and importance. Tackle those that are both important and urgent first
• use a diary and timetable key activities
• don't get bogged down by others. Manage other people's expectations and make your priorities clear to them
• focus on one thing at a time
• review an activity before you leave it
• reward yourself, i.e. I'll check my email after I find this reference, or once I finish the draft of this chapter, I'm taking the evening off!

A time management tool: ‘do, delay, delegate or dump'