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Time Management

Time Management. Outline. How busy will you be in grad school? Self-assessment The five categories of time management Tips to increase your efficiency. About me…. Ruslan Suvorov – Linguistics rsuvorov@iastate.edu Bernie Anding - Chemistry bjanding@iastate.edu. Time Management and You.

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Time Management

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  1. Time Management

  2. Outline • How busy will you be in grad school? • Self-assessment • The five categories of time management • Tips to increase your efficiency

  3. About me… • Ruslan Suvorov – Linguistics • rsuvorov@iastate.edu • Bernie Anding - Chemistry • bjanding@iastate.edu

  4. Time Management and You • Graduate School • it’s a job, not an extension of your undergraduate education • you will work flexible hours • weekends, breaks, etc.

  5. Time Management and You • 50% TAs: expected 20 hours per week • RA: expected at least 20 hours per week • Conclusion: you are going to be busy

  6. How good is your time management? • Questionnaire taken from mindtools.com • scoring • Can be broken down into 5 categories: • Goal setting • Prioritization • Scheduling • Managing interruptions • Procrastination

  7. Goal Setting • This is step one… • Benefits of goals: • achievements • you’ll notice accomplishments • avoid daily “grind”

  8. Goal Setting • What should your goals be? • Start big, then set smaller goals designed to achieve the large goal • example: • Overall goal: Earn PhD • publish 4 papers • serve on a collegiate committee • teach a stand-alone course • It doesn’t hurt to start thinking about your CV already

  9. Prioritization • You will always have something to do • Make sure what you are doing is the most important thing toward achieving your goals • Urgent vs. Important • Must be done soon • e-mails • grading • reading for class • Vital to your career • manuscripts • thesis These are what help you achieve your goals

  10. Prioritization • Make “To Do” Lists:

  11. Prioritization • Make Prioritized “To Do” Lists: • write down all the things you have to do • grade them A through F • A is most important • A is not necessarily urgent • follow the list doing A’s first, B’s second, etc.

  12. Prioritization • Make Prioritized “To Do” Lists: YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT COMPLETE YOUR “TO DO” LIST IN ANY ONE DAY …try not to get frustrated

  13. Scheduling • Now you have goals and priorities… • create a schedule to keep on track • Pickle Jar theory • large pickles, golf balls, marbles, and sand • A-list priorities are the large pickles

  14. Scheduling • in application: • Make daily schedules: • identify the time you have available • block out time for A-list activities • leave time for distractions • fill in space time with urgent activities • use planners or other electronic tools if they help

  15. Scheduling • and don’t forget to schedule BREAKS!!! • nobody is a machine • it makes you more efficient in the long run

  16. Scheduling This includes SLEEP!

  17. Managing Interruptions • Another look at Important/Urgent activities: • Try to minimize interruptions • Learn to manage interruptions

  18. Managing Interruptions • Some interruptions are part of the job • Don’t scare interruptors away!! • they will most likely be labmates and students

  19. Managing Interruptions • Tips: • Rate the urgency of interruptions • Set “available” and “unavailable” time • if you have regular interrupters, schedule meetings with them • Learn to say “no” • or at least limit the time you give to these interruptions

  20. Procrastination • The most obvious waste of time • Know yourself • Learn the steps you need to take to beat procrastination • tips: • Do tedious chores (like cleaning glassware) immediately before they pile up • avoid unnecessary perfectionism • scheduling helps you get motivated

  21. Tips • Limit Internet usage for non-academic purposes: • LeechBlock for Firefox • Disable email notification pop-ups (unless needed) • Avoid sitting at the computer all the time • Change study/work locations: • Your office, lab, library, MU, coffee shops

  22. Tips • Turn off/silence your cell phone when at work • Work/study with a partner who can prevent you from getting distracted • Do not bring work home: • No computer at home • Necessary for those with families; helps motivate you to stay on task during work hours

  23. Questions Please fill out the evaluation before you leave

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