New year resolutions for researchers can be a great start to build good habits. And it takes no more than cultivating positive habits to invite success and achievement in your research journey. What could be a better time to develop new habits than the beginning of a fresh new year?
As we look ahead to the 12 months of 2023, what new year resolutions for researchers can there be, that are simple, actionable, and yet effective? Let’s find out.
1. Jot down your goals
Start by identifying the “big picture” or what you want to achieve in, say, 10 years or so. Then break this down into smaller milestones that you will have to inevitably hit. By having both short- and long-term goals simultaneously, you maintain consistency and discipline that will help you achieve the larger goal.
Pull out a piece of paper and write down your goals for whatever project you’re undertaking. “Graduate in five years”, “Wrap up 3 experiments in a year”, “Publish a paper once a year”, whatever it is you want to accomplish, write it down and ensure that it stays in front of your eyes. Post it on the wall, write it in your notebook, or stick it on your table, do whatever it takes to help you keep the destination in mind.
2. Prioritize, daily
Setting goals is done but prioritizing the tasks that will help you reach those goals is as important as setting them. There is always another task at hand that requires quick attention, and if you’re working on multiple projects, those tasks quickly get out of notice. Identifying what will benefit you the most will help ensure you focus on the things that are more important.
Get a “tenure track position” could be your ideal goal, but maybe “get into graduate school” should be a higher priority after college than looking through the classified ads for academic positions. So, take a look at your goals and rank them in order of importance to you. Then spend your time performing only those tasks that get you closer to completing your goals.
3. Network more
In the words of poet John Donne “No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.” Though often neglected, and highly underrated, there are several benefits to research networking – it enables shared learning, the transfer of technology, and the chance to collaborate on projects.
And good partnerships can make your career – think of Bishop & Varmus, Brown & Goldstein or even Jake & Elwo – so identify opportunities to find a collaborator. Look around the lab or your department to find some strong candidates to discuss your insights with or to help you in your research project. Join online communities and use social media to meet like-minded people. Take advice from your supervisors and mentors whenever you feel stuck on something in your research. Share, talk, meet new people. Make sure that this year, you put in extra effort to build meaningful collaborations.
4. Set aside time for reading
If you’re in the field of academia, you’re supposed to read a lot. That’s because the more you read, the better you are able to keep up with new developments, grasp concepts, and take a lot of career-related decisions.
As a first step to start reading regularly, block some time in the day to read without any distraction. If you are just starting off, read about the field you want to take up in the future to be able to better understand the opportunities in your space.
If you are in a PhD program, read about the latest developments around your topic and subject so that your literature review chapter is up-to-date (it should not be over 10 years old) when you submit your thesis.
If you are an early- to mid-career researcher, read more broadly, learning about research topics that are related to your field and can become useful for a future research project and/or collaboration.
If you are a senior researcher, you may want to read more to identify disruptive research and shape the way ahead for your research team.
Whichever stage you may be in, make sure you set some time apart for reading.
5. Take care of yourself
Be it a paper rejection, an experiment not working, or a PhD thesis you had worked so hard on not getting approved, there can be umpteen reasons in a researcher’s life to make them feel stressed and anxious. But remember that brains work better in healthy bodies. Too much stress only means rushed projects, missed deadlines and finally academic burnout.
Make sure you prioritize taking care of yourself. Exercise regularly if that makes you feel better or go for a yoga session if that calms you down. Listen to music, take a walk, take frequent breaks, and talk to people around you. A researcher’s journey can be lonely at times, taking care of yourself and seeking help if needed, can make the journey easier.
In conclusion
New Year resolutions for students and researchers can be a great way to take stock of what’s truly important in their lives. As people who juggle numerous everyday tasks, it becomes even more valuable to pause and reflect on the year that went by, and plan for the year ahead. So, have you set your New Year resolutions for 2023 yet? Because it’s not too late yet!
