As researchers, at least once in our lives we have missed an important deadline, and while feeling stressed, wondered how we could have planned our tasks better and managed our time well, isn’t it? Hence, as we do our research, time management becomes one of the most essential skills to possess.
Efficient time management for researchers isn’t as easy as you’d think and the importance of time management in research is almost always undervalued. A researcher’s day is usually packed with tasks including, but not limited to, working on manuscripts, preparing presentations, conducting studies, teaching, and mentoring students to name a few. While researchers juggle these research-related tasks, they also manage logistics and admin tasks. Therefore time management in research often becomes a sinking ship. Moreover, unexpected factors lead to delays and researchers are left with decreased productivity and much less time than they imagine.
Therefore, time management for researchers is important to have a smoother and happier research journey. It would not be an exaggeration to say that for you, the researcher, time management is the key to success.
We would like to share with you some tried and tested time management strategies for research productivity that many of your peers have applied to their lives successfully.
1. It’s okay to say “no”: One of the least discussed tips on time management for researchers is that as a researcher, you’ll often have to prioritize your tasks, and at times turn down tasks or requests if they won’t help you achieve your goals. When you have too much on your plate, ask yourself if you can postpone any of the tasks and concentrate on high impact activities. For example, you may have to choose between attending a conference on a related field and using that time to work on your manuscript.
2. Embrace digital tools for researchers: Wouldn’t you agree that making plans is often the easier part and staying on track is challenging? With the increased availability of digital tools for researchers, planning and organizing has become much easier. You can use online project management and planning tools (such as Asana, Trello, and ProofHub) to manage your tasks in a structured way. Rest assured, these tools will bring you closer to your goal of time management in research.
But that is not all! As a researcher, staying abreast of goings-on in your subject area is crucial for you. AI-powered digital tools for researchers like R Discovery can help you save 50% of reading time by providing recommended articles in the most personalized way based on topics and subject area that you prefer. You can access the papers most relevant to you from over 90 million papers available on R Discovery. So digital tools for researchers like R Discovery can be great assistants in helping you manage your time more effectively.
3. Multitask to quicken the work pace: One of the popular time management strategies for research productivity is to work on multiple tasks without spreading yourself too thin. Multitasking, when planned well, can help you save time and make consistent progress. For instance, you can start writing your Methods section right as you are conducting your experiment. This will help improve time management for researchers in two ways: you won’t have to wait to complete your study to write your paper, and you’ll be able to complete the task faster as you’ll clearly remember all the details.
4. Set realistic deadlines: If your goal is to eat an entire cake by yourself, it would be pretty tough to do so in one bite, isn’t it? It’s advisable to create smaller milestones when trying to accomplish a bigger goal or overcome a challenge. One of the most important tips for time management in research would be to split the goal into multiple tasks, consider factors that may pose challenges, and set attainable timelines accordingly.
Keeping a tight schedule may seem a good idea at the outset but eventually can lead to counter-productivity, loss of motivation, and early burnout. So one way to optimize time management for researchers to ensure you complete tasks within timelines is by keeping aside some buffer time for each task. You may benefit from this blog by Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega, an Assistant Professor at a university in Mexico, where he shares how changing his perspective of goal setting helped him create feasible goals for himself.
5. Maintain a to-do list: Another of our important tips for time management in research is to make it a habit to plan your day by jotting down priority tasks. You could do this first thing in the morning or at the end of your day (if you want to plan your next day). Having a clear picture of what your priorities for the day are can help you plan your day better and complete your tasks more efficiently. And you’re less likely to miss any deadline. Also, striking off tasks on your to-do list each day is satisfying and motivating. Use one of the digital tools for researchers mentioned above and try it yourself!
6. Complete high-priority tasks first: Often called the “eat a frog” technique of time management for researchers and non-academics, this can be extremely effective is done properly. Many researchers find it useful to block time at the beginning of their day for tasks that need more time, energy, and concentration. When a major chunk of your daily tasks is ticked off at the start of your day, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and keep you motivated for the entire day.
“When you begin your day by reading messages, you are prioritizing other people’s requests before taking action towards your long-term goals… To make consistent progress, begin your day by doing the highest priority task,” says Dora Farkas, PhD from MIT and founder of the Finish Your Thesis Academy in her blogpost on time management for researchers.
7. Eliminate disturbances: Block some time of your day to focus on your work and get things done. Here are a few time management strategies for research productivity that will help you stay focused.
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- Turn off push notifications on your phone.
- Turn on the ‘do not disturb’ mode on your phone.
- Avoid the temptation to read and respond to any emails.
8. Avoid delaying tasks: One of the most important time management tips for and researchers – Don’t slow down your journey towards your publication goal by procrastinating. Most of us avoid tasks that we don’t like or find challenging. However, delaying even one task can wreak havoc on your deadlines. An amazing trick by Agata, a PhD student in the University of Nottingham to avoid procrastination is to have plans after work. It helps improve time management for researchers by pushing you to finish your work on time, which increases your productivity significantly.
9. Don’t precrastinate: That’s not a typo! We’ve all been guilty of precrastination – the act of picking lesser important tasks to avoid doing an important task that we find challenging or are uninterested in. So, when talking about time management for researchers, it’s important to resist going down that path; look at the bigger picture – your publication goal. Stay motivated and remember why you started. For example, responding to emails that are not urgent instead of working on your literature review report using literature review tools is an act of precrastination.
10. Take guilt-free breaks: Value the importance of time management in research – but that does not mean you need to overburden yourself. That 10-minute break to brew yourself a cup of coffee is not a waste of time! It is a fact that taking breaks after focused sessions of one or two hours can boost your productivity and is a great way to improve time management for researchers. Use these breaks for activities that you like and will help you relax. From taking a half an hour walk, meditating for a couple of minutes, or enjoying a cup of coffee in your balcony, it will help you rejuvenate for another focused session. Larger breaks are equally important, and many often leave this out when listing time management tips for researchers. When you spend time with friends, family, and with oneself, it brings out the best in you at work, so make sure to include breaks in your schedule.
To sum up our list of tips on time management for researchers, while it is important to have a plan, it is best not to set it in stone. Time management for scientists and researchers starts with maintaining a balance between the daily activities. It is okay to relax or have a less productive day once in a while. To get the most out of your day, take a hard look at your goals, plan according to what works best for you (use digital tools for researchers to simplify this), and revise your plan as and when required. Stay focused on your goals but keep some room to mold your plan as required. Hopefully, as you use these time management strategies for research, productivity and efficiency are only going to get better.
Let’s close by reiterating why time management for researchers is an important skill to have
- Prevents last-minute stress
- Increases your productivity exponentially
- Avoids delays in submissions
- Improves your work efficiency
- Keeps tasks organized
- Reduces chances of missing important information or tasks
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