Time Management for PhD Students
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Transcript Time Management for PhD Students
Time Management for PhD
Students
Marcy Marinelli, Ph.D.
Learning Assistance Service
Ph.D. Completion Project Workshop
September 13, 2013
Objectives
Identify roadblocks on the journey to PhD completion
Learn why goals are important to your success
Learn how to set goals and sub-goals
Learn strategies to break tasks into manageable
pieces
Learn strategies to manage time and avoid
procrastination and self-sabotage
Identify ways to get back on track
Does this sound familiar??
Internal Roadblocks
Transition from student to scholar – am I good enough?
Impostor Syndrome
Ambiguity of the task
Lack of structure – independent research
Loneliness
Exhaustion
Motivation
Procrastination/Poor Time Management
Irrational Beliefs/Expectations/Self-Talk
Perfectionism
External Roadblocks
Work
Juggling multiple responsibilities
Expectations of family and friends
Advisor/Committee Issues
Environmental Distracters
Financial Issues
Start with a Goal
“Write my dissertation” is not a good goal
SMART Goals
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Testable
Why Goals?
Goals provide a road map
Goals provide a deadline
Goals provide motivation
Goals maintain motivation
Once one goal has been achieved, need to set
another
Written goals that you commit to are more likely to
be achieved
Writing a SMART goal
Think about a dissertation task you would like to
accomplish and write a SMART goal.
Example: Read articles for my literature review and
write up.
SMART goal: To prepare for my literature review I will
identify and read 30 articles on attachment theory
and write that section of the lit review by November
1, 2013.
Divide goals into sub-goals
I will identify and read 30 articles on attachment theory and
write this section of the lit review by November 1, 2013.
September 15- 20– Do search on Library website for articles;
identify 30 articles most relevant to my topic; read abstracts;
decide which articles are most useful
September 20-30 – Read and take notes on 3 articles per day
October 1-17 – Write rough draft of attachment theory section of
literature review
October 18-October 31 – Polish and finalize this section
November 1 – Send to advisor!
The Typical PhD’s Week
Time Management Basics
Prime Time
Chunking
Learn to say “NO!”
For many of us the toughest thing is getting started!
Procrastination
Procrastination = the art of making something into
more than it is, until it expands into more than it
needs to be; learned habit that lies in avoidance
through diversionary activities
2 stages
Active - impulse to delay – triggered by negative mood,
boredom, threat, discomfort, or other imagined
negative condition; avoidance activities
Passive - Reassure self that later is better; make excuses,
false justifications
Self-Sabotage
Creating obstacles to
your goals so that you
have an excuse if you fail
(Kearns, Gardiner &
Marshall, 2008)
Ego protective
Overcommitting
Busyness
Perfectionism
Procrastination
Disorganization
Lack of effort
Choose performance
debilitating conditions
Avoiding Procrastination and
Self-Sabotage
Make a choice not to procrastinate, have a good plan
and take the first step
Make sure you have a realistic, measurable goal for
each dissertation session
Identify obstacles and patterns of behavior that get in
the way of goal achievement
Explore the costs of the patterns
Take action
Identify and challenge your beliefs
Avoiding Procrastination and
Self-Sabotage
First things first question
Five Minute Method
Write by hand
Turn off your wireless or use a blocking app
Turn off your cell phone
Get into the writing habit – time and place
Getting Back on Track
Don’t let a lapse become a collapse
Learn from your mistakes
Sometimes you have to take a break!
Reconnect with your goals and vision
Use affirmations to remind you that you can do this
Seek support from friends and family.
Questions to Ask Yourself
What is the most right way for me to devote my time
and energy today?
What is the one thing I can learn from today that will
help me tomorrow?