By Christina Barnes
P R O C R A S T I N A T I O N: The not-so-sneaky enemy of grad students everywhere! Eventually, though, we’ve all got to get things done and there are a couple of things we as grad students can do to kick the oh-so-appealing procrastination to the curb. Here’s a list of my personal recommendations for improving your productivity in grad school!
1. Separate Your Life Spaces
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy but mixing work and play makes it hard for Jack to get his work done! That’s my adaptation of the expression but I think it holds some truth. We’ve all gotten in our beds with our laptops determined to get some much-needed work done, convinced we can be productive. Flash-forward to three hours (and a really amazing nap) later and we’ve barely finished the work we’re supposed to do and are up against the deadline. You might be able to get your work done in your bed, but I think you’ll see a spike in your productivity and in your sleep patterns if you keep work in one place and have your leisure in another. My bed is a safe space—there’s no way I’m bring work there anymore!
2. Wake up Early
Don’t shoot the messenger, or your alarm clock for that matter, because tip #2 is to wake up early! I know it’s always easier said than done but getting up at 6 or 7 even when you don’t have class until 11 or 12 will help you feel like you have more time in your day and help you be more productive. With an extra 2 hours of daylight you can run errands, squeeze in a workout, or do some schoolwork that might not have normally been possible. You don’t have to do it all the time, either! If your schedule allows it, sleep in on Monday to avoid the Monday blues but rise and grind on Tuesday to set up your week right! I guarantee you’ll thank me once Friday comes around.
3. Find Some Light.
If your office is anything like mine, you probably lose all sense of time with the windowless monotony. Even if it’s just a 10-minute reprieve before you get back to work, I suggest getting out at least once every few hours. There are plenty of beautiful spots on campus to work outdoors and there’s pretty much always free snacks or coffee somewhere in the Union, so take a quick trip when you need a study break! Creatures of the dark should live in Transylvania, not in the graduate school.
4. Set Multi-modal Goals
This one is pretty simple but an essential skill it took me a while to learn. Sometimes we set restrictions on ourselves that are too tough. It’s unreasonable to sit down and force ourselves to work nonstop for five hours. That’s why I give myself two goals. For example: “I will continue working on this without distractions until I have three pages done or until it is 5:30. Then I will take a 45 minute break to have dinner.” If you still feel energized once both milestones are reached, then feel free to keep going but otherwise give yourself a break!
5. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
This tip comes directly from our wonderful Dean of the Graduate School and International Education, Dr. Kim Needy (and she is a much more reputable source than me)! Dr. Needy gave a presentation on how she was able to change her perspective on handling time management after reading the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I would highly suggest that anyone read this book to learn how to use your time effectively! You can borrow 7 Habits of Highly Effective People from the U of A library. Maybe one of the habits speaks to you a little bit more than others but if you haven’t read the book, you’re missing out on the chance to be a highly effective grad student.
Hope this list helps! Thanks for reading!
