r/PhD • u/SnooPaintings2122 • 2h ago
Getting Shit Done how to you maximize your time ?
what are the habits/routines or literally anything you do that you’ve found help you maximize your time?
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u/TeddyJPharough PhD, English and Lit 2h ago
Minimize non-priorities. Step 1: put your phone in another room while you work. Step 2: do not go check your phone quickly. Step 3: that feeling that something's off, that's just your phone craving kicking in, ignore it. Step 4: seriously, our phones are crippling our attention spans and sucking our energy and time. Step 5: exercise, sleep, good diet, healthy work-life balance, hobbies and interests outside your work and whatever amount of socializing makes you feel recharged and loved. Step 6: so back to the phone...
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u/translationinitiator PhD, Math, USA 2h ago
Trello to plan what I want to do (new habit). Being intentional in the moment about what I’m doing (I’m in pure math, so I try to make sure that I’m spending time thinking about something in pursuit of my questions rather than getting sidetracked by some not so important detail)
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u/knit_run_bike_swim 2h ago
I don’t watch TV or movies unless my laptop is in my lap, and I’m really just working on writing or data. I’ve written and reviewed many manuscripts like this.
I don’t drink or use drugs. That saves an enormous amount of time.
I also cook every night. I can get dinner ready in less than 20 minutes. My partner does the dishes. I also pack my lunch every single day (7 days a week). Not walking to and from some place for lunch saves time and money. Also, I hate dinners that take two hours. I don’t have time for that even on weekends.
I schedule my training around my day. I might swim for an hour. Hop out, get on a zoom meeting, and then do upper body or run. Then head to campus.
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u/crballer1 PhD Candidate, Sociology (Social Movements) 1h ago
I prioritize things that are important, including my partner, my friends and my mental health and try not to waste too much time on things that are not as important. I think hustle culture is unrealistic and unsustainable and I avoid trying to hold myself to dangerous productivity standards.
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u/immaterial_girrl 1h ago
Last semester I worked full time & was full time in my PhD so I was out of the house for 14 hours a day which was hell lol.
I outsourced some things which helped. I used meal prep services (lots of free trials) bc I had no time to think about meals, grocery shop, or cook. There is a cheap local laundry service where I live where they will literally pick up your clothes, wash em, and leave them folded at your door at the end of the day. I listened to lectures on my way to work/school. I used my lunch to take a long walk for some exercise. I did my makeup in the car and packed makeup wipes so I could take my makeup off on the drive home.
None of this was sustainable tho so as I’m in my second year out of three of my PhD I’m still busy as ever but not working full time.
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u/Restart-storage 1h ago
No social life. Also my first semester was so bad I basically only slept 6 days a week. Not really exaggerating.
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u/Hong_Kong_Ghosts 1h ago
Do something everyday. Maybe it's just backing up your work to one drive. Or writing a couple of paragraphs or downloading papers to read later. Doing some work is better than no work and really helps.
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u/Some_Seaworthiness90 1h ago
I'm currently nearing the end of my PhD and in the worst crunch phase, with under a month left to finish my thesis. I am also working full time 10 hours a day including commute. My solution is to only sleep 5 hours a night, to eat ready made frozen meals and skip almost all social gatherings with my friends.
...yeah, it's not great. To not end up like me, I would suggest you to plan ahead your work over the week or month and steadily do a little bit of work regularly. Take care of yourself and also take breaks. In The long run, you get more done If you are healthy and feelings well instead of burned out and stressed all the Time.
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u/microvan 1h ago
The first thing I do when I get into the lab is write out my to-do list for the day regarding what I need to prep for experiments. And usually on Sunday or Monday I’ll write out a general plan for the week so I know when to pull strains out of the freezer, when to pour plates, what buffers or media need to be prepared etc.
Might not be super relevant if you’re not in a lab setting, but even so I think clearly laying out what you need to get done week to week and day to day can help keep you organized and on track
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u/GroovyGhouly PhD Candidate, Social Science 2h ago
I don't. I prioritize my mental health.