time management of phd

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 05 December 2022

How to manage your time as a researcher

• Maya Gosztyla 0

Maya Gosztyla is a PhD student in biomedical sciences at the University of California, San Diego.

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It took less than two years in graduate school for me to burn out. I was spending long hours in the laboratory, yet I worried that I wasn’t making satisfactory progress. Overwork-induced exhaustion made me sloppy and impaired my productivity, creating a vicious cycle.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-04364-2

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged .

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Time Management Skills

• First Online: 19 November 2023

Cite this chapter

• Eelko K. R. E. Huizingh 2 , 3  

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Many research projects are more ambitious than rich in resources, making careful management essential. Project management is the process of ensuring the production of deliverables of sufficient quality with the allocated resources on time. An effective working style is equally important: when, where, and for how long are you most productive? Stress during doctoral studies is common. Good stress enables top performance, but bad stress exhausts. To keep a grip on your tasks, the chapter discusses effective guidelines to improve both short-term time management and the long-term planning of a Ph.D. project. Finally, four easy-to-use tools and methods to improve project planning and time management are described. These include the Gantt chart, critical path method, Pomodoro technique, and Eisenhower Matrix.

It is not enough to be busy… The question is: What are we busy about? Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862).

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Adapted from: Maylor ( 2005 );

This is why we need to ditch the 8-h workday for good , Fast Company, 25 October 2020. https://tribunecontentagency.com/article/this-is-why-we-need-to-ditch-the-8-hour-workday-for-good Accessed: 22 July 2021.

Cornwall et al. ( 2019 ).

Tips for dealing with unhealthy stress (in Dutch), https://www.skillstown.com/5-tips-voor-het-omgaan-met-ongezonde-stress Accessed: 25 September 2023.

Yerkes, and Dodson ( 1908 ); See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerkes-Dodson_law .

Langer ( 2014 ).

McGonigal ( 2013 ); See also: McGonigal ( 2015 ).

For more information about procrastination, watch the hilarious and insightful Ted Talk of Tim Urban ‘Inside the mind of a master procrastinator’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt_chart .

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_path_method .

For more information, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique and https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique . Accessed 25 September 2023.

Cornwall, Jon, Elizabeth C. Mayland, Jacques van der Meer, Rachel A. Spronken-Smith, Charles Tustin and Phil Blyth (2019), Stressors in early-stage doctoral students, Studies in Continuing Education , 41:3, 363–380, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2018.1534821 .

Langer, Ellen (2014), Mindfulness in the Age of Complexity, Harvard Business Review , March, p. 68–73 (Quote: 71).

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Maylor, Harvey (2005), Project Management , 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, p. 26.

McGonigal, Kelly (2013), How to make stress your friend , TED Talk, TEDGlobal, https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend .

McGonigal, Kelly (2015), The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It, Avery, New York.

Yerkes, Robert M., and John D. Dodson (1908), The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation, Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology , 18 (5), p. 459–482.

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Huizingh, E.K.R.E. (2023). Time Management Skills. In: Unlocking PhD Success. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40651-5_6

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How to maximize and adjust to a phd schedule.

A PhD schedule takes adjustment, but the strategies that work for doctoral studies carry throughout an academic career.

Adjusting to a PhD schedule can be a challenge. Classes will take up a decent amount of your time for the first few years of a program. After completing the required courses, independent research becomes the main focus. Sometimes that can be intimidating. You become your own boss, which is an adjustment from being told what to do and when to do it.

Here are a few tips from current doctoral students and professors at Wharton on how to transition into this new lifestyle:

Brush Up on Your Time Management Skills

Learning how to manage your time more effectively can help you get your schedule under control as well as stay on task and reduce stress. Prof. Wayne Guay , the doctoral coordinator for the Accounting program, said, “Effective time management is crucial to success, progress and sanity. First, students should know they are not alone, as it is something that many — perhaps most — graduate students struggle with from time to time.”

Time management allows you to maximize your day. If you find yourself struggling to effectively manage your time, click here for helpful tips .

Ask for Help

Completing a PhD is not an easy task. There will be times when you’re struggling and may be feel unsure or overwhelmed. Prof. Fernando Ferreira , the doctoral coordinator for the Business Economics and Public Policy and Real Estate programs, suggested that students reach out for help. He said, “It’s always much better to talk people. Share the experience that’s happening and share the problem, usually that’s the best way to overcome that struggle. It’s much easier once you’re able to communicate what exactly is happening.”

Professors are there to guide you when you need, so take advantage of their expertise. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a professor, talk to a peer. There’s a chance that others have experienced similar issues and can lend some helpful advice. Prof. Ferreira also suggested seeking help sooner rather than later as putting off a problem can cause further issues down the line.

Take a Break

From going to class, completing homework, and conducting research, your days can be jam-packed. Although it is important to focus on your work, it is also important to take time for yourself. Karren Knowlton , a third year Management student, said, “It’s super easy to feel like school is your life, but you won’t be able to bring your best self here if you don’t round yourself out in other ways. I would say maybe two nights a week try to see other people and do something outside of school even if it’s just for an hour.”

Whether grabbing dinner with a friend or joining on a club on campus, there is plenty to do in and around Philadelphia. Karren chooses to spend her free time volunteering with the Science Education Academy in West Philly. Karren said, “ It’s a fun and rewarding way to give something back to the local community that’s easy to work into a PhD student schedule.”

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

Not comparing yourself to others is easier said than done. It’s important to remember a PhD program is not one size fits all. What works for one person may not necessarily work for you. Prof. Deborah Small , the doctoral coordinator for the Marketing program, said, “Of course it’s impossible to not compare yourself to others, but there’s not one right way to become an academic other than getting that degree.”

Comparing yourself to others can cause you to lose sight of the goal you’re working towards. Focus on what you personally need to do to be successful. Karren said, “Figure out what your priorities are and don’t let looking at other people and how much they seem to be working or not working affect that.”

Having tips to adjust to a PhD schedule is only helpful if you know what to expect. Get an inside look at the schedule of a PhD student .

Posted: August 4, 2017

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Five Time Management Tips for PhD Students

16 th August 2022

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Due to the limited contact time you’ll receive during your PhD, you’ll need to motivate yourself and organise your own time efficiently – that is if you don’t want to end up going into your final year with an entire thesis still to write. Time management isn’t easy. This little fact is probably something you learned while studying for your undergrad, and it will almost certainly have been reinforced over the course of your Master’s degree. When you’re studying for a PhD, time management is crucial. However, the good news is that there are plenty of effective time management techniques you can use to keep you on the right track. Have a read through the following to get you started… 

Time management tips

Find a routine.

If you don’t have a daily routine, it may be all too tempting to get into bad habits (like staying up until the early hours and then sleeping in until midday). Set yourself a time to wake up each day, and then do your best to stick to it. This will help you to save time when you might be tempted to dither around in the morning.

Keep a diary

Having a place where you can organise your thoughts, jot down to-do lists and keep a track of upcoming dates is always handy – buy yourself a diary and get into the habit of using it on a daily basis. Having a documented account of your goals can help to make you like you've steadily been achieving milestones, and we all know how satisfying it is to tick things off a list.

Create a 'work space'

Working and not working in the exact same space can make it difficult to disconnect when the time comes to relax, or make it hard to focus when you need to get back to studying. Whether it’s a desk in your room or your university’s library, having a designated place where you can go to work will help you separate your work time from your leisure time.

Setting yourself goals (such completing a chapter of your thesis or organising an academic conference by a certain date) is a great way to organise your time and keep motivated. If you're able to do so, allocate time to certain tasks so you don't get lost in a certain subject or cut short your time on an important assignment.

Give yourself a break

It’s also possible to overwork yourself. If you give yourself a start time of 9 o’clock each day, make sure you also have an end time. That way you’ll have something to work towards and a well-deserved break to look forward to at the end of the day. This is something you can also apply to your year as a whole – don’t be afraid to give yourself a week off every now and then!

Next: Read more about How to Manage Your Time As a Postgraduate Student

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Time Management Mastery: Essential Tools and Tips for PhD Students

Navigating the demanding journey of a doctorate or postdoctorate program requires more than just academic prowess; it demands exceptional time management skills. In today’s fast-paced educational landscape, effectively managing your time is crucial for success. This blog post aims to equip aspiring PhD students with practical tools and tips to enhance their study efficiency and productivity. Let's dive into strategies that can transform your academic journey. PhD and postdoctorate studies are marathons, not sprints. They require long-term commitment and consistent effort. According to a study by the Council of Graduate Schools, the average time to complete a PhD is 5.8 years. This duration can be overwhelming without effective time management strategies. Efficient time management not only helps you meet deadlines but also ensures a balanced lifestyle, reducing stress and burnout. What tools can we use to Improve Time Management? 1. Digital Planners and Calendars: Tools like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook can help you organize your schedule, set reminders for deadlines, and plan your study sessions effectively. 2. Project Management Software: Platforms like Trello, Asana, or Monday.com enable you to break down your research into manageable tasks, track progress, and prioritize activities. 3. Pomodoro Technique Apps: Apps like Focus Booster or Tomato Timer incorporate the Pomodoro Technique, encouraging focused study sessions interspersed with short breaks to boost productivity. 4. Time Tracking Tools: Apps like RescueTime or Toggl track how much time you spend on various activities, providing insights into where your time goes and how you can optimize it. Some strategies that will help you achieve effective time management are: Set Clear Goals: Begin by setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your research and studies. Prioritize Tasks: Use the Eisenhower Box method to differentiate between urgent and important tasks, focusing on what contributes most to your academic progress. Create a Structured Daily Routine: Establish a daily routine that allocates specific times for study, research, breaks, and leisure activities. Stick to this routine as closely as possible. Avoid Multitasking: Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can reduce the quality of work and increase time spent on tasks, as per a study by the American Psychological Association. Take Regular Breaks: Short, regular breaks help maintain consistent performance. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) are highly effective. Set Realistic Deadlines: Set achievable deadlines for each task, considering potential obstacles and allowing some buffer time. Seek Feedback Regularly: Regular feedback from supervisors can help you stay on track and make necessary adjustments to your plan. Stay Physically and Mentally Healthy: Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep are essential for maintaining focus and energy levels. Use Technology Wisely: Leverage digital tools for research, organization, and communication, but avoid digital distractions like social media during study hours. The Impact of Good Time Management Effective time management in PhD studies leads to better research quality, timely completion, and an overall satisfying academic experience. It also prepares you for future professional roles, where these skills are highly valued. A survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) indicated that time management is one of the top soft skills sought by employers in business school graduates.