<p>I am a first-year Biology PhD student, and am having some trouble getting a grasp on time management... I suddenly found myself piled with 2 full classes and exciting research projects in 2 separate rotation labs at the same time-- with an ever-increasing pile of papers to read-- and will have teaching obligations beginning next quarter. I find myself neglecting one project, then panicking to work on that while juggling others, and sometimes find myself doing nothing but wondering where all the time has gone! </p>
<p>I would really appreciate seeing some examples of current grad students' daily schedules, or tips and habits that you find helpful for time-management. I guess I'm most interested in those who do lab work, though input from any current grad student will be helpful. </p>
<p>Thanks very much! </p>
<p>If something similar has been posted in the past, please let me know... I apologize if this is the case.</p>
<p>Sadly, I’m just here to say I know how you feel… and would likewise be interested in how people schedule their days (even though I’m more in the boat of knowing what I need to do, but failing to enact change).</p>
<p>its highly unusual to be allowed to do two simultaneous research rotations. Do you mean you have two projects in the same research lab? </p>
<p>I also suggest that you write out a formal schedule for your self to appropriately budget experimental plans. It is also necessary to multi-task. While doing experiments, you should be reading during incubations.</p>
<p>I should also note, that in a biology PhD it is fully expected that you are working on the weekends. Often this is your only time to get in a full day for experiments when TA-ing and/or taking classes</p>
<p>I am in a similar position; I have two long term projects in my rotation that I work on in tandem and am balancing coursework responsibilities, obligatory departmental seminars, research meetings, presentations etc. I found that I have to tote around a pocket organizer and notebook everywhere I go. I write up daily updates on what I am doing, what I have done, summaries of papers, class notes, what plans I have, outcomes from meetings with people and everything else that passes through my brain. With the exception of a good organization system to quickly find the info I am looking for, I have found that this has simplified my life and destressed my second rotation.</p>
<p>free pizza, complain just about anything that is related to PhD (lab disasters, future career, etc) with fellow grad students, but in the same time, getting addicted to our research topics.</p>
<p>My friend does an MPA at top ranked school and he also said there is tons of theme parties and that people tend to dress really nice and wear fancy sweaters! There are even several lesbians in the program, which are more than willing to shed light on their fascinating lifestyles. They have a common room, where they often lounge and discuss boring stuff like the L.A. Lakers, the weather, and women’s rights. He has an international security focus, which is funny because he’s never been outside of the U.S.! It’s a tight knit group- everyone has hooked up with everyone and they pretty much live it up like they never went to undergrad! It’s great!~</p>
<p>^ I still have a television, but I only watch my favorite shows (come on certain days) in the evening. It’s my way of relieving stress and sharing insight with friends. I do not watch the local news or talk shows.</p>
<p>To be honest, I have too much time to myself in my rotations. I get the work done, but there is only so much I can do each day, so I only need to be in the lab 3-5 hours. My other work time is spent reading (there’s always more good articles) and keeping up with classes (not hard, we don’t have much coursework). I’m looking forward to starting my “real” project in my permanent lab when I’m done with rotations so that I can spend more time in the lab and not feel like such a slacker.</p>
<p>i wish i had a schedule. i do about 7-8 hours of work a day, every day. reading, writing, more reading, more reading, all of it coursework. once or twice a week i go to the library to search through microfilm, which is the only time i really spend on my own research. then, about a week out from any artificial deadline i set for myself regarding progress on my own work, i start pulling 12-14 hour days, either at the library or this depressing 24-hr diner. anywhere far away from a bed i may be tempted to lie in.</p>