Work-Life Balance
Time Management & Life Balance
If we're going to look at time management in terms of a research-life balance, then there are two things to get out of the way first: (a) Let's begin by referring to a 'Life-Research' balance... (b). And, we need to acknowledge that there is a separation between the two (Jorge Cham's world-view notwithstanding). Naturally, a part of this equation has to involve how your time is managed during 'research time', but I'll leave that for another column. My focus here is how you keep research-time to a manageable level, to leave time for other things. And just to clarify, 'other things' doesn't mean catching-up up on reading the latest journals at home! So, what is a manageable level - 35 hours-a-week? 40? You decide. But if it is getting above 40-45 for a normal week, then you might want to ask yourself why... How you do keep a balance is likely to be very personal - we all ha... read more
The Balance
'I chose not to choose life, I chose something else...' I feel that there are a number of 'wisdoms' that should be shared between the post- graduate community including issues around 'Hitting the first brick wall' or 'The trials and tribulations of external funding for field trips' to name but a few. However, my contribution will focus on the difficulties faced when negotiating a 'work/life balance'. When I was granted the opportunity to undertake a PhD a feeling of relief was immense. Finally all the hard work that had gone into the application had paid off, but this unfortunately clouded my vision. It was a period of excitement, anxiety and overall indebtedness to the people that had believed in my ability to undertake a doctorate. The feeling of indebtedness and anxiety drove me to work exceptionally long hours for fear of letting down those that has placed so much faith in m... read more
The importance of downtime
We all want to improve our productivity when it comes to working and studying, but we often forgot that to maintain productivity we need to prioritise downtime in our busy schedule. Not only will taking time out from working improve your long-term concentration but it will also help to maintain your health. It is a well known concept that those who work constantly and do not take enough time out often end up effectively ‘burning out’. The benefits of downtime are many and varied but include. 1. Increased productivity I’m sure that you will have experienced first-hand the effect of working late or working extra hours on top of a long day: your whole body and mind begin to slow down, every task takes longer, and even the simplest things seem challenging. This is the effect of overloading the brain. When you take that all important break and spend time relaxing your brain is rejuvena... read more
Food for thought
Not only is food an important part of maintaining a healthy body, but now more than ever, it is being shown to greatly affect the brain as well. Changes in diet therefore hold the ability to change patterns of cognition, concentration and productivity. Certain foods have the power to enhance brain activity by stimulating neurotransmitter release and synapse activity, which can control moods, learning and memory. In this article we list a few of the top tips to enhancing you study ability through your diet. Eat at least one portion of oily fish per week such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. These contain omega-3 fatty acids which are found in cell membranes in the brain. Studies have shown that with an increased intake of Omege-3 increases intelligence and learning and memory. Nuts such as cashew are also a source of fatty acids. Eating iron-rich food will help to increa... read more
Part-time & Distance Study
When you're studying for your doctorate either part-time, or at a distance - or indeed, both - then much of the general doctorate advice applies, only more so. However, there are more specific aspects that we can focus on to assist in the process. One of the biggest issues with either of these modes of study is the academic disconnect - not feeling that you are part of the wider, ongoing academic process. In part this is a myth - many full-time, campus-based researchers don't feel that they are part of such a process either. But myth or not, this feeling of disconnect is itself very real, and can seriously damage motivation and momentum, which are especially important to those studying part-time or at a distance. What then can we do? There are some substitutes. For example, if you are lucky enough to be based near another University or other place of higher learning, you shoul... read more
Ten Top Tips
At this time of year many of us will be visiting family or travelling but still need to get work done. Here are some top tips to stay productive this summer. 1. Define your spaces; separate work from home. Have a room dedicated to working. Don't do it wherever you happen to be. Set aside some space so that when you enter it you know consciously what you're there to do: go to work. It changes the state of mind from "I'm at home" to "I'm at work". 2. Set regular hours, and stick to the schedule. 3. Don't work in your pyjamas. This is a key part of seperating work time from family / relaxing time. 4. Stay connected. Use the internet and online tools like communities and forums to stay in touch with the academic world and your colleagues. It will help you stay motivated. 5. Close the door. It'll be very easy to leave the door to whatever room or space you set apart t... read more
The Ancient Art of Procrastination
What else could PhD (pronounced 'fud') stand for? Jorge Cham coined Piled Higher and Deeper. I like Pretty Hard Degree. And then there's... Well, whatever you've come up with you are already engaged in the ancient PhD art of Procrastination. Sorry, that was a cheap trick, but it makes the point - somehow it is so easy to do anything other than work. This is true in most work contexts, but somehow PhDers do it more, and do it better. Why is that? Before I answer that, let's just check we are agreed on what constitutes the P-word. It is a little more than time-wasting, but certainly includes it. Hence, if the time is useful in some way, it is not proper procrastination - although it is easy to blame yourself as if it is. A coffee-break and a chat are probably necessary for most people to get through the day. Human interaction can be critical if it isn't part of your research-pro... read more
How to Study From Home
So, you have enrolled in a distance learning course. All your course material has arrived. You have cleared a space in the spare bedroom and your new shiny pencils are sharpened and ready to go! Deciding that you are going to undertake a home study course is a big step in itself. It requires commitment and an ability to self-motivate. Firstly you need to find a quiet corner where you can study and keep all your course materials. Maybe in the home office, spare bedroom or even your kitchen table- just as long as it works for you. If you are unable to find a quiet space in your home then try your local library or even a coffee shop for a couple of hours a week. Before your course is due to start make sure that you have all the equipment (stationary and course materials) that you will need for the months ahead. Get to know what level of support is being offered by the course te... read more
Good news: Socialising helps you work, get a job AND stay sane...
Whilst probably not the most crucial aspect of the post-graduate process, asocial life is an important part of being a rounded individual. It matters for the balance in your life; it matters for the balance in your work; and it may even contribute to you getting your next job. Most obviously, having a social life is an important aspect of being able to work effectively, but it isn't always the easiest things to develop as a post-grad. Whether you are new to an institution, or have been there for years, the situation is a challenge. As a newcomer, there don't seem to be all of those easy social meeting contexts that there were as an undergrad (assuming you didn't u-g as a mature student that is!). A few places to look might be: - The post-grad society - Societies connected with an associated taught Masters courses - Sport or similar activities can really help, but contexts c... read more
Improve your social life: 6 helpful ideas to try...
Have regular meetings with friends - Plan a set time in the week to meet with a particular friend or group of friends over lunch or one evening and stick to it! This way you have a slot timetabled in that you can plan to work around, as well as having something to look forward to during the week! A good time to meet in particularly busy times is breakfast (if you don't mind early mornings!) - a PhD friend and I used to meet early for coffee and toast once a week; it was a chance to catch up and the early morning left us both feeling thoroughly awake by the time we started work and ready to tackle the day! Be proactive and create your own social scene - in some institutions there isn't a lot of enthusiasm for organised postgraduate activities sadly (perhaps your PG society is non-existent or very quiet). Just because there seems to be a lack of activity doesn't mean there's a lack ... read more
Motivating yourself to study
It’s hard isn’t it? There you are having to study when everybody else is enjoying the sunshine, the football or the pub! But it has to be done and trying to motivate yourself to study with all these are very disciplined and study 7-8 hours per day; others find it difficult to study for even an hour! It is important to understand what kind of person you are as this will help when setting yourself a study plan. Not everybody can just sit down and study. In fact, sometimes the subjects can be boring and uninspiring making it even harder to motivate yourself. If you are somebody who is easily distracted, then set yourself small goals, perhaps an hour of study, then a break for thirty minutes then some more study. By doing this, you will make studying more manageable and still be able to do other things. If you do approach study in this way, make sure you leave yourself enough time and ... read more
How a study group can help improve you’re your postgraduate grades
For most people studying does not come naturally and is something that has to be done under duress! Many people find it difficult to motivate themselves to study and often only do the minimum required to get them through exams, therefore, perhaps achieving lower grades. Also when you are studying for a Masters or PhD, you are quite possibly working alongside your study. Therefore, there are many things you have to juggle in your life. Finding the time and motivation to study over a long period of time is difficult. A study group can be motivational and worthwhile to assist you with your study schedule and grades. When you study in a group, you behave differently to when you study alone. Most people who study alone can find many ways to distract themselves, by doing the housework, taking the dog for a walk, playing computer games or holding down a full time job! However, when you ar... read more
Resources
Time Management & Life Balance - The Balance
- The importance of downtime
- Food for thought
- Part-time & Distance Study
- Ten Top Tips
- The Ancient Art of Procrastination
- How to Study From Home
- Good news: Socialising helps you work, get a job AND stay sane...
- Improve your social life: 6 helpful ideas to try...
- Motivating yourself to study
- How a study group can help improve you’re your postgraduate grades
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The power of tea
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