Effective Time Management

Graduate school can often feel like a constant juggling act—managing coursework, research, teaching, writing, meetings, and personal life. One of the most valuable skills we wish we had learned earlier is how to manage time strategically rather than reactively.

Prioritization is key. A helpful framework is the Eisenhower Matrix, which divides tasks by urgency and importance. Identifying what truly needs your focus (e.g., upcoming deadlines, data collection) versus what can be deferred (e.g., attending every webinar) can keep you from burning out on the non-essentials.

Time blocking can be a game changer—assigning blocks of your day to specific types of work (writing, reading, meetings) helps minimize task-switching fatigue and gives structure to your often-fluid grad school schedule.

Don’t underestimate the power of “just 30 minutes.” Use micro-moments to make progress on literature reviews, outlines, or data cleanup. Tools like the Pomodoro Technique (25-minute work bursts with short breaks) can keep your focus sharp and your brain refreshed.

Also, give yourself permission to say “no”. You don’t need to accept every collaboration or volunteer opportunity. As C Newport (2016) argues in Deep Work, protecting uninterrupted time is essential for producing meaningful research.