How to manage your time

Iftach

Why manage time?

• The shortage problem (Economics 101)

• “Are these meetings worth my time”?

The four quadrants

important

unimportant

urgent not urgent

I II

IVIII

The four quadrants

important

unimportant

urgent not urgent

I II

IVIII

•Lab fire•Tomorrow’s grant deadline

•Ongoing experiments•Prepare for committee mtg•Next month’s grant deadline

•“You’ve got mail”•Ringing phone•Inquiring colleague

•most e-mail•most web browsing•weekend plans of lab members

If you neglect quadrant II

important

unimportant

urgent not urgent

I II

IVIII

Four generations of time management

• 1’st generation : notes; ToDo lists

• 2’nd generation: calendars, appointment books

• 3’rd generation: setting goals; prioritization

These mostly prioritize I+III

important

unimportant

urgent not urgent

I II

IVIII

How do we know what is “important”?

4’th generation

roles goals schedule adapt

•Don’t prioritize your schedule; Schedule your priorities!

4’th generation

roles goals schedule adapt

selfspouseparentPI – labPI- TAU “citizen”PI - lecturer social circuit

Goal types

• Long term goals – several years– Get tenure/professorship

• Intermediate term goals – 6 – 12 months– Complete a publishable chunk– Obtain preliminary results– Put together a new course

• Short term goals – 1-4 weeks– Complete an experiment– prepare figures for paper

4’th generation

roles goals schedule adapt

1-2 per week/role

The rocks in the jar

The point is: unless you put the big rocks in first, you won't get them in at all.

4’th generation

roles goals schedule adapt

weekly

4’th generation

roles goals schedule adapt

daily

What about your students?

• Should you define their roles? goals?• Help them define their tasks?

Efficiency / buying time

• Easier to say “no” when you already said “yes”• Disconnect– Control e-mail– Close door– Close lab door

• Know your biological clock• Make appointments with yourself• Delegate work (P vs. PC)

Resources

• “The seven habits of highly effective people” (Habit 3) – Stephen Covey

• “Making the Right Moves” – A practical guide to scientific management for postdocs and new faculty (BWF/HHMI)