Time Management for PhD
Students
Marcy Marinelli, Ph.D.
Learning Assistance Service
Ph.D. Completion Project Workshop
September 13, 2013
Objectives
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Identify roadblocks on the journey to PhD completion
Learn why goals are important to your success
Learn how to set goals and sub-goals
Learn strategies to break tasks into manageable
pieces
 Learn strategies to manage time and avoid
procrastination and self-sabotage
 Identify ways to get back on track
Does this sound familiar??
Internal Roadblocks
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Transition from student to scholar – am I good enough?
Impostor Syndrome
Ambiguity of the task
Lack of structure – independent research
Loneliness
Exhaustion
Motivation
Procrastination/Poor Time Management
Irrational Beliefs/Expectations/Self-Talk
Perfectionism
External Roadblocks
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Work
Juggling multiple responsibilities
Expectations of family and friends
Advisor/Committee Issues
Environmental Distracters
Financial Issues
Start with a Goal
 “Write my dissertation” is not a good goal
 SMART Goals
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Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Testable
Why Goals?
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Goals provide a road map
Goals provide a deadline
Goals provide motivation
Goals maintain motivation
Once one goal has been achieved, need to set
another
 Written goals that you commit to are more likely to
be achieved
Writing a SMART goal
 Think about a dissertation task you would like to
accomplish and write a SMART goal.
 Example: Read articles for my literature review and
write up.
 SMART goal: To prepare for my literature review I will
identify and read 30 articles on attachment theory
and write that section of the lit review by November
1, 2013.
Divide goals into sub-goals
 I will identify and read 30 articles on attachment theory and
write this section of the lit review by November 1, 2013.
 September 15- 20– Do search on Library website for articles;
identify 30 articles most relevant to my topic; read abstracts;
decide which articles are most useful
 September 20-30 – Read and take notes on 3 articles per day
 October 1-17 – Write rough draft of attachment theory section of
literature review
 October 18-October 31 – Polish and finalize this section
 November 1 – Send to advisor!
The Typical PhD’s Week
Time Management Basics
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Prime Time
Chunking
Learn to say “NO!”
For many of us the toughest thing is getting started!
Procrastination
 Procrastination = the art of making something into
more than it is, until it expands into more than it
needs to be; learned habit that lies in avoidance
through diversionary activities
 2 stages
 Active - impulse to delay – triggered by negative mood,
boredom, threat, discomfort, or other imagined
negative condition; avoidance activities
 Passive - Reassure self that later is better; make excuses,
false justifications
Self-Sabotage
 Creating obstacles to
your goals so that you
have an excuse if you fail
(Kearns, Gardiner &
Marshall, 2008)
 Ego protective
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Overcommitting
Busyness
Perfectionism
Procrastination
Disorganization
Lack of effort
Choose performance
debilitating conditions
Avoiding Procrastination and
Self-Sabotage
 Make a choice not to procrastinate, have a good plan
and take the first step
 Make sure you have a realistic, measurable goal for
each dissertation session
 Identify obstacles and patterns of behavior that get in
the way of goal achievement
 Explore the costs of the patterns
 Take action
 Identify and challenge your beliefs
Avoiding Procrastination and
Self-Sabotage
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First things first question
Five Minute Method
Write by hand
Turn off your wireless or use a blocking app
Turn off your cell phone
Get into the writing habit – time and place
Getting Back on Track
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Don’t let a lapse become a collapse
Learn from your mistakes
Sometimes you have to take a break!
Reconnect with your goals and vision
Use affirmations to remind you that you can do this
Seek support from friends and family.
Questions to Ask Yourself
 What is the most right way for me to devote my time
and energy today?
 What is the one thing I can learn from today that will
help me tomorrow?