A major chunk of time of a researcher is wasted in activities supposed not to do by him/her and other tasks like multiple reporting, meetings, developmental and management works, etc. He/she gets less or no time for readings and creative thinking. A healthy discussion is needed on the issue ???
Dear Dana Ram Palsaniya
I suggest, for example, if you have say full 90 minutes free time every day (or night), leave them just for research (reading / writing) and not for any other secondary tasks! Leave the other dispersed time during your day or night to other secondary tasks like, as you said, reporting, meeting and management work! With this you guarantee that you have your good and quality time for your important task!
I agree with Dana Ram Palsaniya that for every researcher it is important to develop time management strategies. The two points that Fatemeh Khozaei
proposed are useful. I agree also with Asaad Chasib Hamood. Professors often have too much adminstrative tasks, and the ICT systems related to them should be much more user friendly. When preparing teaching it is useful to connect it to your research, and this can give more time for doing research, too.
I have always found it helpful to set aside time each day, such as the 90 minutes previously suggested, during a period where I can be assured of quiet focus and no interruptions. For me, that is late at night after other members of my household have gone to bed. I know others have different times of the day when they feel most effective in their work. It doesn't matter what time it is so long as your commitment is sustainable. And do stay within the allotted time so that you do not burn out too quickly.
I did a course called Getting things done!
This is the advice:
1. Clear your desk. Write things down on a 'to do; list and prioritise.
2. Clarify: Look at your to do list...what can you do / what can't you do
3. Get organised....Do, Delegate or Defer...
4. Reflect: Weekly review...what have you achieved...what do you still need to do. Schedule time to reflect and organise.
5. Engage: Ensure you set aside time for the important tasks.
Interesting discussion. I definitely agree with the input everyone is putting, but my concern is, you can plan, try to limit interruptions to get things done, however, one can lack motivation to research even when it is time to do so., hence we keep ourselves occupied by other duties. Motivation comes with a goal oriented behaviour. Therefore, have a SMART goal that is time bound (deadline) and you will realise, you will prioritise it first more than other things.
Patronella, I agree that motivation, or the lack thereof, will trump planning every time. If you mind is not willing or curious enough to do the work, all you will do is spin a lot of useless ideas. Also, I find that my own research and writing goes in spurts; one day I am in the mood to write, my mind brimming with energy, and the next day I am not. Sometimes, however, I have to start writing to determine which mood my mind is in. in my opinion and experience, research and writing is much more than a linear process or task. It is involvement of the whole brain, being able to focus without interruptions, and experiencing joy from the task.
I feel I'm reasonable at time management, but when I was studying for my PhD, I was working from home, and despite working as hard as I could, I never seemed to have enough time.
My husband and I were asked to go to a festival by friends, but I didn't have time to go. However, the three of them filmed a video for me of their time away, bless them!
I achieved my PhD, but looking back, my time has never been taken up so fully before or after.
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