About time- Free time and Time management
I have to admit I had no inspiration for this post, and when a friend suggested I write about “Free time & Time management”, I had a pretty good laugh (considering I barely have a life outside of work and somehow I still manage to be dramatically behind in my PhD). Maybe this post could actually be an opportunity to think about it?
I am writing this post about time while I’ve just arrived at the end of overly packed 2 months. We’re talking 3 conferences (3 posters, 1 talk) in 4 weeks, a flat move, and endless days at the MRI to finish data collection before the end of September. It’s been the kind of months with constant stress and exhaustion (in which the end is immediately followed by a dramatic cold as your body is desperately trying to tell you to SLOW DOWN GIRL). I am embarking on the last step of my PhD, and before blindly jumping into the write-up train and closing myself off from the world, I reckon I should reflect upon my time management skills of the last few weeks (Months? Years?) and prevent the complete burial of my social life.
# When “not making time for free time” is a bad idea
My current health status will do as an example. No matter the amount of work to do, the deadlines, the pressure, it isn’t possible to achieve your best when you don’t allow your mind and your body to relax. Fun and diversity are often the best ingredients for bright ideas and creativity. After all, I did get the idea for my PhD while watching the telly.
# When “not making time for free time” is a good idea
This might only apply to myself, but I find that for some specific tasks, it takes me so long to get into it, I just prefer staying into it than having breaks (I’m looking at you R!). An example out of nowhere? Oh, writing (what a coincidence)! I struggle so much to get into writing that it takes me several hours / days to get my head around it. But when I’m finally in the writing zone, I’d rather just keep on writing all the time, as I know that if I take a break or move on to something else, I’ll be back to square 1 of the motivation journey.
# How to make time for free time when clearly you don’t have time for free time
Top tip: if you don’t have the time to meet with your friends because you have to test participants, recruit your friends as participants! Ok this might not be the best idea… More seriously, when I can’t go (or don’t feel like going) to the lab, but feel that I do need the social pressure, I like to meet up with friends for work sessions in cafés. Just like the office, but with better coffee, and a good opportunity to catch up with some of my friends.
# How to manage my time to make time for free time
Clearly, I’m the worst at this, and the best way for me to have some free time is if you force it upon me against my will. Apparently, another good technique is to make it a habit. Last semester I’ve built the habit of going to the gym twice a week, and for some obscure reason after a while, when I missed a session, I actually felt like my body needed to go to the gym. God, what is happening to me?
# A pledge to my future self for the last step of my PhD
During write-up I will:
- Go to my dancing class (let it be noted I’ve already missed the first 2 sessions. I’m clearly doing well)
- Exercise twice a week (again, I haven’t been to the gym for about 2 months. Success)
- Text my friends back within 2 weeks (I haven’t replied to any of my birthday messages. My birthday was more than 1 month ago)
- Read non-PhD stuff at least every other day (I haven’t opened my book in 2 weeks)
- Not let one week go by without making time for what I care about (my favourite humans, of course)
I do want to make the most out of my PhD, but I also want to make the most out of my time here, and my last few months as a student (finally) in this wonderful city. This means rethinking what matters to me the most, and making time for it.
(If you have any tips on how to make time for free time when you’re naturally bad at it, please I beg you, send them my way.)
Best,
Bérengère
