Seeing that this is my first post in a while, I had a tough time finding an interesting topic to write about. But last night it hit me all of a sudden like a strike of lightning! Well not literally, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I decided to focus on something that I think can help you better prepare yourself for the busy schedule your guaranteed to have the moment you enroll in graduate school, which is managing your time wisely.
I recall many times during my undergraduate studies where I would convince myself that I was studying VERY hard for upcoming exams. However, in actuality, I wasn't taking into consideration the quality of studying that I particularly achieved during this time; I was more concerned with the amount of time I spent looking over notes and flipping through pages of my textbook. You see, I was only crippling myself by leaving the engineering building thinking, "Man, I studied for a long time tonight." I wasn't fooling anyone but myself because looking back I now realize how much time I actually wasted by thinking about how much time I was actually studying! Now I may have survived most classes with this theory, but as soon as I started graduate school I realized that I had to use ALL of my time wisely.
I remember it like it was yesterday. One of the first things my advisor told me when I started working in his research group was, "Justin, you can run full speed, but if you're running full speed in circles then where will that leave you?" I immediately responded, "Right back where you started!" You see, my advisor wanted me to quickly realize that time was one of my most valuable assets and I needed to begin learning how to use it to my advantage. As I progressed through my doctoral program, I realized that it's not about how much time it takes you to complete a task; it's about your actual accomplishments during this time that matters. The more you advance in your educational journeys, the more responsibilities you will began to obtain; which in turn will reduce the amount of time you actually have to get things done. Therefore, start trying new habits, study methods, and concentration strategies now; that way once you enroll in higher level courses you'll have a better handle on how to be productive with a limited amount of time. I'll be honest and say that it wasn't easy for me to break old habits, but it can really be worthwhile if you're able to preserve some additional time by increasing your production level during homework and study sessions.
If you're reading this that means you have some sort of interest in pursuing an advanced degree so I wanted to share this advice with you early on. So try keeping your phone and watch in a hidden location while studying or performing any task so that you can fully concentrate and get the most out of your time!
Perseverance is key! Continue to Strive for Excellence!
Thanks,
Dr. Justin Boone
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