By: Andrew Triplett, SPSPotlight co-editor

We all know how challenging graduate school can be, especially when you are new to the program. There are a lot of new commitments that you never even thought about as an undergrad. At first, it can be overwhelming and impede your ability to be productive, but as you go through the program you pick up a few tricks along the way to help. As a seasoned researcher, I wanted to share some tips that can not only help in being a more productive researcher, but also in being a more productive graduate student overall. These are just a few tips that I learned from others and along the way, but there are many more that graduate students who have been enrolled longer or your advisor can provide, as well. All you have to do is ask!

1. Don’t work from home

Working at home is full of distractions, making it very easy to get sidetracked from what you are supposed to be doing. Find a place to work that is dedicated to just that, work! Whether this is your office on campus, your favorite table at the library, or a coffee shop down the street, you should designate a location that is your go-to workplace. Keep in mind that wherever you pick should be a comfortable, productive, and enjoyable place to be.  

2. Eliminate the temptation to waste time

It is incredibly easy to get distracted by unrelated websites and other applications on your computer when you are trying to get work done. Whether your guilty pleasure is Facebook, Reddit, or your favorite computer game, limiting your use of these distractions during “work time” will ultimately lead to better productivity. Permanently blocking these sites may be an extreme measure to take in desperate times, but there are many other, less extreme options that may help. Web browser add-ons, such as LeechBlock for Firefox, StayFocused for Chrome, and WasteNoTime for Safari, can be a huge help in managing these pesky distractions. These add-ons allow you block whatever sites may get in the way of productivity during set time periods.

3. Salvage “dead time” with technology to catch up

Many of us have a large amount of “dead time” throughout our days, whether it’s during office hours when no students are present, waiting in the airport, killing time before a lecture, or taking public transportation. While some may see this time as a time to relax, it could be better used as time to catch up on reading and other research-related activities. Fortunately for the broke graduate student, there are low-cost devices available to take advantage of this time without having to lug around heavy laptops or books or having to print out all of the readings. This technology includes devices such as e-readers, tablets, and smartphones.

4. Taming your email

Email takes up a huge amount of time in many fields, and academia is no exception. We know the amount of time it takes to respond to all of the little emails that come across our inboxes throughout the day. One way to avoid the headache of checking multiple email accounts (e.g., school, work, personal, etc.) is the have all of your account forward to one common Gmail account. This will save you at least the time it takes to look at multiple mailboxes, and will centralize the process. It is also smart to limit your email usage to certain times throughout the day. For example, check your email once in the morning and once in the evening. This allows you to manage any incoming emails and respond accordingly without refreshing throughout the day.  

5. Use a calendar system

Graduate school can make your head spin with all of the meetings, classes, and other commitments. Trying to remember everything that you have to do in a day can be tricky!  Technology can come into play with this challenge, too. Using a calendar system, such as Apple’s iCal or Google Calendar can help you keep track of all of your commitments for your own sake, and also help other colleagues or Research Assistants know when you are available, as well. This can help your lab stay organized, and prevent you from double- booking your time. Plus, it will automatically sync across all of your different devices, so you can always be up-to-date, no matter where you’re looking at your calendar.