Video: Big Rocks Small Rocks Strategy: Time-Management Tips

We understand that juggling research, deadlines, and your personal life can be stressful. In this video, Dr. Jacob Wickham offers useful time management tips, specifically for academics, PhD students, and researchers looking to boost productivity without burning out!  

Learning to balance your allocation of time with both work and personal activities can help you achieve a sense of work-life harmony. Planning your day, week, month—even your 5-year research grant—with simple but effective strategies can do wonders to boost productivity.  

First, determine what time management strategy work best for you. Ask yourself this: “Do I have a time management strategy? How does my current time management strategy contribute to my overall productivity and well-being?”  

Discover the “Big Rocks vs. Small Rocks” method to help you prioritize what truly matters. Imagine a block of time and the tasks, which should be prioritized by considering their long-term impact. It’s all about focusing on high priority tasks first, like writing grants, publishing, and deep research, not low-priority distractions. 

Create a clear schedule that includes time for work, personal life, and unexpected emergencies so that you are not stressed. Leaving buffer time also helps because when “fires” do pop up, you’re ready to deal with them without derailing your progress.