1. Time Management
for Graduate Students
Donna E. Ekal, Ph.D., Associate Provost
September 28, 2010

2. What’s in a week?
• 9 hours of coursework & the associated 27 – 36
hours of prep
• 19 hours of R.A. or T.A. duties
• Thesis or Dissertation writing
• Qualifying exam preparation
• Another job
• Family
• Duties of life
• Sleeping, Eating

3. Today’s Objective and Goals
Goal: To present ideas that will start you
thinking about using your time in a different
way than before you came
Objectives:
1 – to think about time as a commodity to budget
and use wisely and learn ways to do that better
2 – to think about the things you are doing during
that time and learn ways to do them more
efficiently

4. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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9. Long
Wednesday
Intermediate
Short
‐ Albertsons
‐ Prep for one on one with Provost on
Thursday
Long and ‐ Send out email to AP & LJ for Saturday
Intermediate
commitments are ‐ Meet with MK for her class
fixed on the ‐ Start presentation for Wednesday
schedule. morning
‐ Answer RM emails re: Lumina grant
‐ Set up meeting with CW & LH for URRS
report
‐ Figure out travel for Houston in October
‐ Review four IHEP reports

10. Long
Wednesday
Intermediate
Short
‐ Albertsons
‐ Prep for one on one with Provost on
Thursday
Long and ‐ Send out email to AP & LJ for Saturday
Intermediate
commitments are ‐ Meet with MK for her class
fixed on the ‐ Start presentation for Wednesday
schedule. morning
‐ Answer RM emails re: Lumina grant
Short term change ‐ Set up meeting with CW & LH for URRS
every day and give report
you the great
satisfaction of being
‐ Figure out travel for Houston in October
able to cross them off ‐ Review four IHEP reports
the list.

11. Time Management Tips
• Think of Time as a
commodity just like $$
• Is this activity worth
spending the minutes?
• Pay attention
• Have a positive attitude
• Know thyself

12. It’s not enough to sit here and say to yourself,
“Wow, that’s a great idea.”
You have to be specific. Pick 3 now.
When are you are going to start practicing
those? When? How?

13. The other part …
As a graduate
student, how do
you spend the
bulk of your
time?

14. What do Graduate Students Do??

15. Other Aspects of Time Management
• Expanding your Vocabulary
• Becoming a better reader
• Overcoming Writer’s Block
• Improving Concentration and Memory
• Working in Groups
• Stress Management

17. It’s not enough to sit here and say to yourself,
“Wow, that’s a great idea.”
You have to be specific. Pick 3 now.
When are you are going to start practicing
those? When? How?

18. Become a Better Reader
What’s your reading speed?

19. Become a Better Reader
Stop sub‐vocalizing
Increase your eye span • Just a bad habit
Do eye exercises • Slows speed
Stop regressing • Reduces
Adjust your reading style comprehension
• Pay attention
• Make it go away

20. Become a Better Reader
Stop sub‐vocalizing • Eyes only read when
Increase your eye span they are still
Do eye exercises • Takes ¼ second for your
Stop regressing eye to read one word
Adjust your reading style • Maximum reading
speed then is 240 wpm
• Increase your eye span
– increase your reading
speed

21. Our biggest expansion opportunity will come
from volume licencing in Japan.

22. (Our) (big)(gest) (ex)(pan)(sion) (op)(port)(tunity)
(will) (come) (from) (vol)(ume) (lic)(en)(cing) (in)
(Jap)(an).
This reading example describes 20 eye
movements and 20 eye fixations, i.e. 40 different
eye operations. This considerable eye work is
one reason that slow readers get tired. Increased
ocular and mental workload often leads to poor
comprehension.

23. (Our biggest expansion) (opportunity will
come) (from volume licensing) (in Japan)
Reading this text takes a proficient reader four
eye movements, four eye fixations, and eight
eye operations. This is five times less work
than a slow reader, requiring much less effort,
with better speed and higher comprehension
resulting.

24. Reading
• http://www.readingtransformations.com/me
mbers_area/WidenEyeSpanEx1.html

25. Become a Better Reader
Stop sub‐vocalizing
Increase your eye span
Do eye exercises
Stop regressing
Adjust your reading style

26. Become a Better Reader
Stop sub‐vocalizing
• Regressing is going
Increase your eye span
forward then backward
Do eye exercises then forward
Stop regressing • Do it consciously if
Adjust your reading style necessary for
comprehension
• Stop doing it
unconsciously

27. Become a Better Reader
Stop sub‐vocalizing • Skimming
Increase your eye span • Scanning
Do eye exercises • Extensive Reading
Stop regressing • Intensive Reading
Adjust your reading style

28. It’s not enough to sit here and say to yourself,
“Wow, that’s a great idea.”
You have to be specific. Pick 3 now.
When are you are going to start practicing
those? When? How?

29. Getting over Writer’s Block

30. It’s not enough to sit here and say to yourself,
“Wow, that’s a great idea.”
You have to be specific. Pick 3 now.
When are you are going to start practicing
those? When? How?

31. Concentration Memory
Have a strong intent to focus and remember.
Have a positive attitude.
Pay attention.
Know thyself.

32. It’s not enough to sit here and say to yourself,
“Wow, that’s a great idea.”
You have to be specific. Pick 3 now.
When are you are going to start practicing
those? When? How?

33. Working in Groups

34. Stress Management
Get yourself
out of the
stressful
situation.

35. What else?
Customizing Your Time Management
Improvement Plan
• Financial Planning
• Housework
• Shopping
• Transportation
• Work
• Family

36. “You must be the change you want to
see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian political and spiritual leader
(1869 ‐ 1948)

37. Closing Remarks
• Go forth and do great things.
• Fight evil.