So, in my position as a professor of microbiology and infectious diseases, I wear many hats ranging from research to teaching to mentoring to collegiate, university, and national service. I have multiple projects and many, many tasks. How would I use this system to manage all of this?
I think with your position it would be more inward focused to what tasks / decisions you make on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
Preparing course materials, research you have to do, grading assignments/tests and putting that in a time frame and then creating the most efficient daily to-do list to keep you on top of things.
I know professors get a TON of emails, so might want to work that in as well.
Good advice. And yes, I get a LOT of email - over 100 per day. As a senior professor, my calling is to mentor junior faculty. I use David Allen’s GTD as my system to stay on top of everything. The one thing I struggle somewhat with is how much structure do I need in my weeks and days. I have some - dedicated prayer time in the mornings. I sometimes block time on my calendar if I have tight deadlines and need to protect my time. But I receive a lot of unplanned work and believe firmly in the “duty of the moment”. If I have blocked time, but a distraught junior professor, graduate student, etc. comes to my door, I will spend time with them to help. The eternal dance of the day. How much structure do I need?
So, in my position as a professor of microbiology and infectious diseases, I wear many hats ranging from research to teaching to mentoring to collegiate, university, and national service. I have multiple projects and many, many tasks. How would I use this system to manage all of this?
Hi David,
I think with your position it would be more inward focused to what tasks / decisions you make on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
Preparing course materials, research you have to do, grading assignments/tests and putting that in a time frame and then creating the most efficient daily to-do list to keep you on top of things.
I know professors get a TON of emails, so might want to work that in as well.
Good advice. And yes, I get a LOT of email - over 100 per day. As a senior professor, my calling is to mentor junior faculty. I use David Allen’s GTD as my system to stay on top of everything. The one thing I struggle somewhat with is how much structure do I need in my weeks and days. I have some - dedicated prayer time in the mornings. I sometimes block time on my calendar if I have tight deadlines and need to protect my time. But I receive a lot of unplanned work and believe firmly in the “duty of the moment”. If I have blocked time, but a distraught junior professor, graduate student, etc. comes to my door, I will spend time with them to help. The eternal dance of the day. How much structure do I need?
Have a blessed and joyous Christmas season!
-David
I am in Corporate IT for a living, I understand your plight with the emails and meetings.
As far as structure goes, I would argue to more the better. (leave those weekends open for spontaneity!..but even then haha)
Maybe the first steps is writing down 2 lists
1. Everything you want to do every day and every week (whether it is at work or after, perhaps split these)
2. Everything you need to do at work to stay on top of your day and also add in any prep work before and after that counts towards your job.
3. Study those then create the Eisenhower Matrix based off of those lists
Merry Christmas, Christ is Born!
Thank you for reminding us of these principals.