organizing your work and time susan r. johnson, m.d., m.s. professor of obstetrics& gynecology...
TRANSCRIPT
Organizing your work and time
Susan R. Johnson, M.D., M.S.Professor of Obstetrics& Gynecology and Epidemiology
Associate Provost for FacultyUniversity of Iowa
e-mail: [email protected]
“...it is mainly through the control of time that academic power is exercised.” Pierre Bourdieu
Keep lists
T T
Einstein’s brain
T T T T T T T TT T T T T T T T T T T T T T T M
How the brain works…
MMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMM MMMMM
Your Brain
Everything you are trying to accomplish now.
List 1
Projects
Project List
Scholarship
R01 **Due Nov 1
Manuscript Review **Due May 13
Chapter revision
Proteomic technique to learn
Computer upgrade for lab
Teaching
Lecture prep - new medical student talk on HPV
CME course talk on hot flashes
Student exam - grade
Administrative
Call schedule for next six months
Hire new secretary
Medicare time study grid completion
Family picture replacement in office
Home / personal
Thanksgiving dinner plan
Graduation party for Emma
Computer backup system implementation
Spice replacement
Freezer - defrost
3. Store all files together
2. Create folders for each project
1. Keep a list of projects
RO1Abstract /SGI meetingReview articleR21 progress report
RO1
RO1Abstract
R21
Review article
Paper
Virtual
E-mail Projects
Projects
Projects
Project support material
Anything you might want to do later.
List 2
Someday, maybe
Someday maybe list
Second R01
Reorganize the clinic flow
Create a new syllabus for the medical students
Clean and organize the garage
Learn Chinese
Trip to Nepal
Buy a hybrid car
Second career as a florist
Maui conference in 2008
Decide which projects should be Projects (List 1) vs. Someday (List 2)
1. It’s your job…
2. You promised
3. Related to a long term goal
4. Interesting
The tasks that move the projects forward
List 3
Next actions
Plan bar mitzvah v
call the caterer888-222-1111
Create course syllabus v.
Do Medline search on “hot flash therapy " since 2005
write Ro1 v.
Draft Specific Aim 1
Source: Jeffrey Mayer
Keep up with your e-mail
Empty e-mail inbox
Isolate backlogged
The path to “empty”
• Set a time limit
• Look only when you can process.
• No skipping.
Decide what to do with each
• Delete
• File
• Needs reply– 2 min reply immediately
– Not sure? ask for clarification or information track in “waiting for”
– Defer to later decide the next thing you need to do before replying, and note it
“Waiting for” = you are waiting to hear back from someone else
Take action, now.
The 2 minute
rule
What about “big” projects?
“if you are going to eat a live frog, don’t spend too much time looking at it first” ---attributed to mark twain but he may have never actually said it
Plan
The Week
• Review and update:– Project List– Next action List– Calendar next 3 weeks– Waiting for
• Identify foci for the week
• Occasionally review:– Someday Maybe List
Pick 1-3 critical tasks / do them early,
The Day
Look at e-mail second.
Alternate between routine and important work.
Close your door for an hour