Staying organised as a PhD student: digital planner, lab book notes, meeting notes and more

TL;DR

This video provides tips and strategies for staying organized as a PhD student, including using a digital planner, time blocking tasks, organizing lab notes, keeping track of meeting notes, and taking notes on papers.

Transcript

hi everyone welcome back to my youtube channel today i thought i would do a little sit-down video just to give my tips on how i managed to stay organized as a phd student i've had a few of you ask me some questions on my instagram page about how i keep organized in terms of lab meetings and my lab notes and how i just keep organized on a day-to-day... Read More

Key Insights

• 👂 Having a to-do list and planning weeks in advance using a digital planner can aid in staying organized as a PhD student.
• ⌛ Time blocking tasks provides structure and helps maintain motivation and productivity.
• 🔬 Keeping lab notes detailed, using colored tabs for organization, and considering electronic lab books are effective ways to stay organized in the laboratory setting.
• 😥 Taking notes during meetings and summarizing discussions in emails ensures important points are not forgotten and provides a record for reference.
• 👨‍🔬 Using digital tools like Notion and GoodNotes can help with organizing and taking notes on research papers.
• 😀 Taking advantage of technology, such as using an iPad and specific apps, can enhance organization and note-taking processes.
• 🤯 Implementing these tips and strategies can lead to increased efficiency and peace of mind for PhD students.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the recommended tool for planning weeks in advance as a PhD student?

The video recommends using the Zinnia digital planner, which can be downloaded on iPad and iPhone. It allows customization of spreads, offering spaces for to-do lists and specific days of the week.

Q: How can time blocking help with productivity as a PhD student?

Time blocking involves allocating specific time slots for tasks on your to-do list. This provides structure and motivation, as you know exactly when and how long you have to complete each task.

Q: How should lab notes be organized as a PhD student?

Lab notes should be filled out in detail at the end of each day, including every step, concentration, and time period. Colored tabs can be used to categorize and easily access different experiments. Consider adopting an electronic lab book for convenience, after discussing with your supervisor.

Q: What is a useful method for keeping track of meeting notes?

Taking notes during meetings is important to remember discussed points. Additionally, summarizing the meeting in an email and sending it to your supervisor provides a record of what was discussed and ensures accuracy. Bullet points of key topics and plans should be included in the email.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The content offers tips on staying organized as a PhD student, including the importance of creating to-do lists and planning your weeks in advance using a digital planner.

• The video suggests using time blocking to allocate specific time slots for tasks each day, providing structure and increased productivity.

• The content also covers organizing lab notes, including filling them out in detail every day, using colored tabs for easy access, and considering the transition to an electronic lab book.