Confession: I am a notorious planner (over planner at times).
How do you know where you’re going and if you’re on track, if you don’t have a plan?
In addition to blocking my writing time and creating clear boundaries between work and non-work (as detailed in my post “What is this ‘Work Life’ Balance?”), I also have a handy dandy excel file for tracking my research projects.
(click image for enlarged view)
This format is extremely useful for having a visual snapshot of everything in progress. It not only keeps me on track, it also serves as a reminder that I am working. Because the tangible rewards of graduate school often seem relegated to a distant future, this research project file makes them seem a little more present and real.
