“Eat the frog!”

Last week, we had a workshop on time and project management with trainer Alexander Britz. 

As a graduate student, it's essential to prioritize your tasks effectively and manage your time wisely. Last week, we therefore hosted a workshop with trainer Alexander Britz on time and project management for our researchers. 

One practical tip that stood out: The 60/20/20 Rule. It states that you should allocate 60% of your calendar for planned activities, 20% for unexpected, external tasks and another 20% for spontaneous, internal tasks. 

The workshop covered a wide range of strategies, from priority setting with the Eisenhower Matrix to “Eat the Frog” and other time and project management tools – because just as every individual is different, so are the methods that work best for them. Alexander Britz, an IMPRS alumnus (IMPRS-UFAST), even shared his own PhD Thesis Project Plan, giving our researchers a real-world example to learn from. 

Another focus of the workshop was put on dealing with your supervisor and on effective feedback. One key takeaway: rather than waiting for feedback, proactively ask for it – pull, don’t push. 

A big thank you to Alexander Britz for sharing his expertise!
 

Pictures: Nina Beier