A new academic semester is starting, and students are getting ready to resume their normal study routines. It's quite common to have a more relaxed rhythm over the summer months, although some students use the time to do field research. But once the university staff and faculty are back from their own vacations, it's time to resume the formal steps on the pathway to a PhD or Master's
So is this the time to make a plan? Students often spend time preparing Gantt charts or spreadsheets that layout various parts of their research schedule. I always admire the effort and thoughtfulness that goes into those plans, and I compliment them on that. At the same time, I can't give my full endorsement to most plans. Why?
I know that things will change. The journey for graduate students is complex. It's full of unexpected twists and turns. The research can't always be conducted at the time anticipated. Supervisors don't always send timely feedback. Findings are unexpected and that affects the writing or the need to do extra literature reviews.
In addition to the academic challenges, life interferes. There are pandemics. Babies arrive unexpectedly and throw everything off track. Illnesses and bereavements occur. Anxiety and procrastination kick in and create psychological barriers that were not anticipated. And thinking takes more time than expected. This is hard work.
So, I have three recommendations. First, if you love to work from a plan, then go ahead and create one. It is reassuring to see that there is an end date. Seeing the amount of work and the way it is laid out can be very encouraging. There are many students who use a spreadsheet or a table as a motivator, so use whatever works for you. Just don't write the plan in stone.
Secondly, don't get too committed to the details of the plan. Some people break the journey down into weeks or even daily tasks. As I mentioned earlier, life is unpredictable so being too fixed in your planning can lead to frustration or disappointment if you can't stay on the exact path. Build in some flexibility or alternatives that will allow you to pivot as needed.
Lastly, I suggest you plan in large block of time, such as a whole month to complete a chapter, rather than dividing activities into daily tasks. Days sometimes flash by and are taken up with sick children, special requests from supervisors, or devastating bad weather. So plan in weeks, so that you have a chance to catch up, and make your tasks larger, such as to complete Chapter 2, instead of page-by-page precise tasks. The more flexibility you build in, the less frustration you'll experience,
However you do it, reassure yourself that you know that steps that you need to take so that you get to the end. Label however you want, and remember to check off each achievement. Then take time to celebrate progress.