5 Tips for Managing Your Research Projects
Lessons learned from my PhD journey
As I’ve progressed through my PhD, I’ve learned several strategies that help me stay organized and make steady progress on my research. Here are five tips that have been particularly helpful:
1. Keep Detailed Records of Your Work
Whether it’s analysis scripts, IRB protocols, or manuscript drafts—keep everything organized and version-controlled. I use a combination of Google Drive for collaboration and GitHub for analysis scripts. Having a clear folder structure and naming convention has saved me countless times when reviewers ask for additional analyses or when I need to reference earlier versions of a manuscript.
2. Keep a Research Journal
Every day, I spend 10 minutes writing down what I worked on, what I learned, and what I plan to do next. This helps in several ways:
- It’s easier to write progress reports and papers when you have a detailed record
- You can track patterns in your productivity
- It forces you to reflect on whether you’re making progress
3. Set Weekly Goals
At the start of each week, I identify 3-5 concrete goals. Not “work on paper” but “write introduction section” or “run experiment X with parameters Y.” This makes it easier to know when you’ve accomplished something.
4. Schedule Regular Check-ins
Meet with your advisor regularly, even when you don’t have major updates. Consistent communication helps catch problems early and keeps you accountable. I meet with my advisor every two weeks, and we have a shared document where I update my progress beforehand.
5. Build a Support Network
Grad school can be isolating. Build relationships with other students in your department, join reading groups, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Some of my best ideas have come from casual conversations with peers.
Conclusion
These strategies won’t work for everyone, and you should adapt them to your own style. The key is to find systems that reduce cognitive load so you can focus your mental energy on the research itself.
What strategies have worked for you? I’d love to hear about them!
