The PERFECT PhD daily schedule and clever habits!
TLDRIn this video, Andrew Stapleton shares his insights on optimizing a PhD schedule for efficiency and reducing anxiety. He emphasizes the importance of establishing a structured daily routine starting from waking up, including exercise, a healthy breakfast, and meditation. Andrew suggests tackling the most daunting task first, followed by periods of deep work and strategic breaks. He also advises against waiting for inspiration and recommends making small, consistent improvements to overcome feeling overwhelmed. The video promotes Andrew's exclusive newsletter for further academic and productivity tips.
Takeaways
- 📅 Start your day with a structured schedule to increase efficiency and reduce anxiety during your PhD journey.
- 🛏️ Make your bed every morning as a simple habit to set the tone for the day and establish momentum.
- 🏃♂️ Incorporate exercise into your morning routine to boost mental health and clarity, even if it's just a short walk.
- 🍎 Begin your day with a healthy breakfast, possibly fruit only until midday, to fuel your body for the day ahead.
- 🧘 Practice meditation or mindfulness to set the right frame of mind and reduce anxiety about the day's tasks.
- 🐸 Apply the 'Eat That Frog' principle by tackling the most daunting task first thing in the morning to alleviate stress.
- 🕰 Dedicate at least 90 minutes to deep work without distractions to make significant progress towards your PhD goals.
- 📧 Postpone checking emails until the afternoon to focus on more important tasks in the morning.
- ☕️ Take a full hour for lunch to socialize and mentally refresh, fostering collaboration and creativity.
- 🔄 Afternoons should include another block of focused work, followed by addressing less critical administrative tasks.
- 🚫 Don't wait for inspiration; create habits based on cues to break the cycle of unproductive behaviors.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to provide advice and strategies for creating an efficient daily schedule and habits to help PhD students succeed in their academic journey.
What is the significance of starting the day with a structured routine?
-Starting the day with a structured routine sets the tone for productivity and success, laying the foundation for a focused and efficient day, which is crucial for a PhD student's progress.
Why is exercise recommended as part of the morning routine for PhD students?
-Exercise is recommended because it has been shown to improve mental health, provide clarity, and increase energy levels, which can enhance the overall PhD experience and productivity.
What is the 'Eat That Frog' concept mentioned in the video?
-The 'Eat That Frog' concept is about tackling the most challenging or important task first thing in the morning, which can help reduce anxiety and stress throughout the day.
How does the speaker suggest improving focus and productivity during the workday?
-The speaker suggests blocking out one to one and a half hours for deep work, using tools like noise-cancelling headphones, and focusing on a single task to improve productivity.
What is the importance of having a healthy breakfast according to the video?
-A healthy breakfast is important as it provides the necessary energy and alertness needed to start the day right and maintain focus for the tasks ahead.
How does the speaker feel about the role of meditation in a PhD student's daily routine?
-The speaker believes that meditation, even if just for 10 minutes in the morning, can help calm the mind and set the right frame of mind for the day, reducing anxiety.
What is the speaker's view on checking emails during the workday?
-The speaker advises against checking emails first thing in the morning and suggests doing so only after completing the most important tasks, to avoid distractions and maintain focus.
Why is lunchtime considered valuable in the context of the video?
-Lunchtime is considered valuable as it serves as a circuit breaker to refresh the mind, foster socialization and collaboration, and provide a mental break from work.
What advice does the speaker give for dealing with feelings of being overwhelmed during PhD work?
-The speaker advises making a small, achievable increase in effort, such as spending five minutes on a task, to overcome feelings of being overwhelmed and to initiate the habit of working.
How can a PhD student ensure they are working towards their end goal according to the video?
-A PhD student can ensure they are working towards their end goal by scheduling focused blocks of time for deep work on tasks that directly contribute to their thesis or research objectives.
Outlines
📈 Optimizing PhD Productivity with a Perfect Schedule
The speaker introduces the video's focus on creating an efficient schedule and habits for PhD students. They mention launching a newsletter with exclusive content on academia, productivity, and mental health, including access to exclusive Q&A sessions. The video aims to provide a daily schedule template for PhD students to follow, emphasizing the importance of not feeling overwhelmed and adapting the schedule to individual goals. The speaker stresses the significance of starting the day right, with routines like making the bed and exercising, to set a positive tone for the day and improve mental health.
🍏 Kickstarting the Day with Healthy Habits
The speaker continues with the theme of a productive morning routine, suggesting a healthy breakfast, possibly consisting only of fruit until midday, as a way to feel more energetic. They also highlight the importance of meditation and mindfulness apps to set the right frame of mind for the day. The speaker recommends starting the workday by tackling the most challenging task first, as suggested by the 'Eat That Frog' concept, to reduce anxiety and stress. They also advocate for deep work sessions, using noise-canceling apps if necessary, to focus on progressing towards the PhD goal.
🕒 Structuring the Workday for Maximum Efficiency
The speaker discusses the importance of utilizing mornings effectively, as they are the most productive part of the day. They suggest starting with the most dreaded task, followed by deep work sessions, and then checking emails and engaging in less critical tasks in the afternoon. The speaker emphasizes the value of a proper lunch break for socializing and refreshing the mind, which is often overlooked. They also recommend another focused work session in the afternoon before attending to administrative tasks, fostering a culture of collaboration and conversation during lunch.
🚀 Overcoming Procrastination and Building Better Habits
The speaker provides tips on maintaining a PhD daily schedule and habits, starting with the advice not to wait for inspiration or motivation, but to create habits based on cues. They suggest breaking the habit of checking emails or social media first thing and replacing it with a productive task. The speaker also addresses the feeling of being overwhelmed by suggesting making a small, incremental step towards the goal, like spending just five minutes on a task. They emphasize the importance of consistency and self-discipline in building the right habits for a successful PhD journey.
🌟 Embracing the PhD Marathon with the Right Mindset
In the concluding paragraph, the speaker reiterates the marathon mindset of a PhD, encouraging small but consistent daily efforts. They remind viewers to sign up for the exclusive newsletter for additional content and resources, including insights into the speaker's readings, podcasts, and self-experiments. The speaker signs off by wishing the viewers a fantastic day and looking forward to the next video, reinforcing the idea that a well-structured schedule and the right habits can lead to success in a PhD program.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡PhD Efficiency
💡Newsletter
💡Mental Health
💡Exercise
💡Healthy Breakfast
💡Meditation
💡Deep Work
💡Eat That Frog
💡Habits
💡Self-Discipline
💡Overwhelm
Highlights
The importance of a perfect schedule and habits for a successful PhD journey.
Introduction of a personal newsletter with exclusive content on academia, productivity, and mental health.
The concept of a PhD as a marathon, emphasizing the need for a structured daily routine.
The significance of starting the day with good habits, like making your bed, to set the tone for productivity.
The benefits of incorporating exercise into your morning routine for mental health and clarity.
The idea of a healthy breakfast, possibly consisting only of fruit until midday, for increased energy.
The recommendation to use mindfulness and meditation apps for mental preparation at the start of the day.
The strategy of 'eating the frog' by tackling the most daunting task first thing in the day.
The practice of deep work for 1.5 hours to make significant progress towards PhD goals.
The advice against checking emails or engaging in busywork until after the most important tasks are completed.
The value of a full lunch break for socializing and mental refreshment.
The suggestion to schedule another focused work block in the afternoon for continued progress.
The approach of saving administrative tasks and emails for the end of the day to maintain focus on research.
Tips on creating habits instead of waiting for inspiration or motivation to act.
The method of making a 1% increase in effort when feeling overwhelmed to maintain momentum.
The emphasis on consistency and self-discipline as key to achieving a PhD.
Invitation to subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive content and insights on productivity and self-experimentation.
Transcripts
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