Undergraduate researchers are often seen running around, moving quickly from one thing to the next. I know that I find myself in the same position with classes and homework, part-time jobs, extracurriculars, personal health, and last but most definitely not least, research. As a junior biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology major, I am involved in undergraduate research under Dr. Sarah Walker. In her lab, I am working on developing drug-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cells and I hope to determine their mechanisms of resistance to two drugs that inhibit common cellular signaling pathways.
If you are about to begin summer research, or planning to do research next year, you may find yourself asking “how can I juggle all of my different activities and excel?” In this blog post, I have compiled a list of tried-and-tested techniques that can help you organize your thoughts and your busy days as an undergraduate researcher.
Plan your week in advance!
Things happen, and it is inevitable that unexpected events, assignments, or research plans come up. However, it is much easier to adjust than it is to re-work a schedule from scratch! I have found it helpful to write out a weekly schedule with everything that I must do and when I plan to complete my tasks. As a student researcher, I often say that if it isn't written down, it isn't going to get done. Whether it is homework, a series of experiments, club sports meetings, or even writing for a blog post – write down when you’d like it done and stick to it as best as you can. Even dedicating fifteen or thirty minutes at a time to a task can add up. Everyone uses a unique style of organizing their week, with common tools being Outlook/Google Calendar or a good-ole-paper planner. The key here is planning out times to do your work and spending the time optimizing your schedule to fit your priorities.
For example, at the beginning of the week I block out the amount of time I can spend in the lab amid my other commitments. I then can use those blocks of time as a parameter to help me plan when I am going to culture my cells or run experiments. It makes it easier to see when I have small chunks of time to work on other tasks once I have my larger periods of time blocked out, which improves my overall productivity.
Use a “second brain.”
A “second brain” is a newer concept that has been developed to help you organize and access information in one place, so you don’t have to haphazardly jot down notes or try to remember everything. There is so much information out there, and no one can remember everything. Use your resources! There are multiple ways you can develop a “second brain.” The simplest way is to use a Google document or Word document and build a library of thoughts or snippets of information, such as potential experiments you might do in the future, or facts pertaining to your research and their sources as you come across them. If you keep it organized with an index or system so you can maneuver around, you will be in business![BC2]?
Plan for personal time.
This is the most important thing you can do to clear mental fatigue, and it is often neglected or overlooked by busy undergraduate researchers. It happens to me as well—too many deadlines can fall on the same week or the same day, and I find myself choosing unhealthy, time-saving meals, skipping out on exercise, and not sleeping long enough for my brain and body to rest. By the end of the week, I cannot string together more than two words, my body feels heavy and in pain, and my head feels like a ball of fuzz. Does this sound familiar?
However, when I take time at the beginning of the week to schedule non-negotiable times for exercise, sleep, and mealtimes, I am much more interested in my research, assignments, and extracurricular activities because I can focus on the content in all I do. To make sure that I meet these three needs while still dedicating time to research, I plan my “personal time” and my research first, then my extracurriculars. The point is, even if you don’t have three hours to watch a TV show and do a ten-step skincare routine (although, those can also count as personal time activities), exercise, proper meals, and sleep should be non-negotiable staples in your schedule. Not only will your body thank you, but so will your extracurriculars, classes, and your student research.
