You're aiming to excel in your research career. What time-wasting activities should you steer clear of?

Always have a strategic approach to your literature.It's good to accumulate knowledge.However in research you have restricted amount of time.So streamlining the topic you want to know necessarily at present and filtering papers with respect to those topics is crucial.

First thing first you can excel in what you do if you are truly passionate about it, and really enjoy every bit of the process without worrying how rewarding it is for you. Things just follow your way. The zeal to learn and enthusiasm about your research should always be sparked up. Be updated with your work. Read a lot. Have a vision about the project. A healthy discussion with the team and exchange of viewpoints is an adds on. And the key is the 3Ds Determination Dedication Discipline Thank you, Keep researching...get going!!!

To excel in your research career, it's essential to be mindful of time-wasting activities. Avoid getting lost in unnecessary literature—while it's tempting to explore every related paper, stick to key studies that directly support your work. Focus on quality, not quantity. Another pitfall is over-planning or perfectionism, which can delay progress. Instead, aim for practicality and move forward incrementally. Also, don't underestimate the value of a pilot survey. A small-scale test of your survey can highlight potential issues and streamline your actual fieldwork, saving time and reducing errors. By being strategic with your time and resources, you can make your research process more efficient and effective.

?? Aiming to Excel in Research? Avoid These Time-Wasters! ?? Endless Literature Searches – Use AI tools like Zotero or Jenni.ai to streamline. Overcommitting to Non-Research Tasks – Be selective, and protect your research time. Chasing Perfection in Drafts – Focus on progress, not perfection. Unstructured Data Collection – Plan your methodology carefully. Email Distractions – Limit inbox checks to specific times. Multitasking & Procrastination – Use the Pomodoro Technique for focus. Neglecting Self-Care – Avoid burnout by maintaining balance. Stay focused, use the right tools, and manage time wisely!

Reuni?es com agenda organizada, já trabalhada por quem lidera a reuni?o, ouvir todos, tempo igual para todos e finalmente um resumo que deve ser aceite por todos ou que todos tomem conhecimento que vai ser assim e n?o no formato anterior.

Creating a research roadmap is as vital in academia as in industry. Create a concise plan of the package of studies that will tentatively make up your project. Put timelines on each checkpoint of each study (literature review, pilot data, preregistration, data collection, analysis and writing). Make sure that different team members have a clear idea of their role in the project, and make sure that each researcher is accounting for time spent modifying the research plan based on any potential roadblocks. Front-loading planning efforts can lead to smoother project functioning, and can minimize disagreements mid-project, since overarching goals were already discussed in the planning stage.

Early in my career, I found myself caught in back-to-back meetings that, while important, often drifted without a clear purpose. One particularly exhausting week, I realized how little time I had left for actual research and writing. That’s when I started implementing stricter meeting habits. For instance, I began asking for agendas beforehand and requesting email updates for topics that didn’t require face-to-face discussion. I also started advocating for shorter, more focused meetings with set time limits, which allowed me to regain valuable hours in the day. One memorable shift was when I proposed a 15-minute check-in instead of an hour-long session, which not only improved efficiency but also kept everyone more engaged.

One needs to be conscious and objective on the what these meetings are really contributing to the research project. Make sure that : 1) there is a clear agenda, 2) the attendants are prepared for the meeting; 3) the meeting has a clear goal. Additionally, alternative communication methods may be used.

Perfectionism is a trap, it's a fallacy. And in research you can never be perfect. If it's perfect, then your research is compromised somewhere! It's more important to practice or do repetitive things by learning from the feedback. If you see our environment or any human product, nothing is perfect right from the beginning. Even the AI we created learns from feedback! So, rather than focusing on perfecting, focus on the iterations process and practice. And it's the practice that makes us perfect !

I was once asked to examine 50 leaves per tree in 250 different varieties to get a "representative sample" of the canopy. That's over 12000 samples examining over a dozen traits. Even with a full team of paid individuals working for months, this would not be possible. Sample sizes like that sound nice but we work in reality. Be a realist.

I always say, live in the mess. We can clean it up later. If you focus too much too early on the little things the great ideas don't come out. Set standards, be clear with the communication.

Striving for perfection can be a major obstacle to progress. While aiming for high-quality work is important, spending excessive time perfecting every detail can delay your research. Set realistic goals and deadlines for completing tasks and understand that iterative improvements are often more effective than striving for unattainable perfection.

As someone who has struggled with perfectionism in research, I understand the urge to constantly refine every detail. When I was more junior at work, this led to delays and slowed my progress. I eventually realized that striving for perfection resulted in diminishing returns, with extra effort not significantly improving the final product. A turning point came during a grant application, where I set a firm deadline and submitted, despite wanting more revisions—ultimately, it was successful. This experience taught me to recognize when work is "good enough" to move forward. Now, I basically focus on balancing quality with efficiency by setting realistic standards and deadlines.

Having "quality time" for your research activities is precious. To facilitate such quality time, take control of common distractions - email notifications, social media, and smartphone doomscrolling. There's a great book about mastering it - "Make Time" by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.

When you have a sweet tooth and have a target of shedding weight, it doesn't make any sense to buy sweets and promises of limiting its intake. Similarly, when you're into something as focused as research, "regulating" social media/any other tech distractions might not work. They are often created and designed to encourage addictive behaviour! As a researcher we need to be mindful of what kind of research would have gone into it. So, the best way to stop tech distractions is not to have an unnecessary one. If you find some tech necessary and distracted, then define your priorities. It's your mindset that matters. Would you be willing to waste your valuable time for a notification that can wait?

My thoughts are constructive research can be interrupted by opinions and unverified information (gre literature), as the internet is porous and researchers could be delayed whilst analysing and verifying the authenticity and value of resources online.

Technology can be a double-edged sword in research. While tools and resources are invaluable, constant notifications, social media, and other digital distractions can impede your focus. Implement strategies to manage tech distractions, such as setting specific times for checking emails and using apps or tools designed to block distracting websites during work periods.

You can avoid the trap of getting into tech distractions by staying organized and focused. You can achieve this by keeping a detailed record of your progress and adjusting your project plan as needed. Staying organized will help you maintain your momentum and track your progress despite the distractions.

Es muy importante tener un calendario de cada etapa de un proyecto y seguirlo al pie, entregar reportes a detalle, si llega a haber retraso reportarlo con suficiente tiempo a fin de poder obtener alguna prórroga, conocer bien los conceptos en los que se puede utilizar el recurso y al momento realizar un gasto, hacer el respaldo de cada nota a fin de evitar incumplimiento y tener que devolver el recurso como lo he obserbado en muchas ocasiones, un asistente administrativo o financiero siempre será ideal para ocuparse usted de lo importante y el asistente de los formatos, comprobaciones y recordatorios.

Mismanaging tasks can lead to inefficiency and wasted time. Use project management tools or methodologies to keep track of deadlines, responsibilities, and progress. Prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines, and regularly review your task list to adjust priorities as needed. This approach helps ensure that you stay organized and focused on your research goals.

I used to underestimate the time needed for certain tasks, which led to tight deadlines and rushed work. One strategy that helped me was breaking projects into smaller, manageable tasks and setting clear priorities based on deadlines and importance. I also learned that multitasking, while tempting, often reduced the quality of my work and slowed me down. I became more organised and efficient by focusing on one task at a time and using project management tools. This shift allowed me to meet deadlines with less stress and deliver better results.

Prioritize your tasks by focusing on the most critical aspects of your research that need immediate attention. This will help you make the most significant progress even if other parts of the project are delayed.

While in person networking is key , it may also be time consuming. Using professional social media platforms can be a creative way for gaining traction into one’s contacts net.

Networking is crucial for career development, but excessive networking can detract from your research time. While it’s important to build professional relationships, be strategic about how and when you engage in networking activities. Focus on building meaningful connections that directly benefit your research or career goals, rather than engaging in every networking opportunity that arises.

One thing I've found useful is to have meaningful touch points with contacts you have long-standing relationships with, even if you don't consider them to be mentors. They've seen your growth first-hand and are likely already invested in your success. Share any current achievements and passion projects. Their wisdom (and network), as you explore new directions, can be invaluable even if it may not be in their wheelhouse.