e 2 ESQuaReD Time Management Balancing Research, Teaching and Service Matthew Dwyer Laboratory for Empirically-based Software Quality Research Department of Computer Science University of Nebraska - Lincoln

2 Broad Challenges There are too many tasks to perform –simplify and/or drop something Tasks take too long to perform –become more efficient and/or focused Easier said than done!

3 Basic Principles Be realistic Actively plan your time Stick to the plan consistently

4 Be realistic - managing your time I have a colleague –extreme morning person –very structured with time management –also very successful! Plan to your nature –perfectionist should schedule more time for a job –dreamers should schedule free thinking time Pick and choose from this advice!

5 Be realistic - invest for the long run Your career is a marathon not a sprint –developing time management strategies now will payoff for decades Productive time is all that matters at work –wall clock time is irrelevant –it can be frightening to log how you spend your time –try it once and scare yourself straight Time off is important –a fresh brain is more productive

6 Active time planning Apply your analytical, problem-solving nature to time management Make plans - week, month, 3-month, year, … –set specific deadlines for yourself –track progress –learn from mistakes was the plan wrong? was the task harder than expected?

7 Follow plan consistently When push comes to shove … blame it on the plan! Establish a flexible plan –fluid, slush, and frozen portions of your schedule –open door when things are fluid –close door and post do not disturb when frozen

8 Time Management Strategies Focus your efforts Creating time Using time well Students and time

9 Focus your efforts : assess climate Can't please everyone –you don't need to Talk with supervisor/senior faculty –understand local expectations –understand community expectations

10 Focus your efforts : pick a bar you are in your dream job –figure out what makes the locals happy your goal is to become well-regarded in the SE community –likely since you are here –if you do that, tenure will be easy –and you will be movable

11 Focus your efforts : on impact emphasize high quality research choose service where you can make a difference teach to prepare your research students

12 Creating Time : It’s not easy to say no for many people same goes for not volunteering Saying yes to something that is not on your plan –is saying no to something on your plan Making no easier –say "let me think about it" –"if I say yes to this, then I need to give up that” NO

13 Creating Time : hiding You must plan blocks of time to think deeply Schedule no-teach days Establish a meaning for open and closed doors Working elsewhere –home, coffee shop, library, …

14 Using Time : doubling up Teaching and research –I find it tough to under invest in teaching –I still futz over my compiler slides after 10 years –leverage the investment to learn something new Reviewing and research –Accept review offers that are well aligned with your research, skip ones that are far afield –Don’t worry they will ask you again Committee service and student selection –Admissions gives a heads up on new recruits

15 Using Time : meetings To meet or not to meet? –essential –dangerous time consumers When you meet try the following –Establish an free zone –Organize the meeting –Demand preparation –Stop a meeting once it becomes unproductive

16 Students & Time : first contact They are the joy of your existence, but Temper your enthusiasm in taking on a student –engage with caution –consider a trial period with specific objectives –don't hesitate to cut ties if it doesn't work Unfocused/unmotivated students can be an enormous time sink

17 Students & Time Help them manage their time –it will help you manage your time –it’s part of training a good research student Share these ideas and your own thoughts with them

18 Students & Time : meetings Setting meeting expectations with students –think about the role of meetings the weekly meeting vs. a project meeting –talk about what you expect from them –give them ownership and responsibility for the meeting

19 Students & Time : strength in numbers Build a network of support –Don’t be the bottleneck Foster student to student interactions Exploit co-advising relationships –lots of additional benefit here for you and student

20 Any good tips out there?

21 Any questions?

22 Travel Tips Use this valuable "alone" time for reading, etc. Invest in items that help (extra battery, headphones) Schedule some recovery time, e.g., the morning after –for catching up on chores