3 Key Takeaways:
- Strong organizational skills are crucial for academic success, particularly for those pursuing advanced degrees
- The PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) can be adapted for organizing academic life, with a suggested fifth category of Action Items for immediate tasks
- QYou have two main options for organization: a simple file structure using tools like Dropbox/Google Drive, or a comprehensive system like Notion for more robust organization and search capabilities
In academia, strong organizational skills are crucial. The link between organization, productivity, and success is clear, especially for those pursuing advanced degrees. As an academic renegade, you're here to make your mark, and a solid organizational foundation can help you achieve that goal.
"For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned." Benjamin Franklin
I've seen many promising doctoral candidates struggle to complete their dissertations due to poor organization. An intelligent individual's progress is hindered by disorganization. In the academic world, being disorganized can significantly impede your success.
A Roadmap to Better Organization
Step 1: Develop a Systematic Approach
Consider using the PARA Method by Tiago Forte as a starting point. While it's designed for digital information, you can adapt it to organize your entire academic life.
The PARA method categorizes information into:
- Projects (P): Time-bound tasks with specific outcomes
- Areas (A): Ongoing responsibilities
- Resources (R): Topics of ongoing interest
- Archives (A): Inactive items from the other categories
I suggest adding a fifth category: Action Items, for immediate tasks that don't fit neatly into the other categories.
Reflect on Your System:
- How organized is your computer desktop?
- Can you quickly locate a paper you wrote last semester?
- If these questions reveal room for improvement, it's time to enhance your organization.
Take Action:
List your areas and projects. Projects have clear start and end dates, while areas have ongoing commitments.
Step 2: Choose Your Organization Method
You have two main options:
Option 1: A Simple File Structure Create a basic file structure using Dropbox or Google Drive:
This method is straightforward but effective. You'll need to pair it with a project and task management system. For ideas, watch this video on organizational software.
Next Steps:
- Locate your Degree Plan.
- Use it to create your project-level folders.
- This sets up the basic structure for your courses.
Option 2: A Comprehensive System For a more robust solution, consider setting up a relational database system like Notion. It can connect various aspects of your academic life and offers powerful organization and search capabilities.
While it requires more initial effort, the long-term benefits can be substantial. The Notion community offers many templates and tutorials to help you get started.
Resources:
- Watch this video for an introduction to Notion.
- Subscribe to The Academic Renegade YouTube Channel for more academic tips.
Step 3: Implement Your System
Start organizing as soon as possible, regardless of where you are in your academic journey. The sooner you begin, the sooner you'll see benefits like increased productivity and reduced stress.
Action Plan:
- Choose between a simple file structure or a more comprehensive system like Notion.
- If using a simple structure, research complementary project and task management tools.
- If you're opting for Notion, download it now (it's free for students) and start setting up your system.
