Skip to main content

Tips from the Fellowships & Writing Center

Now that the calendar has flipped to December, we wanted to leave you with some quick tips for managing the whirlwind that is the end of the fall term. And remember, don't be afraid to reach out–to us at the FWC, to your faculty, to your friends or colleagues. Sometimes, having someone with whom you can share your ideas or strategies, work in tandem, or simply commiserate can make all the difference in the world. You can learn more about us and contact us directly at the FWC home page


If a task will take less than 5 minutes to do, just do it now. When your schedule gets hectic, small tasks like responding to emails can easily fall through the cracks if you put them off.

–Jordan

The hectic energies of the end of the term can sometimes cause us to sacrifice self-care and the extracurricular hobbies/events/recreations that are important to us. In addition to daily self-care, try to plan at least one thing–unrelated to work–to look forward to in anticipation of the end of the term. 

–Alex

When you're struggling to deal with complex work tasks (such as writing final papers or dissertation chapters) leaving the desk and getting some physical exercise can be a great help. Even if your attention shifts elsewhere, the brain will keep working quietly while you're doing your walking, running, cycling or other chosen activity. You may find new ideas and solutions present themselves to you.

–Louis

Writing seminar papers is a challenging exercise in time management. While remaining cognizant of the limitations that such a tight schedule imposes, embrace these papers as opportunities to experiment with different approaches and to conduct research that may be outside your normal comfort zone. And keep track of your notes. You never know: that flicker of an idea–always lingering in the recesses of your mind–or unusual source may just prove to be pivotal for your dissertation or other future projects.

–Chris


Banner by Shutterstock

Harvard Griffin GSAS Newsletter and Podcast

Get the Latest Updates

Subscribe to Colloquy Podcast

Conversations with scholars and thinkers from Harvard's PhD community
Apple Podcasts Spotify
Simplecast Stitcher

Connect with us