Time Management

Over the last 35 years or so, I have picked up a few "time management" tips -- on the job. For example, start booking appointments from the end of the day backwards (they tend to sprawl less that way, for reasons I dont quite understand). Try booking appointments at slightly odd times (12.05, rather than 12.00) -- as it makes it rather clearer that your time is squeezed. And if you want to have a few mornings in the library, block those mornings out before the start of term (just one a fortnight is ok) -- if you rely on getting to the library when you find you are "free", you'll never get there.

All that was picked up on the job (and with the help of friends -- especially the 12.05 idea). I have never in my life been to a time management course. That's partly because I haven't had time; and partly because I suspect such things are the weapons of the management (the message being: it's not that you are overworked, it's that you can't manage your time properly... errr sorry I am over-worked...).

Nor have I often completed a Time Allocation Survey, which we are supposed to complete to allocate the funding according to our different activities (teaching, research, other "income generating" activities, support etc: here's one university's attempt at an explanation). To be honest, it never seemed clear which activities fell into which categories. So for a while I just invented it, then gave up. Irressponsible, moi?

So I was cheered up hugely this week when Professor Ganz of this parish sent me Arnaldo Momigliano's brilliant answer to a similar survey in 1965. Here it is. Savour!

In my 24 hour continental timetable I divide my time each day as follows:

2 hours of pure sleep

1 hour of sleep dreaming about administration

2 hours of sleep dreaming about research

1 hour of sleep dreaming about teaching

½ hour of pure eating

1 hour of eating with research (= reading)

1 hour of eating with colleagues and of conversation on teaching and research

½ hour of pure walking

½ hour of walking with research (= thinking)

12 ½ hours of research with preparation for teaching (= reading, writing or also thinking)

1 hour of official teaching without thinking

1 hour of official administration without thinking

___

24

 

 

For ever yours

 

Arnaldo Momigliano

Come on everyone, maybe a bit more of this is what we need (and in my experience 2 hours of pure sleep is roughly right).