This interactive session will provide graduate students with strategies and resources for improving their time management and productivity. We will discuss the culture and features of life as a graduate student, examine how individuals react and respond to productivity demands, and share best practices and resources for creating individual productivity plans. Facilitated by Natalie Lundsteen, Ph.D. Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development, UT Southwestern.

Topics to be covered:

· Differences in stages of graduate student life/responsibilities

· The planning fallacy phenomenon

· Understanding short-term vs long-term project planning

· Goal-setting (including interactive SMART goals breakout activity)

· Overview of recommended online (& other) productivity tools

· Work-life balance

· Practicing self-care and compassion (including 'how to say no')

Learning outcomes:

· Understanding the priorities and practices of graduate school

· Recognizing how, when, and why those priorities shift and change throughout graduate training

· Understanding of goal-setting based on personal values and vision

· Introduction to relevant productivity tools and strategies