How Can Academics Get Things Done During the Summer?

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One summer on the way out to the parking lot, a senior professor once told me that if he didn't have a summer project finished by the Fourth of July, he knew it wouldn't get finished.  Since it was about June 28th on the day he said that, I flashed on all of my unfinished projects and was horrified.  

I also pledged to not let that happen and to double-down after the Fourth to "get er done."  Over the past 20 summers since then, I've worked with something I call a 3-3-3 weekly recap to keep the summer moving forward while still having lots of fun. 

Here’s how a 3-3-3 Weekly Recap works.  Every Friday I write down the 3 biggest things I finished that week (“Done”), the 3 things I want to finish next week (“Doing”), and 3 things I’m waiting for (“Waiting for”).  This ends up being a record of what I did that week, a plan for what to focus on next week, and a reminder of what I need to follow up on.  It helps keep me accountable to myself, and it keeps me focused on finishing 3 big things instead of 100 little things.  Here’s an example of one that’s been scribbled in a notebook at the end of last week:

Even though you’d be writing this just for yourself, it might improve your game.  It focuses you for the week, it gives you a plan for next week, and it prompts you to follow-up on things you kind of forgot you were waiting for. 
 
Sometimes I do it in a notebook and sometimes I type it and send it to myself as an email.  It doesn’t matter the form it’s in or if you ever look back at it (I don’t), it still works.  I’ve shared this with people in academia, business, and government.  Although it works for most people who try it, it works best for academics who manage their own time and for managers who are supervising others.  They say it helps to keep the focus on moving forward instead of either simply drifting through the details of the day or being thrown off course by a new gust of wind. 
 
If you work with PhD students or Postdocs, it could help them develop a “Finish it up” mentality, instead of a “Polish this for 3 years until it's perfect” mentality.   It’s also useful as a starting point for 1-on-1 weekly meetings.  If they get in the habit of emailing their 3-3-3 Recap to you each Friday, you can share any feedback and perhaps help speed up whatever it is they are waiting for.  Especially if it’s something on your desk. Ouch.
 
Good luck in pushing 3 To-Dos off your desk and getting things done this summer. I hope you find this helps.