05-project-management.Rmd

# Project management

Apart from all the programming you are going to learn, it might also
make sense for you to learn how to structure your work day/week and your
whole project so that you never lose track of what you need to do, and
what you already have done, and how to do it all efficiently.


## Computational Notebooks

These are files that allow you to write descriptive text, code, and the
output of that code. They are particularly useful for:

-   learning and teaching coding, because the code and its output are
    shown together, so you always know what does what
-   documenting analysis/model development, because, besides the outputs
    of the code you are trying out, descriptive text can help elaborate
    your ideas better, and even include figures or links in the same
    file as the code you are working on.
-   sharing computational work: Your collaborator/supervisor will be
    able to follow your reasoning with the descriptive text and check
    your work in the code blocks and its outputs.

See the complete tutorial
[here](https://github.com/FellowsFreiesWissen/computational_notebooks).


## Excel-based orga

[Anne](https://www.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/cctb/research/ecosystem-modeling/people/anne-lewerentz/)
has a very nice Excel sheet that she uses as a calendar. It has an
annual sheet, a weekly schedule, and more. What is nice about this is
that it is not restricted to Outlook has multiple options for sorting,
filtering, coloring, and is completely customizable. Her template is
available upon request :)

## Pomodoro timer

"The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by
Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work into
intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short
breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for
'tomato', after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a
university student." (From wikipedia)

Using the Pomodoro technique can be helpful if you struggle with feeling
overwhelmed by your workload. Just start with any task and work on it
for the set time (usually 25 minutes), then take a (5 minute) break. You
will be surprised by how much you can get done in just one Pomodoro
session!

You can either set your phone alarm at your chosen intervals, or you can
look up one of the many Youtube channels that provide you with some
background white noise during work periods, and music during the breaks.
[Jana](https://www.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/cctb/research/ecosystem-modeling/people/jana-blechschmidt/)
likes to listen to this [ambience
channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/PeacefulAmbience), for example.

## Asana

Basically just on online kanban board. + Its has unlimited projects and
a nice look - proprietary and web based.

## Finishing a PhD 

Anne collected (with Selina, FU Berlin) all there strategies that helped
them to finish their thesis:
[Tips&Strategies](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A_tDiVdG4E-zXpFXDHKXBJr95RCt3S41GH64gicyOXM/edit?usp=sharing)