How To Find Time To Do Science

Tactics for working people doing science part-time.

People ask how I find time to do science outside work. I’ve found this weird, because I don’t think I’m a particularly busy guy. In fact, I hate the feeling of busyness, and actively try to avoid being rushed. And so I wanted to share how I spend time.

If you know me, think I’m lazy, and don’t put a premium on my thoughts, feel free to skip this article. If you think I’m productive, feel free to read on. But most importantly, leave a comment! I want to know what you think of my time saving ideas, so I can improve.

Here’s my current part-time science schedule. As a heads up, it’s very variable and I’ve warned previously about committing to frameworks too eagerly.

Weekdays: In the morning around 7:30, I’ll write or do some science for 45 minutes. If there is something important that’s work related, I’ll do that instead. After working in the office, I get home at around six and have dinner. In the evenings, I work on more experiments, or write on the blog, for an hour or two. Then I go to sleep at around 11.

Weekends: Saturdays are usually blocked out for science, as well as Sunday mornings. But I’ll leave time in the evenings for social stuff.

I also have an ‘optimal day target’ for my weekends.

But again, the frameworks rarely work. Instead, I credit my time efficiency to tactics. These are things I keep in my mind at all times to win time when I can.

The main one is to be try be useful at all times. When I find myself being idle, I quickly decide something that would be worth doing and do it. If I’m in front of a computer I’ll code. If I’m on the bus I’ll try to read a book. If I’m bored I’ll write stuff on my blog. If I have physical energy I’ll do an experiment. If I have dinner with someone I’ll try to get to the questions that really matter. I try match my action to my energy level or situation. I don’t spend that much time planning. I just have a list of stuff I find cool and if I have a free moment I’ll do it. I think most tasks can be done in twenty minutes.

My next tactic is to use mornings. Mornings are sacred, and this is when my effectiveness peaks. I try to do a hard ‘do action’, like write or code, before even drinking a sip of water or changing my clothes. Regardless if its work or science, I try to do the most useful in the morning. I still do a lot of science in the evening on the weekdays, but on the weekends I really try to make use of the morning.

My third strategy is to be optimistic about time usage. I try to save time on anything. For example, I can avoid spending time doing cardio because I make it a point to cycle to work. I also make systems to reduce context switching. For example, when I call people I try to batch times together (Fridays). I also just try to get better at things so I can do them faster, like touch typing or making hot-keys, or using AI. I also try to understand when the main ‘meat’ of a task is done so I don’t waste time on perfectionism. Reading about Alfred Loomis flipped a switch in me about what humans can do with their day.

After tactics, I have strategy. Strategy means sticking to what matters the most.

On the science front, that’s getting results and writing about them. And so I try to spend most of my science time on this. These are the only things that matter. And so if I’m not doing either, I question why. For example, if it’s an indirect task like writing a grant application or networking, I try to not do it i my prime morning time.

To reiterate - doing science means learning about the world, then communicating the results. That’s the ultimate end point, so it’s the thing I try to spend the most time on.

And that’s pretty much it!