Planning ahead keeps me on track
One thing that helps me since MSc. studies is to plan my work ahead. Part of my Fridays’ schedules is taken by weekly planning , when I forsee all the reactions, column separations, NMR measurements, meetings, literature reading sections etc. Weekly planning is usually quick. Daily planning , on the other hand, is more specific and takes more time. Afternoon before, I calculate all the reagents’ ammounts needed, check my dry solvents and do a bit of mental exercise, when I imagine the procese of running the reaction in great detail. You know, once you put all in, reaction clock is ticking! I picture my reaction ahead of time in my mind. Many times, have I realized that procedure could be improved or found mistake in a protocol, I was “almost blindly” following. Picture your day in my mind so your work does not go wasted! Here is a helpful material for synthetic chemists.