What are some strategies to effectively manage time when creating a tenure portfolio?

1 Start early

One of the best ways to avoid last-minute stress and rush is to start working on your tenure portfolio as soon as possible. Ideally, you should begin collecting and organizing your evidence of teaching, research, and service from the first year of your appointment. This way, you can gradually build your portfolio over time and avoid having to scramble for documents and data later. You can also use a digital tool or platform to store and update your portfolio materials regularly, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or an online portfolio website.

2 Set realistic goals

Another key strategy to manage your time when creating a tenure portfolio is to set realistic and specific goals for each stage of the process. For example, you can break down the portfolio into sections, such as teaching philosophy, research statement, publications, grants, student evaluations, letters of support, and so on. Then, you can assign a timeline and a deadline for each section, based on your workload, availability, and expectations. You can also use a calendar or a planner to track your progress and remind yourself of the upcoming tasks and milestones.

4 Prioritize and delegate

A fourth strategy to manage your time when creating a tenure portfolio is to prioritize and delegate your other tasks and responsibilities that are not directly related to the portfolio. For example, you can reduce or postpone some of your administrative or service duties, such as committee work, event planning, or outreach activities, until you have completed your portfolio. You can also delegate some of your teaching or research tasks, such as grading, editing, or data analysis, to your teaching assistants, research assistants, or collaborators, if possible and appropriate.

5 Take breaks

A fifth strategy to effectively manage your time when creating a tenure portfolio is to take breaks and practice self-care. Creating a tenure portfolio can be mentally and emotionally demanding, so it is important to take care of your health and well-being. You can take breaks by doing activities that help you relax and recharge, such as exercising, meditating, reading, or spending time with your family and friends. You can also set boundaries and limit your work hours, such as avoiding working late at night or on weekends, to prevent burnout and fatigue.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?