How Do I Build An Autopilot Schedule for Unpredictable Work?

00:00:05.000 | All right, let's do one more question here. This one comes from David.

00:00:09.000 | David asks, how do you deal with unpredictable autopilot schedules?

00:00:16.000 | He elaborates, I'm a graduate student in mechanical engineering. Sometimes my professors do not post or assign homework on the same time every week,

00:00:25.000 | which gets in the way of my attempts to automate my coursework so I can focus on research.

00:00:31.000 | How can I construct an autopilot schedule that takes into account the unreliabilities of my professors?

00:00:38.000 | Well, David, first of all, you have plenty of time because you're a graduate student,

00:00:44.000 | and when you're a graduate student, you feel like it's the hardest thing that has ever happened.

00:00:47.000 | And as soon as you graduate from being a graduate student, have any type of real job,

00:00:51.000 | you look back and say that is the easiest possible job you can have.

00:00:54.000 | Everything seems hard while you're there, but you have a ton of autonomy and a ton of time.

00:00:57.000 | So I'm not too worried. I'm not too worried about your situation here.

00:01:01.000 | This is what I would suggest. Have two core blocks every day.

00:01:06.000 | And these get split between research and coursework.

00:01:10.000 | And you can make assignment changes as needed throughout the week.

00:01:14.000 | So maybe if you don't get your homework till Tuesday,

00:01:18.000 | you're going to take a one of these two blocks on Wednesday and one of the two blocks on Thursday to do the homework.

00:01:23.000 | And if another week you get assigned to work at the end of day Friday,

00:01:26.000 | then maybe you're taking the two blocks on Monday.

00:01:28.000 | And this is all being done with coursework.

00:01:30.000 | So just make a just in time binding of work type to the predetermined blocks.

00:01:37.000 | But the key thing is these predetermined blocks happen every day.

00:01:39.000 | I do this in the morning, maybe do a block in the morning,

00:01:41.000 | then I go exercise and do some other things.

00:01:43.000 | And then I do a block in the afternoon.

00:01:45.000 | And here is where I go to do them.

00:01:47.000 | And here is the coffee I bring in. It's automated. I don't even have to think about it.

00:01:51.000 | Most of those blocks are me doing research.

00:01:53.000 | Some of them are me working on coursework.

00:01:56.000 | Which is which? Well, it depends on when these devious, unreliable professors decide they are going to assign them.

00:02:03.000 | And we are a devious bunch. We try our hardest to make your life hard.

00:02:08.000 | But I think in this case, you are going to win by doing just in time binding on your autopilot schedules.

00:02:15.000 | [Music]

How Do I Build An Autopilot Schedule for Unpredictable Work?

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