Reflecting on my Study Project

During the first semester of my Master’s in Content Strategy, I was tasked with writing a project paper on content analysis. However, this post isn’t about that. You can read about the theory on contentstrategy.at. This post is about the lessons learned.

Here are three lessons I’m taking into my next project:

#1: Starting Earlier Instead of Chasing Deadlines

I tend to rely on the pressure of an upcoming deadline to get things going. But that strategy can backfire. Starting earlier doesn't just lower stress, it also provides the necessary room to refine and polish the work.

Takeaway: Set "mini-deadlines" for milestones to ensure steady progress.

#2: Planning Isn’t Lost Time

I love diving straight into execution as it provides me with an immediate sense of accomplishment. However, jumping in without a solid concept forced me to switch methods mid-process. That cost me much more time than any planning phase ever would have.

Takeaway: Thorough planning saves a lot of time in the long term.

#3: Finding the Tool That Fits Me

During our studies, we often used Excel to conduct analyses. However, I realised that I am a very visual person. Using the whiteboard tool Miro made the work much more tangible and enjoyable.

Takeaway: To be truly productive, tools need to align with the personal way of thinking and working.