When it comes to research as a clinician, especially basic science research, time is a precious commodity and organization is essential to utilize time effectively and efficiently. For surgeon-scientists who treat patients and spend considerable time and effort in the laboratory, effective time management is a critical skill to master. This includes detailed, advanced planning of experiments and grant submissions, efficient collection of data for grant proposals and timely publication of results, proper utilization of personnel and funds, fulfillment of commitments to both clinical and research pursuits, and the establishment of balance—to the extent possible—between work and life. Ineffective time management can delay your academic advancement, increase personal stress, decrease quality of work produced, decrease chances of maintaining funding and personnel, and decrease personal satisfaction. Instead of trying to create more time in a day, or more days in a week, effective time management allows us to use our time wisely.