Estimate time requirements realistically

Find out about the admission requirements and registration conditions for the PhD. Be clear about your own time requirements, as well as the time requirements of involved third parties: for example, plan for several months of waiting time because of the animal course, the ethics vote, the animal experiment approval, or patient recruitment. Also, if you need ISH access, be aware that it cannot be requested until you have been officially accepted by the faculty.

Can you use any idle time that may arise flexibly and wisely? Be self-critical and realistic in your estimation of study periods, recovery periods, and writing periods. Build in buffers, don't overextend yourself: if you plan every weekend for research for the next two years or schedule writing together for one month, every little cold will create massive postponements and stress.