Even if you're given the option of showing up 'whenever,' schedule your research time because doing so will lead to more advantages than having a spontaneous schedule.

Although there are several advantages to scheduling your lab time, three are:

1. If your labmates and research supervisor know when you’ll be available, you’ll be considered more reliable, be given more opportunities and responsibilities, and likely earn stronger letters of recommendation.
2. You’ll be more likely to uphold the time commitment you made to the lab even when your project hits a boring or frustrating part. And most research projects have both.
3. Establishing a research schedule will help you keep your academic-research-life balance intact. And that matters. Because doing research doesn’t mean giving up your social life—it means knowing how to create a solid plan and then finding the self-discipline to stick with it.