system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Research not moving forward

I just realized that I have not produced anything tangible in last six months inspite being busy all the time. Everyday goes into trivial things like making the error prone supercomputer work, moving huge files ,making ppts etc. It sucks how time passes by and I just cant get ahead. My PI is quite chilled in regards to timeline but I have financial constraints and this is the last semester for me. Any advice?
gpt
First, make a list, or perhaps a list of lists, of what you need to do to make progress and complete key milestones towards your thesis. Then dedicate time every day to completing key important tasks that progress you towards milestones. What you select per each day should be a limited and feasible subset. 

(There's a rather useful technique called the Ivy Lee method, and it suggests to limit your list to 6 key important things to complete per day, in order of importance. Of course this requires an awareness of what an appropriate task size is, as you divide your plans. There are far more advanced project management strategies, of course, but certainly not needed for day-to-day.)

BTW, also weigh the possibility that some things you do may be productive, but that they'll take time to wrap up. Although, what's up with all the PPTs?