9 Tips to Be a Good PhD Student

No matter what anyone says, PhD is tough. If you are a PhD student, you will find yourself working round the clock. There are no days off. Chances are, you may also be juggling between your academic and professional life. And, it is not easy at all. You need to work on your thesis, attend conferences, complete your professional assignments, and maintain a social life. Focusing on so many things simultaneously is a daunting task.

Everyone wants to be a great student, but they don’t know how to do it.

Are you in the same boat?

Struggling to manage everything?

If yes, this post is for you.

We have created a list of nine simple yet effective tips on being successful and being a good student while doing your PhD.

1.      Find Out How and When You Work the Best

If you wish to be a successful PhD student, you must figure out when and how you work the best. First, figure out the time of the day you are the most productive. It can be early morning, afternoon, evening, or late night. Do you work better in small chunks or at a stretch? Does a tidy space improve your productivity, or can you work anywhere?

Everyone is different. Therefore, there are no set standards for when and how a PhD student works better. So, figure it out yourself and then make the maximum use of the golden time where your productivity is at its peak.

2.      Be Proactive in Supervision

While your supervisor is the most important person when doing your PhD, you also need to supervise yourself actively. A supervisor mentors multiple students. They don’t have the time and capacity to hold your hand through the entire phase. Therefore, try to be proactive. If you have a question in mind, ask them right away. Please don’t wait for them to spoon-feed you or contact you asking for progress. Your advisors have a wealth of experience and knowledge. Now it is up to you how you use them.

3.      Listen to Your Mentors

It doesn’t matter if you and your supervisor don’t get along well. You need to listen to their advice and try and incorporate it into your work as much as you can. They may not be experts in the topic you have chosen. However, they have been doing this mentorship work for years. They know what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, and when to do it.

You don’t need to agree with them all the time. However, listening to your advisors and taking on board their suggestions will help you a lot.

If there is something you think isn’t appropriate for your dissertation, be open to them and talk about it. Tell them why you are making a different decision by keeping them updated about your process, and hopefully, they will understand.

4.      Look for Opportunities

You will soon learn that there are plenty of great opportunities for PhD students. However, you need to work for them. Be active in your academic community and stay connected with them. It will help you find out if there are any new opportunities. Most PhD students learn about conferences, journals and other such opportunities through their peers.

Remember, your supervisor may not have the time to nudge you about each opportunity. Therefore, you need to take control of your academic life and take these opportunities as they come.

5.      Don’t Let Anything Distract You from Your Dissertation

Your dissertation is the most important part of your PhD. So while attending conferences writing papers and articles for various journals is great; it shouldn’t distract you from the bigger goal, i.e., your dissertation.

You will only get your doctorate if you defend your thesis and clear the viva exam. So, this is where you should focus your energies.

6.      Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Every PhD student is different. Each of them has a unique learning curve and is working on entirely different topics. If one of your peers completed their experiments, and you are still trying, it doesn’t mean you are a failure. Everyone has their priorities and works at a different pace. Some of your colleagues may already have published their papers in journals, while others may have written a thesis before. Comparing yourself to other PhD students is just like comparing apples to oranges. It doesn’t make sense at all.

7.      Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions

We have all been there. A question keeps pinching us. But we don’t want to ask it because we think it will make us sound stupid. But no one ever thinks that way. Someone might already have that question in mind that you are so afraid to ask. So, you will not only be doing yourself a favour but also for someone else.

You are PhD student. But, it doesn’t mean you are a knowledgeable source for it. You have the right to ask as many questions as you want and gain from the depths of knowledge available out there. So, next time you have a question, ask it right away.

8.      Focus on Yourself

PhD students are so consumed by their work that they hardly find any time to focus on themselves. Unfortunately, it leads to serious consequences. Constant stress and anxiety doesn’t only impact your mental health but also your physical health. So while a little stress is a part of the PhD journey, not focusing on your mental and physical health will impact your life.

Therefore, no matter how busy you are, take some time out for yourself. Eat healthy food. Add a simple exercise regimen to your daily routine. You don’t necessarily have to get a gym membership. Even a 15 minutes run or walk each day would do. You can also practice yoga or other mindfulness practices to improve your mental and physical health.

9.      Take Breaks

While it may not be easy considering the amount of work you need to do, taking breaks is essential for your sanity. You don’t have to work 24/7 if one of your colleagues does that. It is a very unhealthy practice. Your mind and body are like a machine. They have a breaking point. Constantly working will only lead to breakdowns. Therefore, take breaks whenever you can. Give some time to your family. Don’t compromise on your sleep. Have some fun over the weekends.

These things will keep you sane and will improve your productivity.

These were a few simple tips to help you be a better PhD student. If you are struggling with your work, you can get help from professional law dissertation writing services. These academic help services assist students in their dissertation research and writing. You can also use these services to get your work edited and proofread. PhD is tough. However, if you make sure you have the right mindset and approach, you can complete it. The journey will not be easy. Therefore, don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Also, try to maintain a healthy work-life balance to make your PhD years a little less intimidating.