I’m a final year psychology PhD student and even though we’re in completely different subjects, I identified SO MUCH with everything you’ve said in this video. Thank you, your videos are helping to keep me sane in the final few weeks of writing up.
Fourth year in here. I'm in the first of four comprehensive exam courses required before I start my history PhD dissertation, and I began panicking the first week. It was the imposter syndrome you described, otherwise known as "YIKES!!" I'm wrestling myself back into calmness, but it is a LOT of work. You are very right that you need to clear your plate as much as possible so you can give yourself the time and mental clarity to function well. Early on, I thought I'd hurry the process by doubling up on my classes - bad, bad mistake. I couldn't perform well, and decided to withdraw from one of them and take it over later. This stage is like climbing Mt Everest and realizing that the hardest part is the last mile.
Whow, just watched this video start to end and realised that I must , as a starting PhD student, watch this repeatedly untill I am sure to have gotton every word you said into my thick skull. It's very nice what you said about balancing with a side project. Suddenly my feelings explained. I just knew this but.. just didn't know it in words. You are so good at being an academic. I would love to hear more of your advices like these... You will change the world.
Thank you for making me feel better. I feel the same way you do. It's nice to 'grow with your paper' along with the difficulties and emotions of doing a PhD. Thank you for making me feel that these are normal emotions.
I've always wondered how some people always excelled in academics and still been good at other things. Your ship analogy makes a lot of sense. Good luck with your 4th year!
I nicked it from my partner actually - I couldn't tell why I was feeling super down and he said it was really obvious, and laid it out straight with the ship. Sometimes we're too close to a problem to see what's going on :)
That big side project is a great idea and was trying to think if it's only me that's thinking of doing it that way.. Thanks for putting it into words and calming my nerves..
Thank you for this; like all your videos that I've seen, it's very helpful. I would suggest that, for many, the hardest period may be the initial search for a question. I'm a first year defence studies phd student. For me, this first year has been dominated by the difficult and vital task of figuring out my phd question. This included trying to understand where there are unanswered questions in the literature, what a good phd question is, how I might answer it, what constitutes evidence in the field, what scope and scale are manageable. These have necessitated multiple rounds of reading heaps of literature and writing trial sketches, just to throw it all away and start large sections again. Alongside this, the first year you're setting up your habits, getting to know your supervisor and department, etc., and acutely aware that this is just the beginning--the vast majority of the mountain lies ahead of you. Despite having earned a distinction in my masters, the entire time as a phd student has felt like being lost at sea, wandering around, this way and that, trying not to feel like an imposter, painfully deleting lots of work. In my own case, I've done this alongside co-raising our two young children with my wife, and holding a full time job--not the best conditions for doctoral study!--but we're making it. In any case, I offer this as solace to any first year phd students searching for their question--you are far from alone. People tell me it gets easier--or at least less angst-inducing--once you have clarity on your project. Here's hoping so.
You're so amazing Lucy, I'm so glad I found your channel. You're helping me get through a difficult part of my own Ph.D. journey. I am in my second year in an aerospace engineering program and currently going through that phase of just paper reading.
I just finished the first year of a master's in biology. My first year was a lot like yours! It makes me feel a lot better to know I'm not the only one who struggled with all of that (imposter syndrome was the most challenging thing I've dealt with mentally). I'm doing better now, but am busy busy busy....I'm hoping it all pays off and I get INTO a PhD program for 2020-2021! :D
Hi Lucy! I'm just finished my second year masters waiting to do a confirmation assessment to move onto the PhD register. Hardest moment I've had so far and you mentioned it yourself is worrying about my research when I'm not occupied elsewhere, I work full time and study part time which means I've a full on schedule, but I found myself trying to fill every extra minute doing something for the research. I know now that this is counterproductive, and now I purposely plan several outings a week to see friends or to do something fun like baking, and I don't feel guilty about it. And at the end of the day, it's quality over quantity!
Lucy this was so great! Thank you so much for sharing. That ship analogy was extremely useful. Since lockdown by myself I've really burned out recently in always feeling guilty that I'm not working all day, every day (incl weekends) since all other activities have fallen away dramatically. The inner critic has had full reign! Plus some academic jobs that have left me feeling quite the impostor! Your videos really help in knowing I'm not alone in this experience xx
I am few months away from submitting mh Ph.D. thesis and have found your channel. As a geochemist PhD candidate, it is good to see the books in the background :D♥ cheerz!
I'm going to join Ph.D in water resource engineering this year .Honestly I have mixed feelings, I am excited and also nervous at the same time . So I am watching your channel to get some confidence.
Imposter syndrome... Thermodynamics... Sound like me!!!! You're amazing. Binging your videos. Can you go into detail how you rid your imposter syndrome/good resources to study thermodynamics? Thank youuuu!!! You're amazing ❤️
Your videos are very helpful.. As you always say; you are a case study. I wish you happiness and success in your career and life and thank you very mich for sharing us that great tough journey.
Hey, I'm a 1st year master's degree student of literature from Brazil. It was very nice to discover your channel, it's a important place to practice self-care. I found very similar situations and worries in your videos even though we are from different research fields. Have you ever discussed in your videos relations between your worries in the PhD and the economics e political situation of your country?
Just like you I also speak really fast. And people always tell me to speak slowly. Now I understand why do they say so. It becomes difficult for the listener to understand. By the way, nice video.
I'm currently thinking about quitting my PhD in Chemistry in my current group and move elsewhere as I feel that I've spent all my time coding and doing electronics as oppose to doing and learning chemistry, on top of that I've been mistreated by my post-doc mentor. Any advice? edit: I've started my second year a couple of months ago..
Hi Lucy, thank you for the video! I have some questions : how have you prepared your PhD before you were accepted into the program? What kind of preparation was it? Theoretical and/or practical research, problems, hypothesis, structure, ... ? Thank you in advance!
Thanks for making this helpful video! How did you manage your time as a PhD student? How many hours per day do you need to study? Did you have enough time for decent sleep, working out, and general self-care or do some of those things go by the way side?? Did you have time for seeing friends and family? I'm about to start my PhD program in a few weeks and am a little anxious about how intense the workload might be.
Thanks for all your questions - I'm going to make a Q&A vid and I'll definitely answer these, so keep an eye out :) Best of luck with starting your PhD!
It definitely goes up and down in phases. I've wanted to give up so many times, until eventually you reach a point when you've got less time to go than you've been doing it, so it's worth sticking it out. Think of it like taking one for the team - the team is future you, who will be so grateful for all your hard work and stress right now. YOU GOT THIS MATE
I’m a final year psychology PhD student and even though we’re in completely different subjects, I identified SO MUCH with everything you’ve said in this video. Thank you, your videos are helping to keep me sane in the final few weeks of writing up.
Fourth year in here. I'm in the first of four comprehensive exam courses required before I start my history PhD dissertation, and I began panicking the first week. It was the imposter syndrome you described, otherwise known as "YIKES!!" I'm wrestling myself back into calmness, but it is a LOT of work. You are very right that you need to clear your plate as much as possible so you can give yourself the time and mental clarity to function well. Early on, I thought I'd hurry the process by doubling up on my classes - bad, bad mistake. I couldn't perform well, and decided to withdraw from one of them and take it over later. This stage is like climbing Mt Everest and realizing that the hardest part is the last mile.
Whow, just watched this video start to end and realised that I must , as a starting PhD student, watch this repeatedly untill I am sure to have gotton every word you said into my thick skull.
It's very nice what you said about balancing with a side project. Suddenly my feelings explained. I just knew this but.. just didn't know it in words. You are so good at being an academic. I would love to hear more of your advices like these...
You will change the world.
I've spent months trying to put it in words so know how you feel!! Best of luck with your PhD
@@ThePhDiaries Thank you so much!
Thank you for making me feel better. I feel the same way you do. It's nice to 'grow with your paper' along with the difficulties and emotions of doing a PhD. Thank you for making me feel that these are normal emotions.
I've always wondered how some people always excelled in academics and still been good at other things. Your ship analogy makes a lot of sense.
Good luck with your 4th year!
I nicked it from my partner actually - I couldn't tell why I was feeling super down and he said it was really obvious, and laid it out straight with the ship. Sometimes we're too close to a problem to see what's going on :)
@@ThePhDiaries well thank that friend for me then. Good luck with your phd
This channel is amazing thank you! I'm starting my PhD in Chemistry at Oxford next week and these videos are invaluable :)
That big side project is a great idea and was trying to think if it's only me that's thinking of doing it that way.. Thanks for putting it into words and calming my nerves..
Thank you for this; like all your videos that I've seen, it's very helpful. I would suggest that, for many, the hardest period may be the initial search for a question.
I'm a first year defence studies phd student. For me, this first year has been dominated by the difficult and vital task of figuring out my phd question. This included trying to understand where there are unanswered questions in the literature, what a good phd question is, how I might answer it, what constitutes evidence in the field, what scope and scale are manageable. These have necessitated multiple rounds of reading heaps of literature and writing trial sketches, just to throw it all away and start large sections again. Alongside this, the first year you're setting up your habits, getting to know your supervisor and department, etc., and acutely aware that this is just the beginning--the vast majority of the mountain lies ahead of you. Despite having earned a distinction in my masters, the entire time as a phd student has felt like being lost at sea, wandering around, this way and that, trying not to feel like an imposter, painfully deleting lots of work. In my own case, I've done this alongside co-raising our two young children with my wife, and holding a full time job--not the best conditions for doctoral study!--but we're making it.
In any case, I offer this as solace to any first year phd students searching for their question--you are far from alone. People tell me it gets easier--or at least less angst-inducing--once you have clarity on your project. Here's hoping so.
You're so amazing Lucy, I'm so glad I found your channel. You're helping me get through a difficult part of my own Ph.D. journey. I am in my second year in an aerospace engineering program and currently going through that phase of just paper reading.
I just finished the first year of a master's in biology. My first year was a lot like yours! It makes me feel a lot better to know I'm not the only one who struggled with all of that (imposter syndrome was the most challenging thing I've dealt with mentally). I'm doing better now, but am busy busy busy....I'm hoping it all pays off and I get INTO a PhD program for 2020-2021! :D
Best of luck applying for PhDs! Glad to hear I wasn't the only one too
The ship analogy is great!! Thanks for sharing
Hi Lucy! I'm just finished my second year masters waiting to do a confirmation assessment to move onto the PhD register. Hardest moment I've had so far and you mentioned it yourself is worrying about my research when I'm not occupied elsewhere, I work full time and study part time which means I've a full on schedule, but I found myself trying to fill every extra minute doing something for the research. I know now that this is counterproductive, and now I purposely plan several outings a week to see friends or to do something fun like baking, and I don't feel guilty about it. And at the end of the day, it's quality over quantity!
Lucy this was so great! Thank you so much for sharing. That ship analogy was extremely useful. Since lockdown by myself I've really burned out recently in always feeling guilty that I'm not working all day, every day (incl weekends) since all other activities have fallen away dramatically. The inner critic has had full reign! Plus some academic jobs that have left me feeling quite the impostor! Your videos really help in knowing I'm not alone in this experience xx
I am few months away from submitting mh Ph.D. thesis and have found your channel. As a geochemist PhD candidate, it is good to see the books in the background :D♥ cheerz!
I'm going to join Ph.D in water resource engineering this year .Honestly I have mixed feelings, I am excited and also nervous at the same time .
So I am watching your channel to get some confidence.
Love your contents and all from you
Thank you for sharing
Wish you the best
Imposter syndrome... Thermodynamics... Sound like me!!!! You're amazing. Binging your videos. Can you go into detail how you rid your imposter syndrome/good resources to study thermodynamics? Thank youuuu!!! You're amazing ❤️
Hi Lucy, Thanks a lot for sharing and your videos are very encouraging. it gives me hope!
Your videos are very helpful..
As you always say; you are a case study.
I wish you happiness and success in your career and life and thank you very mich for sharing us that great tough journey.
Hi Lucy thnx for sharing I am now on my 4th year and things get easier than before. No worries
glad to hear things get easier! keep going mate
Love your videos- I'm so behind on my research so this is motivating
Hey, I'm a 1st year master's degree student of literature from Brazil. It was very nice to discover your channel, it's a important place to practice self-care. I found very similar situations and worries in your videos even though we are from different research fields.
Have you ever discussed in your videos relations between your worries in the PhD and the economics e political situation of your country?
Just like you I also speak really fast. And people always tell me to speak slowly. Now I understand why do they say so. It becomes difficult for the listener to understand. By the way, nice video.
I'm currently thinking about quitting my PhD in Chemistry in my current group and move elsewhere as I feel that I've spent all my time coding and doing electronics as oppose to doing and learning chemistry, on top of that I've been mistreated by my post-doc mentor. Any advice?
edit: I've started my second year a couple of months ago..
Hi Lucy,
thank you for the video!
I have some questions : how have you prepared your PhD before you were accepted into the program? What kind of preparation was it? Theoretical and/or practical research, problems, hypothesis, structure, ... ?
Thank you in advance!
Thanks for the questions - I'm going to make a Q&A vid so I've saved your question and will answer it there :)
Thanks for making this helpful video! How did you manage your time as a PhD student? How many hours per day do you need to study? Did you have enough time for decent sleep, working out, and general self-care or do some of those things go by the way side?? Did you have time for seeing friends and family? I'm about to start my PhD program in a few weeks and am a little anxious about how intense the workload might be.
Thanks for all your questions - I'm going to make a Q&A vid and I'll definitely answer these, so keep an eye out :) Best of luck with starting your PhD!
Your eyes ❣️
How did you get over the first 6 months of advance math/coding? Did you do math/coding in undergrad/masters?
Never done coding before....it was pretty grim 😬
I'm preparing my master degree
Any tips I can use them to enhance my master degree?
I took many information from different sources how can i cite those references in quick way
use mendeley
Is your submission deadline affected by the current corona outbreak?
Hi Lucy... I just started my PhD and at times I feel like giving up.
i felt like you last year, and now this is my second year in PhD and it seems better. Don't give up you are doing the best thing in your life.
Thank you.
I felt the same and now I am on my 4th and final year.. Do not give up
It definitely goes up and down in phases. I've wanted to give up so many times, until eventually you reach a point when you've got less time to go than you've been doing it, so it's worth sticking it out. Think of it like taking one for the team - the team is future you, who will be so grateful for all your hard work and stress right now. YOU GOT THIS MATE
Hey Lucy, i just follow you because of your accent. 😂
cheers (I think?) also, nice username