The Hardest Parts of My PhD (so far)

TL;DR

Lucy shares the five hardest times of her PhD journey, including imposter syndrome, starting the research, overwhelming commitments, mastering new subjects, and dealing with lack of focus.

Transcript

hey it's Lucy crazily enough I've been doing this PhD thing for three years now which means I'm about to enter my fourth and my final and my hardest year not sure how this happened I'll make a video about the good bit so far but for now I wanted to talk about where the PhD got so difficult for me at least so far so that anyone who's that an earlier... Read More

Key Insights

• 💗 Impostor syndrome can hinder early progress but can lessen as confidence grows.
• 😚 Feeling lost in research is normal; educating oneself about the area is crucial.
• 🥺 Overcommitting can lead to a loss of focus and hinder progress in a PhD.
• 👶 Mastering new subjects, like thermodynamics, can be challenging but rewarding.
• 🍧 Having a side project as a counterbalance can prevent obsession over the PhD.
• 💦 It's essential to maintain a balance between PhD work and other projects for mental well-being.
• ❓ Challenges in a PhD journey are common and can be overcome with perseverance.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did impostor syndrome affect Lucy's early experience with her PhD?

Impostor syndrome made Lucy doubt her abilities in advanced maths and coding, causing panic and fear of failure until she started her research and gained confidence.

Q: What challenges did Lucy face six months into her PhD?

Feeling lost and not knowing how to begin her research project led Lucy to doubt herself but she later realized it was common and the first step was to familiarize herself with the research area.

Q: How did overcommitting affect Lucy's progress in the second and third years of her PhD?

Overcommitting to multiple projects and activities diverted her focus from her PhD, causing her to struggle with managing her time effectively and losing sight of the main goal.

Q: How did mastering thermodynamics prove to be a difficult academic challenge for Lucy?

Teaching herself thermodynamics was a daunting task for Lucy as it brought back fears of failure, but she persevered and eventually understood the subject, highlighting the importance of continuous learning in a PhD.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Starting the PhD program was daunting due to advanced maths and coding.

• Six months in, feeling lost and overwhelmed by the research area was common.

• Overcommitting and lacking focus led to struggles in the second and third years.