PhD Survival Tip: Pretend It's a Video Game

TL;DR

PhD stress can be managed by treating it like a video game, with challenges, achievements, and a sense of control.

Transcript

hey it's Lucy a few videos back I talked about not being able to separate my personal happiness from my happiness with the progress of my PhD I need desperately to decouple my happiness from the states of my PhD and I have no idea how to this is mostly because since a PhD takes up so much of your life it's very easy to feel like your whole life is ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎮 Treating the PhD journey as a video game can help manage stress and pressure.
• 🛩️ Enjoying the process and small achievements is crucial for maintaining motivation.
• 🫵 Viewing the PhD as a voluntary commitment can alleviate self-imposed expectations and stress.
• 🎮 Challenges and obstacles in a PhD can be likened to levels in a video game.
• 🥳 Finding joy in the journey and day-to-day activities is essential for a fulfilling PhD experience.
• 🎮 Recognizing the similarities between a PhD and a video game can provide a sense of control and perspective.
• 😛 Embracing setbacks and feeling stuck in a PhD journey is part of the learning process.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Lucy describe the difficulty of separating personal happiness from PhD progress?

Lucy expresses the struggle she faces in distinguishing her own happiness from the success of her PhD, leading to heightened stress and pressure.

Q: What coping mechanism does Lucy suggest for managing PhD stress?

Lucy proposes treating the PhD journey as a video game, with challenges, achievements, and moments of feeling stuck, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process.

Q: What parallels does Lucy draw between a PhD and a video game?

Lucy compares elements of a PhD journey to a video game, such as dodging questions, facing challenges, seeking guidance, and experiencing a sense of accomplishment.

Q: How does Lucy advocate for viewing the PhD journey as a voluntary commitment?

Lucy encourages seeing the PhD as a voluntary choice made for personal growth and enjoyment, highlighting the need to appreciate the journey and not just the end result.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lucy struggles to separate personal happiness from PhD progress, leading to constant stress and pressure.

• She compares the PhD journey to a video game, with parallels in challenges, achievements, and unforeseen obstacles.

• Viewing the PhD as a voluntary commitment can help relieve self-inflicted stress and pressure.