PhD woes

Ellajane

Hi all,

Just wondering if I can have a rant about college related stuff,

I have an interesting PhD topic, in year 2 of a 4 year PhD and am stuck in a rut...
I know that time is flying and that with all I want to / plan to do before finishing time seems a bit tight - however I'm still suffering from a major lack of motivation that I need to snap out of before it's too late and I find myself back at square one - no prospects, no job and no money...

I wrote some draft chapters a while back but having re-read them recently I realise they were utter garbage and I didn't have a clue what I was talking about when I wrote them...

Recently a friend died suddenly which put everything into perspective for me, but I'm still in this rut - staying at home all day, not dressing until 4 or 5 (working at the same time though) and feeling alone, depressed and getting nowhere.

Also, all my friends are working for the last couple of years and make fun that I'm still in college -that's fine and I don't mind but the more I realise I've been in college for years and years and I'm still young - these are the best years of my life, should I be sitting in a library all day and night / be sitting at home in my pyjamas at 2 o'clock in the day, not earning any money to enjoy myself in the evenings...

Sorry for the rant but wondering if people feel the same and if so what do you do to overcome the low points,,,,

Dr Strange

Hi Ellajane,

I completely sympathise with you. I worked on my PhD for 6 years and completed it last December. I did it part-time but in the end it just took up all the time of each day. I had many episodes of feeling down or depressed as well as not feeling motivated at all. All I can say is that you just have to try and keep going. Even writing/doing little pieces which take only 5 or 10 minutes add to your PhD and sometimes having done even these small pieces can have a great effect on your motivation.

In the end I can say it was definitely worth it but you just have to stick it out. The best motivator is yourself and the feeling of doing something worthwhile. The funny thing is that the majority of PhD students go through the same or similar emotions although all our topics/research themes are different the journey is almost the same. Keep that in mind, you are not suffering alone

Best wishes and good luck with your thesis. It'll all work out in the end, you'll see.

P.

jelly&icecream

I think most people go through the doldrums a bit at some point of their phd. It seems to be inevitable. Do you have a desk/ office in college? It may be good to set yourself some kind of routine where you have to get up and leave the house every morning.

doyler442

Hi

I know exactly how your feeling. I'm in my first year of a four year Ph.D program and some days I feel great but often I can't help asking myself is it really worth it?

What's driving me mad at the moment is I have three projects due next Friday, I haven't seen my girlfriend in a month and my friends all think I've become a loser because I'm always in the library and working on projects instead of socialising with them.

However, as is mentioned above, I have just tried to get into a routine of working. I come into the library on a daily basis as I find it easier when I see other people working. I think its all just about finding the right setting where you are most productive.

Also from speaking with lecturers they have explained, and I have experienced this with a lot of work I've done this year, that once you start and you get some good work done, it usually leads to a good feeling and motivates you to continue doing more.

And often I hear about friends or past class mates getting well paid jobs and it can put me off a bit. I start asking myself wouldn't it be nice to be getting paid and earning now but I'm hoping in the end the four years will have been worth it. This is my sixth year of college in a row which I often feel embarised telling people about but not much I can do about it now haha

So don't worry your not the only one, and if it makes you feel any better you can at least say your a year ahead of me

Ostrom

My life sotry OP, probably worse. You will come around, dont worry.

Dont feel as if you're the only onw to go through this, everyone does. It isn't like a 9-5 where you can leave everything at the door whe you go home, it stays on your mind 24/7, and probably will do until you are finished. Dont underestimate the phyiscal effect it can have on you either, take care of yourself.

Il Trap

I'm coming from the opposite perspective. I'm currently in a well-paid teaching job with the possible option of another year. However I hope to begin the first year of a PhD in October. Although having regular cash is great, I've got itchy feet and can't wait to become my own boss again next. Am I mad? Teaching was only ever supposed to be a stop-gap for me to fund a PhD. I know thousands would kill to be in the position I'm in at the minute.