Over the past few months, we have been stuck inside for long periods, often by ourselves. We have not been able to visit galleries or attend art classes. Lockdown has been tough without many creative outlets. But Giles Penman presents an artistic solution at an upcoming virtual OnTrack session.
Ever worry about how much work you’re putting into your research? About how much progress you’re making? Blogger Ellie King reflects on her experiences with her work-ethic being both her friend and enemy.
Struggle to stop procrastinating? Find yourself constantly scrolling through Twitter when you should really be working? If you want to get focused and keep concentrating, blogger Ellie has put together a list of the best websites and apps for just that.
The past few weeks in lockdown have been very hard. We are on lockdown inside. The weather is poor outside. And the libraries, cafes, cinemas, bars and restaurants are all closed because of the lockdown. Giles Penman offers a possible activity to brighten our moods at this challenging time.
One thing I really struggled with at the start of my PhD was a big question: am I making enough progress?
Originally published on 4 May 2016.
A PhD can feel like backbreaking work sometimes, but it shouldn’t leave you in agony. How can you avoid aches and pains when working from the (dis)comfort of your home? Sky Herington shares some tips on quick and easy ways to improve your home-working set-up without spending a fortune.
Yes, it is hard to deal with lack of motivation. You might feel this only goes to prove you are not cut out for PhD, you might feel you are letting down your supervisors, your funders, yourself …. But try to stop yourself there.
Originally posted on February 8th, 2017
Do you ever feel like a cat stuck in a tree? Dr Karen Sutherland is here to calm your nerves and tell you exactly, and honestly, how she felt before earning that title before her name…
originally posted on August 2, 2017.
Everyone in the Western Christian world is now wishing each other Happy Holidays. Whether you believe it or not, it is part of many people’s lives and it influences our calendar year. But how is it to spend Christmas in the southern hemisphere, where signs saying Let It Snow abound but the temperature is reaching 40 celsius? Our blog editor, who is currently back home in Brazil, shares her views about melting on Christmas and the breaks we all need to take sometimes.
Another post about motivation, PhD Life? Why, yes, dear reader. Summer holidays are so close, and yet so far, and Wednesdays are known to be tough. Whether you have started your PhD a few months ago or you are hours away from finishing the full draft, check out Hafsa’s motivational tips…
Is lockdown limiting your experiences? Are you meeting the same people, day in, day out? Or maybe not meeting anyone at all! you Giles Penman invites you to a special digital event called the Human Library to open your mind and meet different people from the diverse University of Warwick community.
Some days you need to do Ph.D. work but you don’t feel like doing research, writing your dissertation, or doing anything remotely deemed important. Relatable, right? So what do you do if you still have to do something? Eduarda shares a few tips on how to procrastinate writing and researching and still be somewhat productive with your doctoral studies at the same time.
How is the process of talking informally about your research? No researcher is an island, even though the research experience can be quite lonely for some, knowing how to share your research in a more informal way but still among peers is not only a good ability to have, but it can also open your mind and see what you are doing in a different light. In this post, Giles Penman shares his experience of talking about his research topic at the fortnightly Pint & PhD session organised by our Postgraduate Engagement Team.
In 2015 I had a severe reaction to an antidepressant. Overnight I went from someone who had never experienced any physical anxiety symptoms to major panic attacks, agoraphobia, and constant general anxiety. I no longer had the capacity to do my PhD and took temporary withdrawal for a year where I had to learn how to function as a human being again. Upon returning to my PhD, a major achievement in itself, I realised the stress of even half an hour’s worth of work rendered me not only incapable of functioning for the rest of the day, but potentially the day after too. How was I supposed to do a PhD if I couldn’t even manage half an hour? If I was to complete my PhD, I needed to figure out how to work a stress-free day. Over the course of a couple of years I learnt and refined a routine that helped me to achieve this. It wasn’t much fun and I still struggle a lot of the time. I fall out of the routine and take shortcuts. I am human after all. But I sit here with a finished thesis and time to spare. This is how I did my PhD with a broken brain.
By Merle van den Akker
We have to stay at home. Indoors. All the time. And that’s hard. But it’s for keeping ourselves and others safe. So, it’s time to stop rebelling and acting like a 12-year-old, and to just make the best of a tough situation. So, what can you do from home?
If you have any tips on what to do when staying at home, tweet us at @ResearchEx, email us at libraryblogs@warwick.ac.uk, or leave a comment below.
Exploring the emotional processes involved in both being and becoming academic
Musings of a nutty professor in the making
Molding Research in the mainstream
Because there's always room for improvement
The evolving tale of my PhD as it happens
physio.phdstudent.daydreamer
Language, Digital Media and the Family
