Productivity vs creativity

PhD work requires a mixture of productivity and creativity, but they require opposite approaches, and you cannot do both at the same time.

Coming back to your PhD after a long break?

The longer you leave it, the more difficult it is to come back and reestablish the PhD as part of your life, but there are some simple steps you can take…

10 tips for being a happy thesis writer

Is it possible to be happy while you write your thesis?

Logic vs Emotion in Academia

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You need logical, rational thought and you need processes and procedures to get a PhD done. But there is no denying that emotion plays a huge role in a PhD too..

Understanding academic literature

In order to understand academic literature, first you need to know that academic journal articles are written by real people…

The painless PhD, complete module 1 now available

The complete module 1 of the Painless PhD course is now available, covering the basic principles you need to succeed in your PhD, including; What is a PhD for and how does it differ from other types of academic qualification? Why very smart people struggle when they reach PhD level The keys to success in [...]

How to get through your PhD without going insane (lecture at Edinburgh University)

There is no shortage of PhD advice. But there is no shortage of stressed students either. Is the advice flawed?

PhD stress: don’t ignore the warning signs!

phd stress

The warning signs of PhD stress, and why you should not ignore them.

Why a PhD is not stressful by nature

If you just accept stress as part of life, then you will ignore it. But if you see it as a signal that you need to approach things differently, then at least this way you have a chance!

The secret to academic writing

the secret to academic writing

Academic writing is a major challenge for many PhD students. Of course it’s a big topic and there are a lot of technicalities to consider, but there is also a fundamental principle which makes the whole process easier