There are a lot of things you may wonder about while doing PhD and getting rid of these thoughts is not an easy task. For example, you may often feel your self-esteem is lowering day by day, and you may not be sure whether you should pursue a postgraduate degree or not. Or you start doubting the quality and standards of your research. Let us guarantee you are not the only PhD students who feels this way. So, stop thinking you are doing something wrong. It is natural to have fears and stress, but how you overcome them is what makes you different. Similarly, you will need time to adjust to a new environment. Your emotions will be here and there. However, as time passes, you understand how gratifying and fruitful this experience is once you get adjusted.

To help you out, we, at PhD Dissertation, have created a list of a few shared thoughts and questions all doctorate students ask themselves during their studies. Let’s dive into it:

1. I Don’t Know What I Am Doing

This is the most common thought that reoccurs throughout the PhD experience. Whether you have just started or halfway done with the programme, you might contemplate what you are doing here. That happens because of the countless daily projects and workload you deal with. For example, you have to write plans, reports, and presentations and also have to explain your work to others. As a result, sometimes you lose your confidence and interest in your studies. But, do not lose confidence. It is just a phase. With a strong mindset and motivation, you can pass right through this.

2. I Have No Idea If My Thesis Is Good or Not

Many students will relate to this because we have all been there. We work very hard on something, feeling good about it, but then suddenly some random thoughts of “is it enough and relevant” or “am I actually doing it right?” ruin everything. Similarly, PhD candidates can also relate to the struggle of this self-doubt and frustration. It is usually known as “Imposter Syndrome”. Those who suffer from depression and anxiety already experience feelings of inadequacy, and new situations like starting a PhD can worsen that. So, do not panic, it will only make these situations worst. The best way to cope with this feeling is reassurance. Calm and reassure yourself that you have already done your best. Overthinking can ruin your hard work. You can also take feedback on your work from someone you can trust.

Are you confused about choosing a suitable methodology for your research? Not sure how to add statistics that effectively describe your dissertation topic? Then taking online PhD qualitative analysis help is the best option for you. It provides you accurate data according to your research and saves you from stress and overthinking. Many people who face difficulties due to imposter syndrome have benefited themselves using these techniques.

3. I Don’t Need Help

Let’s be factual! Everyone needs some help from others to complete their doctorate degree. You need people’s assistance in numerous ways, for example, describing presentations, group projects, supervisor’s advice, etc. However, getting help from others is not as easy as we think. You have to be cooperative with others in order to take help from them in your work. Apart from that, your socialisation skills play a significant role because no one will pay attention to you if you are not welcoming. Hence, it is more like a balancing act, where you need to meet new people and make relevant friends and see what you can do to help them so they can help you.

4. Others Are Doing Better Than Me

It is challenging for students to avoid comparison. Still, that will never help you level up or appraise, even if that comparison only occurs in your own mind. As a result, you might think, “Why have others are doing so much better than you?” So, do not contrast others’ strengths with your weaknesses, and if you do, that will make you feel miserable. You need to realise that every research and thesis is different, and each person’s hard work carries equal respect. Therefore, focus on your prospects and strengths. You hold your actual value, and it is your responsibility to find out. Although the PhD programme is inherently competitive, comparing yourself with other students can affect your personal growth in many meaningful ways.

If you want to do better than others and shine bright and achieve higher grades in the final year, you should always proofread your assignments before submitting them. But, most of the students fail to manage their time and don’t find time to edit and proofread their thesis. So, PhD dissertation proofreading services come in handy in this competitive race. Moreover, these services help increase the readability and overall quality of the content of your dissertation.

5. Everything Is So Difficult

Postgraduate degree is undoubtedly tricky. Sometimes, you might feel exhausted and think this clutter will never turn into a PhD thesis. But let us tell you that every final year dissertation (at some point) becomes a messy pile of scribbles and rambles or inconsistent data. You need to believe in yourself, and everything will be okay soon. However, DO NOT GIVE UP! It is time to realise that small steps towards your goals make bigger impacts. Without realising it, your mental health may compromise, which affects your ability to work. Therefore, avoid stressing over difficulties and start optimizing methods that effectively help you progress.

6. I Am Not Making Any Progress

Do you ever feel you are “stuck” in your PhD, making no progress? Or going in circles? Constantly working makes you feel like that. In this journey of intense research, stress, tiredness, and demotivation are very typical, but you can overcome these feelings. PhD programme requires patience, so trust the process and keep walking towards your destination. Look back at the starting point and count your steps to measure your progress. You can also check your thesis writing documents and see where you stood two months ago because it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you are consistently going forward. This method helps to carve a progression curve that will give you an instant boost of confidence in your PhD research.

Conclusion

As the end approaches, we know the answers to every PhD student’s questions they ask themselves at some point in their research work. We have learnt in this article that no matter how hard your studies become, do not give up, you will see the importance of these discussed hardships at the end of your doctorate programme. Therefore, keep going because you are not alone in this struggle.