Tips and Tricks for PhD Students: The #PhDlifehack

Collated by: Stine Ravnå and Tyler Shores, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

This week a new cohort of PhD students is about to embark on their doctoral journeys in Cambridge. Although this is surely an exciting time, filled with many hopes and expectations, starting a PhD can also feel scary and overwhelming – How should you organise your work? Are there any tools or strategies that could be particularly helpful in staying on top of things? And how do you build good professional relationships during the PhD? With some of these questions in mind, we asked current PhD students and academics for advice and encouraged them to share their best #PhDlifehack with us on Twitter.

We received a wide variety of helpful advice, ranging from choosing a reference manager and keeping a reading journal to the importance of transcription software, being honest with your supervisor and ensuring that you do regular exercise. Have a look at some of the tips and tricks below and please feel free to contribute your best #PhDlifehack in the comments or in the Twitter conversation.

My top #PhDlifehack is to be part of a community (Faculty, college, wherever). Don't try to do it alone!

— Karen Forbes (@karen_forbes) September 18, 2017

#PhDlifehack 2: Use referencing software from the start - makes it easier to keep track of your reading (and much less stressful at the end)

— Karen Forbes (@karen_forbes) September 18, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/909894624508022785

Awesome! I used curtain weights from John Lewis to keep books open all through my PhD--still have them and use them too! #PhDlifehack

— Katherine Firth (@katrinafee) September 18, 2017

https://t.co/71Hb0GpqCS

— Laura Valadez-Martinez 🇪🇺🇬🇧🇪🇸🇲🇽 (@lauravaladezmtz) September 18, 2017

Remember, studying for a PhD is primarily a learning experience, not a requirement to write a masterpiece (but don't let me stop you).

— Rupert Higham (@rupert_higham) September 18, 2017

Read research with a focus on the methods not just findings, commit to working regular hours every day, enjoy! #PhDlifehack https://t.co/3Fk4rv9eL2

— Professor Anna Vignoles (@AnnaVignoles) September 18, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/909893350546911234

Being close to your librarians help a lot, for not just books. @LucyCavLib sometimes act as my sounding board 😃 when I'm slumped on my desk!

— Amy Hamizah Haidi (@AmyHeidi) September 18, 2017

Yes - don't underestimate the power of librarians to support your research journey! https://t.co/9XYHjMz2ts

— Education Library (@edfaclib) September 19, 2017

#PhDlifehack work on collaborative papers/projects. You learn so much from others

— Daphne Martschenko, PhD (@daphmarts) September 19, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910067466977599488

My top #PhDlifehack (s):
🔶Write away from your desk
🔶Find a PhD friend who is in similar area as you
🔶Exercising is a must
🔶Escape holidays

— Sandris Zeivots (@SandrisZeivots) September 19, 2017

@fersacambridge #PhDlifehack
Exercise
Join a #ShutUpAndWrite group
Plan your day (use @ithinkwellHugh planners)
Follow @ThomsonPat
Enjoy!!

— Dr Anne Melles (@aamelles) September 19, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910246587020009473 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910247627584876544

- try and do something every day on the phd 'to do' list, no matter how little, to keep the momentum going.

— Dr Nasima Riazat (@NSRiazat) September 19, 2017

- also follow #phdchat for support from fellow PhDs. When we started hashtag in 2011, there were only 3 of us using it. 🙂

— Dr Nasima Riazat (@NSRiazat) September 19, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910260820550062080

Fergus recommends coloured stickies for marking key points in your reading, plus not falling asleep on top of your books #PhDLifeHack pic.twitter.com/chzF0KATdn

— Fergus Cat (@fergusgeocat) September 19, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910264447385686017

I research digital literature but my best tool lately has been writing on the walls #PhDlifehack #magicwhiteboard

— Aline Frederico (@aline_frederico) September 19, 2017

pic.twitter.com/abm5XzDOy8

— Aline Frederico (@aline_frederico) September 19, 2017

Also wear study 'uniform' to save time choosing clothes, make big pots of soup to eat over several days, & exercise #PhDlifehack

— Angela Savage (@angsavage) September 20, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910418323581620226 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910419781878259712 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910421262991839232 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910422534704611328

With my faculty hat-Talk to your supervisor! It is a learning journey for both. Every student & every supervisor is different! #PhDlifehack https://t.co/U3MXevQeC9

— Nidhi Singal (@nsingal14) September 20, 2017

Working together with your supervisor,sharing,being a team with a goal of contributing to the field#PhDlifehack@AnnaVignoles @fersacambridge https://t.co/BnvtToL2ZD

— Aditi K Bhutoria (@AditiBhutoria) September 20, 2017

Identify your best time for writing in the day and discipline yourself to write a little everyday. Accept this won't be the final version

— ElaineWilson (@egwilson) September 20, 2017

Our #PhDlifehack is to keep track of what your uni offers in terms of events: people are keen to support you (& give you free tea/coffee)! pic.twitter.com/0oO7AVuVYT

— Research Exchange (@ResearchEx) September 20, 2017

Hmm...not sure how wise, but: https://t.co/jmlyVtusHl hehe don't stop believing! And plan some small goals for each day...

— Marte C W Solheim (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017

Another #PhDlifehack is to just write, without being critical to your own stuff. Writers block? Start by writing anything - a letter

— Marte C W Solheim (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017

Or just a small note, that increases probability (for me at least) of getting into "flow". Just like warmup prior to exercising. 👍🏽

— Marte C W Solheim (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017

And be honest with your supervisor of everything you don't know - 🤣! Right @fitjar? #thankfulforagreatandnicesupervisor

— Marte C W Solheim (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910772155494944774 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910789388426149888

@fersacambridge Follow @raulpacheco for many great tips - such as planning ahead! #PhDlifehack pic.twitter.com/o0qppjNG8z

— Marte C W Solheim (@MarteCWSolheim) September 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910842979581087744 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910842196936548355

#PhDlifehack — research and pick a citation management system early on and use it! https://t.co/gQQF7pI4xr

— C.J. Rauch 🏳️‍🌈 (@CJRauchEduc) September 21, 2017

#PhDlifehack — also, find a good transcription software, I use F5… Makes it very manageable!

— C.J. Rauch 🏳️‍🌈 (@CJRauchEduc) September 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910769155200241666

Office Lens app: indispensable OCR document & notes scanning, syncs with everything! https://t.co/R3mtmooTAN #phdlifehack @msofficelens

— Tyler Shores (@tylershores) September 22, 2017

Schedule a regular 'workday' (e.g. 9am-5pm) even if you are working independently. It helps to keep work and life separate. #PhDlifehack

— Ashton Brown (@DrAshtonBrown) September 22, 2017

Your supervisor respects you, cares about you, and in her/his way even loves you - but needs regular gentle reminders that you still exist

— Dr Keith S Taber (@DrKeithSTaber) September 25, 2017

#phd tip of the day:BFF when writing ✅Manchester Phrase Bank https://t.co/PCBTCXgg15 #phdchat #phdlife #PhDlifehack @PhDForum @WriteThatPhD

— Angela S. Gisselman PT, PhD, DPT (@ASGPhysio) September 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/912438635391315970

#PhDlifehack: Follow blogs with helpful #PhDadvice, e.g. @ThomsonPat, @thesiswhisperer, @AcademicDiary, @ResearchEx and @raulpacheco.

— FERSA (@fersacambridge) October 1, 2017

Find *at least* one fellow student with whom you can be completely candid about your insecurities. It helps to know you're not alone.

— Lego Grad Student (@legogradstudent) September 25, 2017

Also don't underestimate the benefits of taking a break, socializing with people you love, and reminding yourself that you need comfort.

— Sabs (@beanagonzals) September 26, 2017

Make a record of all references, cite everything - you'll thank yourself when you come to write up! 👍🏽@FEHconference @jhumur @dmc_devecchi

— SuCCEED@8 (@Succeedat8) September 26, 2017

Check my website 🙂 it's chock full of those! https://t.co/YasurISSox

— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) September 27, 2017

Third advice: work very hard but leave time for yourself and your social life. In the long term you’ll thank yourself!

— Maria Vella (@MariaVeRaSto) September 28, 2017

Sure. 1) Keep a daily diary of what you’re reading and what it makes you think about in relation to you own project. Save. Do not edit.

— Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017

2) If possible, seek out two supervisors. Do not stick to one. Multiple perspectives improves your own research voice.

— Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017

3) Set short term targets (e.g. 500 words daily, read 1 hr/day) AND long term goals (e.g. 1 article submitted b4 x-mas). Measure progress.

— Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017

4) When writing articles, create a publication strategy. List journals in order high-low tier. Will help deal with rejection & priorities.

— Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/910049593693372417 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/887929171514675200

Don't be pressured into working all hours or weekends. Make time for yourself. Oh and write EVERYTHING down.

— Leah (@LeahWallacee) September 22, 2017

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/915212674987810816 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/915244207777951744 https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/915248137832472577

#PhDlifehack: Keep your research enthusiasm and try to get involved in extra-academic stuff -- sports, volunteering, faculty activities etc. pic.twitter.com/APGPHDZl5I

— FERSA (@fersacambridge) October 1, 2017

 

Stine Ravnå and Tyler Shores are PhD students at the Faculty of Education in Cambridge and the founding editors of the FERSA blog.