how to finish phd thesis quickly

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How to Finish a PhD Thesis Quickly: Proven Strategies for Success

Hello, my beautiful Ph.D. friends!

Today, we’re going to discuss how to finish a PhD thesis quickly. I managed to complete this monumental task in just two months, and you can do the same with a bit of discipline. Let’s dive into the strategies that can help you achieve this goal.

Writing a thesis can feel overwhelming, especially when you consider the volume of work involved. However, breaking it down into manageable parts can make the process more approachable. Here’s how you can tackle it:

• Focus on writing one page at a time .
• Break it down further to one word at a time .
• Even smaller, think of it as one letter at a time .

By compartmentalizing the work, you can make steady progress without feeling daunted by the enormity of the task.

A well-organized thesis is easier to write and read. Here are some tips to keep your work structured:

• Start with a clear outline: Define the main sections and subsections of your thesis.
• Use graphs, images, and charts to illustrate your points effectively.
• Write consistently: Set aside dedicated time each day to work on your thesis.

Remember, a thesis is a big project, but by taking it step by step, you can complete it efficiently. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and you’ll be able to finish your PhD thesis in no time.

Embarking on the journey of writing a PhD thesis can be a daunting task, typically taking place towards the end of your doctoral career, around the two and a half to four-year mark. At this point, you might think, “Okay, I’ve gathered enough data, it’s time to start writing my thesis.”

Getting Started

Ideally, you should already have a solid introduction in place, often resembling a comprehensive literature review . This part is usually crafted early in your research journey. However, over the course of three years, your understanding and the literature itself will evolve significantly, necessitating a thorough revisit of your initial review.

Breaking Down the Process

Writing a PhD thesis is undeniably overwhelming. There’s so much to do, and the sheer scale of the task can easily become paralyzing. But remember, the key is to focus on small, manageable steps. Let’s break it down:

• Revise Your Literature Review: Update and refine your introduction to reflect the latest research and your current understanding.
• Organize Your Data: Ensure all your data is well-organized and easily accessible for reference as you write.
• Create an Outline: Develop a clear structure for your thesis, including all the major sections and subsections.
• Set Small Goals: Break the writing process into smaller tasks and set achievable deadlines for each one.
• Seek Feedback: Regularly consult with your advisor and peers to get constructive feedback on your progress.

Staying Focused

The number one tip for tackling your PhD thesis is to absolutely own your schedule . Create a realistic timeline and stick to it. Consistency is key. Dedicate specific hours each day to writing, and make sure to take breaks to avoid burnout.

By breaking down the process into manageable steps and maintaining a disciplined approach, you can overcome the overwhelming nature of writing a PhD thesis and successfully complete this significant milestone in your academic career.

When you decide, “I am ready to write my thesis ,” it’s crucial to set up your day for success. This means not just waking up and starting whenever you feel like it, but taking the process seriously. This mindset is what I adopted when I completed my experiments and knew it was time to focus on writing. Writing is the key activity that will guide you through the final stages of thesis completion and your PhD journey, which is an exhilarating milestone in itself.

Discipline is Key

First and foremost, you need to be disciplined with yourself. To achieve this, take a look at an average day and determine what you need to accomplish to progress with your thesis . The answer is quite straightforward: you need to produce graphs , create images , and most importantly, write . These are the three activities you should focus on.

Organize Your Day

Here’s a simple plan to help you organize your day:

• Morning: Dedicate this time to writing. Your mind is fresh, and you can tackle complex ideas more effectively.
• Midday: Work on producing graphs and images. This visual work can be a good break from intensive writing.
• Afternoon: Return to writing. Use this time to refine and expand on what you wrote in the morning.

Focus on Writing

Remember, writing is the primary task that will get you to the end of your thesis stage. It is the foundation that supports all other activities like producing graphs and images. Keep your focus on writing, and you’ll find yourself making significant progress toward completing your PhD .

By staying disciplined and organizing your day effectively, you’ll be well on your way to finishing your thesis and reaching the exciting conclusion of your PhD journey.

Are you ready to finalize your thesis? Now is the time to focus on writing about your graphs , data , and results . By this stage, your data analysis should be completed. Your task now is to transform this data into clear and appealing visual representations, such as graphs and schematics , and to articulate your findings in writing.

Creating a Productive Writing Routine

To achieve your thesis goal, it’s crucial to establish a consistent and productive writing routine. Here’s a recommended schedule to help you stay on track:

• Sit down and write for an hour and a half first thing in the morning.
• Take a short break.
• Write for another hour.
• Have lunch.
• Resume writing for another hour and a half.
• Take another break.
• Conclude your day with another hour of writing.

This routine was my personal approach, and I followed it diligently for two months straight, without any breaks, from Monday through Friday. This disciplined schedule ensured steady progress towards my thesis completion.

Transforming Data into Words

As you write, focus on clearly describing your graphs , explaining your data , and presenting your results . Your aim is to make your findings easily understandable and visually appealing. By maintaining a structured writing routine, you can efficiently translate your hard work into a well-organized and compelling thesis.

Stay committed to your schedule, and you’ll find yourself steadily advancing toward your goal. Happy writing!

Writing on Sunday was all about putting words on paper, and that’s exactly what I did. To achieve this, you need strong discipline , an accountability buddy , and a reliable method to track your progress. One of the best tools to help with this is a calendar. Simply marking off each day can become your greatest ally.

1. The Power of Discipline and Accountability

To maintain motivation and stay on track, consider the following:

• Develop strong discipline to keep up with your writing goals.
• Find an accountability buddy to check in with regularly.
• Use a calendar to visually track your progress and stay committed.

2. Securing Supervisor Support

It’s crucial to get buy-in from your supervisor . While some supervisors are fantastic and provide timely feedback, others can be challenging to work with. Here are steps to ensure you get the support you need:

• Sit down with your supervisor and have an open, honest conversation about your goals.
• If necessary, involve the head of the department to facilitate this discussion.

Communicating with Your Supervisor

I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing supervisor who always returned my work promptly and without any issues. However, I’ve heard countless stories from friends who struggled with unresponsive supervisors. If you’re facing similar challenges, it’s essential to address these issues directly and proactively.

Remember, the key to success in your PhD journey is a combination of self-discipline, reliable accountability, and effective communication with your supervisor. By following these tips, you can navigate the challenges and stay on the path to achieving your academic goals.

Completing your thesis within a three-month timeframe is a challenging but achievable goal. To succeed, you need to ensure a few key elements are in place.

Commitment from Your Supervisor

First and foremost, you need to secure a commitment from your supervisor to provide revisions promptly. This means they should be ready to review your work and offer feedback within a short turnaround time. Additionally, ensure they are available to dedicate time every couple of days to look over your progress and provide constructive feedback.

Overcoming Common Delays

A significant reason many students delay their thesis submission is due to supervisors taking too long to check their drafts. While it might not be in your supervisor’s immediate interest to expedite your completion, it is essential for you to lead and manage this process.

• Set clear expectations with your supervisor from the start.
• Ensure they understand your schedule and the urgency of your deadlines.
• Communicate the importance of timely feedback to your overall success.

Effective Time Management

Before you start writing, establish a clear timeline and share it with your supervisor. This will help align both of your schedules and make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding deadlines and expectations.

By taking these proactive steps, you can significantly increase your chances of completing your thesis on time. Remember, clear communication and effective time management are crucial to achieving your goal.

Writing a thesis can be an incredibly intense and challenging process. However, setting mini goals can make the journey much more manageable and even enjoyable. Instead of overwhelming yourself with the thought of writing an entire thesis in just two months, break the task down into smaller, more achievable objectives.

Set Yourself Mini Goals

For instance, my daily goal was simple yet effective: I would create a graph, convert that graph into an image, insert it into my thesis, and then write a detailed explanation about it. By focusing on these smaller tasks each morning and afternoon, I was able to stay on target and make consistent progress.

Why Mini Goals Are Important

Setting mini goals helps you build momentum and keeps you motivated throughout the process. Here are some key benefits:

• Manageability: Breaking down your thesis into smaller tasks makes the project feel less daunting.
• Progress Tracking: Achieving mini goals allows you to track your progress and stay on schedule.
• Motivation: Celebrating small milestones keeps you motivated and engaged.
• Focus: Concentrating on one task at a time improves the quality of your work.

Remember, the goal is to set yourself up for success by creating a roadmap of mini goals that lead to the final destination. This approach not only makes the process more enjoyable but also ensures that you reach your ultimate goal efficiently.

Writing a thesis can be an overwhelming task, but breaking it down into smaller, manageable goals can make the process more motivating and less daunting. If you wait to celebrate only when the thesis is entirely done, you might find yourself facing a world of hurt and pain. Instead, set and celebrate smaller milestones along the way.

Set Small Goals

One effective strategy is to establish small goals for each part of your thesis. For instance, you might have around 10 chapters to complete. After finishing each chapter, take a moment to celebrate your progress. This method can significantly boost your motivation as you tick off each accomplishment.

Make Your Progress Visible

In the book Atomic Habits , the author discusses the importance of making progress visible and obvious. One practical tip is to use two jars and a set of paper clips. Move a paper clip from one jar to the other each time you complete a chapter. This visual representation of your progress can serve as a powerful motivator.

Focus on What Matters

The fourth piece of advice is to forget the little stuff. As PhD students, it’s easy to get bogged down by minor details. Instead, concentrate on the bigger picture and the significant milestones in your journey. This focus will help you maintain your momentum and keep your eye on the ultimate goal.

By breaking down your thesis into smaller goals, making your progress visible, and focusing on what truly matters, you can navigate the challenging process of writing a thesis with greater ease and motivation. Remember, each small step you take brings you closer to your final achievement.

If you’re reading this, it’s because you love the details . You have a knack for honing in on the finer points, and that’s what you’re all about. However, in this instance, it’s all about getting the words out. Trust me, I know the struggle. My thesis was poorly written at first until I edited it and had my supervisor review it. Initially, I was more focused on just getting it out there.

Don’t Let Perfection Hinder Progress

As a student, especially one pursuing a PhD, the drive for perfection can be overwhelming. You’re not here by accident; you’re among the best thinkers—intricate and systematic. But right now, the goal is to crank out those words. Don’t let the formatting of a graph or other minor details stand in the way of your writing.

There are countless excuses that people come up with to avoid writing, but please, just write. That’s your main task. Here are a few tips to help you focus:

• Prioritize writing over formatting initially. You can always edit later.
• Set specific goals for word count each day.
• Break your writing into manageable chunks.

Remember, getting the words out is the most important thing right now. You can refine and perfect your work once you have a solid draft. So, don’t let the pursuit of perfection get in the way of making progress.

When tackling a significant writing project, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the details. However, the most important thing is to stay focused on your primary goal: writing consistently every single day.

Tip #5: Incorporate Rest into Your Routine

One crucial aspect of staying productive is ensuring you have adequate rest built into your daily schedule. Personally, I experienced this firsthand when I spent two months working non-stop. I dedicated at least six hours a day in the library, writing for most of that time. This intense effort helped me reach my goal, but I also made sure to take breaks when I returned home.

After my long writing sessions, I would completely switch off to recharge. I avoided alcohol and other distractions, choosing instead to spend quality time with friends and family. Importantly, I didn’t discuss my PhD during these breaks, which allowed me to return the next day feeling refreshed and ready to tackle my thesis writing once again.

By integrating rest and relaxation into your routine, you can maintain a sustainable writing schedule and keep your motivation high. Remember, the key is to balance hard work with downtime to ensure you can continue making progress effectively.

Completing a thesis requires a combination of discipline, focus, and self-care. Here are some tips that helped me stay on track and finish my thesis within two months.

Prioritize Self-Care

One of the most important aspects of staying productive is to look after yourself . This means getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying hydrated. Although I indulged in some chocolate, I made sure my overall diet was balanced and nutritious. I also avoided alcohol for two months to maintain my focus.

Set Clear Goals

My main goal and focus during this period was my thesis. It took a bit of discipline, but having the right people around me and the right support made it easier. Surround yourself with a supportive network that understands your priorities.

Find Your Rhythm

Everyone has different working styles. Some people find that taking one full day off a week is beneficial. If that’s you, consider taking a Saturday or a Sunday completely off. However, I lose momentum if I don’t do something every day. Knowing yourself is key; tailor your schedule to fit your personal rhythm.

Evening Rest

I found it really beneficial to rest in the evenings. This allowed me to recharge and stay focused during the day. By maintaining this routine, I was able to complete my thesis efficiently within two months.

Key Points to Remember:

• Get to bed early
• Look after yourself
• Avoid alcohol to maintain focus
• Set clear priorities and goals
• Understand your personal work rhythm
• Take breaks if necessary, but find what works best for you
• Rest in the evenings to recharge

By following these strategies, you can stay on track and complete your thesis successfully. Remember, it’s all about balance and knowing what works best for you.

Are you the type of person who needs a whole day to recuperate? If so, take that time for yourself. Rest and self-care are crucial, especially when you’re juggling demanding tasks. You’re not a machine; you’re a human being. Despite the pressure from supervisors, it’s essential to look after yourself. Here’s how you can ensure you finish your PhD strong and maintain enough energy to manage your workload effectively.

Incorporate Rest into Your Schedule

Make sure to build in rest periods. Whether it’s evenings, mornings, or full rest days on the weekend, these breaks are vital. Here are some strategies:

• Schedule rest periods regularly
• Take full days off when needed
• Listen to your body and mind

Stay Energized and Productive

To keep your energy levels up, incorporate these practices:

• Take short breaks during work sessions
• Engage in activities you enjoy
• Ensure you get enough sleep

Editing and Feedback Process

Writing a PhD dissertation is challenging. Here’s a tip: write a section and send it to your supervisor for feedback. This way, you can receive edits not only for content but also for grammatical accuracy. This iterative process can make your work more polished and robust.

Share Your Tips

What are your top tips for finishing a PhD? Feel free to share your insights and experiences. Your advice could help others on the same journey.

About the author:

Possibly you already heard of me through different media channels. My name is Dr. Friederike Jurth, and I hold a certificate from Harvard in Higher Education Teaching . Since 2010, I have given lectures on Methodology, Empirical Research, Anthropology, and Transcultural (Music) Studies in collaboration with universities in the United States, Germany, Spain, and Brazil . In 2010, I began a 7-year-long fieldwork project in Rio de Janeiro and have since presented my research at conferences worldwide, including in Japan, the United States, Australia, Brazil, Thailand, Switzerland, and many other countries. Additionally, I have worked as a lecturer and researcher with Germany’s renowned UNESCO Chair .

After completing my doctoral dissertation with summa cum laude , I aimed to unite, condense, and share the steps, ways, and details of my unique methodological and structural approach that I developed during my Ph.D. and that ultimately helped me achieve this result. By concentrating and putting them together into an elaborate academic conception, MyThesis Academy was born. Motivated by the sole aim and objective to help my students through all steps and stages of their thesis journey, MyThesis Academy enables them to achieve their best possible results in the shortest time, independent of their specific area of research.

In addition to my extensive teaching and research experience, I am part of the authors of the Cambridge Companion to Music in Brazil 2024, published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment , where I contribute as a Cambridge Author. This work is a co-operative project conducted remotely from Cambridge, England, United Kingdom.

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How to Write a Doctoral Dissertation in Two Months

Don’t navigate through a forest of challenges.

Instead of taking two years to write your doctoral dissertation, what if you could write it in two months? Think you can do it? Yes, it ’ s possible, but your success will depend upon dedicating yourself to the task and, if needed, requesting help of others who thrive at researching.

Avoid navigating through unknown territory alone

When you discipline yourself, you can create an outline, define the steps for acquiring your data, and write a draft in six weeks. However, you must set up deadlines for each phase, and it ’ s important to note that social invitations and other shiny objects that might tempt you to delay even one day in your deadline are not an option.

How to Begin your Writing

First, decide on start and stop dates for your researching and writing. Next, find a competent academic editor to review your first draft, which will allow you another week to fine-tune your final document before submitting it. If you can follow these rules, then you will finish writing your doctoral dissertation in two months.

Reassure your doubting brain that you can do this. Don ’ t share this information with family, friends, or anyone who is in your world. Why? Their opinions, thoughts, and suggestions don ’ t matter. You ’ re in this to complete your dissertation, not get feedback or approval from peers, family, friends, or strangers.

On a sheet of lined paper, write time slots down the left column. Next, fill in the blanks for each time slot with a task that you will accomplish that day. Think of it as a tiny check list. You do one thing from 9:00-10:00. Take a 15-minute break. Then from 10:15-11:00, complete the next task. If you can work six hours in one day, then fill in the details for what you WILL accomplish in each of those time slots.

Establish a start date for your two-month project. Write the date on your calendar, and put a huge note in a place you can’t miss to remind yourself of your start date. Know in your heart and mind that it’s an exciting date and you’re looking forward to it.

Arrange for sufficient time to select your topic. This is one of the most important steps in this process because it sets the goal for your research work. If you allow one week to brainstorm ideas and choose a topic that you ’ re passionate about, the rest of your work will go more smoothly and quickly. Note : Not completing this step in the time allotted could mean you won’t be able to complete your thesis, and you might wind up delaying your thesis indefinitely. Stay positive. Stay focused. Complete this step!

Create a working outline. Below are bullet points to get you started. Reject, accept or add more bullet points as needed.

• Jot down the key points and ideas that you’ll include in your project
• Define how you will arrange your arguments and supporting paragraphs
• Establish a method for recording your research notes in such a way that the details almost write themselves
• Use your smartphone to take a picture of your bibliography sources from printed materials. Don’t waste precious time writing this down. Let a photographic image be your resource tracker.
• Make a short list of anything that you ‘must’ cover and that you don’t want to forget about later.
• Make a quick list of your analytical findings that you’ll use in your final statements and resolutions.
• Finally, as the thoughts and impressions cross your brain, write down and record the results that you interpret from all your data gathering sessions.

Once you have your outline with you, it is merely a 15-day task to write and proofread your thesis. If you have missed your earlier deadlines for some reason, you can utilize the remaining time by staying focused and active. You will have to dedicate all your time to writing in the last 15 days. Do not let yourself take leave under any circumstances. Write on a regular basis and dedicate at least half of your day to writing your thesis.

To complete your thesis writing project in less than two months, you must have your data and raw material assembled in a digital form that you can quickly look through to extract only the best information you will use during the writing process. Once you have researched your topic thoroughly and you know the results you want to present, the writing process becomes much easier.

Caution : It you begin the writing process with only bits of information, thinking that, if needed, you will stop and collect additional data and then start the writing process again, this could increase the amount of time you need to finish your dissertation. Be careful with this step. When you discipline yourself and proceed according to your deadline dates, you will write at an easier pace. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.

About halfway through your project, you might want to take a two-to-three-hour break to walk in the woods, have a coffee with your friends, or get a little more rest to relax your eyes and hands—and your tense, deadline-driven brain. Reward yourself with a favorite food or beverage, knowing you ’ re half-way finished. That’s good!

Dedicate the last 15 days to writing and editing your thesis. Do not let anything or anyone interfere with this precious time that you ’ ve set aside to reach your goal. Write every day. Write and only write at the same dedicated time. No exceptions.

Hire a reputable academic editor to review your document, and then allow sufficient non-rushed time to make changes, revisions and finish your final draft.

Submit your dissertation. Breathe a sigh of relief. Pat yourself on the back, and go celebrate. You did it!

Things to keep in mind 

Following the above procedure and completing your thesis within two months is no mean task. Apart from the meticulous planning elaborated above, there are certain other things which you will need to concentrate on as well. The most important of these is maintaining a positive mindset.

Psychology plays a great role in our success, and it is extremely important when you are trying to complete a thesis in just two months. Practice meditation or spend some time for exercise on a daily basis. This helps to keep your body and mind in good shape and, hence, improve your productivity. Be aware of the situation when you are feeling stressed out and be sure to have a few emergency stress relief mechanisms planned out when needed.

Discipline is also necessary. Successful completion of all the above steps is predicated on your ability to be disciplined throughout the span of work. No compromises should be made on the deadlines that are set up for completing each of the subtasks.

Possessing a good working relationship with your editor also helps make the whole process more efficient. Make sure that you invest some time finding the right editor for you. Maintain a good line of communication and give your editor full cooperation.

While completing a thesis in two months is a tough task, it is definitely achievable. With proper planning, a conducive mindset and efficient execution, the goal can be achieved—even with a bit of time to spare.

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How to finish a PhD quickly

Considering a PhD ? The idea of committing a chunk of your life to research can be both exciting and daunting, but there are ways to make sure your timelines don’t blow out, your motivation doesn’t run out, and you can always see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Here, CDU’s Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor Tara Brabazon, offers her top 10 tips for submitting your thesis quickly.

Establish your research problem quickly

Start every PhD with the question: what is the research problem? What problem are you trying to solve?

Once you’ve figured that out: what is the gap in knowledge? What will your research do in that gap?

Locate the research problem, locate the research gap, and that problem can propel you through that research. From that point you can construct the methodology, the ontology, the epistemology to solve it, but you have the foundation for a really strong introduction and conclusion.

The crucial strategy to finishing quickly is reading, and reading a lot.

Once you’ve been admitted into a program you may want to drink your body weight in Chardonnay with excitement but use those three months to read widely.

Read your field, read other theses. Read always, read early, and use our libraries and librarians .

Reading without good note taking is not terribly efficient because you’re too reliant on your memory. Great note taking saves you months of your life and months of your candidature. If you have a great note taking system in your PhD, for the rest of your career you can use the notes for your PhD to enable other research projects.

Write all the way through your candidature

From the first week of your enrolment, you need to be writing.

We learn to write by writing, so write all the way through your enrolment. This relaxes you with your writing so you don’t end up in the dreaded ‘writing up’ process that slows down your thesis.

I cannot tell you how many students have finished a PhD writing 250 words a day. For some students, giving themselves a word length deadline strategy works.

A great supervisor can save you years

Yes, years.

They know the field, they’ve done the deep reading, they continue to read deeply and widely, they put themselves through peer review all the time, they undertake professional development, they understand the standard of a PhD.

They’re able to read your drafts quickly and know how to help you.

See also: How to find the right research supervisor

Use deadlines and milestones to your advantage

The students that finish on time complete their milestones on schedule. The moment you’re mucking about with milestones, your thesis is going to blow out unless you make a decision to do something different–today.

Make sure your confirmation of candidature, your mid-thesis review, your final thesis review is delivered on time and make sure in these milestones, you get external assessors to look at your work. You need another set of eyes beyond your supervisor to have a look at the work you’re doing.

Use these punctuation points to check the standards of your research.

Select a thesis area that is possible to finish

If you walk into a topic knowing that an ethics process is going to be lengthy, then you’re admitting at the start that you’re going to have troubles finishing.

If you want a quick PhD, you need to select a topic which has a frame around it.

Your PhD is not the best research you will ever complete – you are in research training!

People forget that the PhD is a qualification, and like all degrees you start it and you finish it.

Put your entire thesis into one document as quickly as possible

I cannot tell you what placing all your work does to your brain. Suddenly you take a breath, you can see your thesis, it has a shape. Now this full PhD draft keeps you incredibly motivated and reminds you what you’re actually doing.

The longer the candidature, the more mess can occur in that candidature. So remember, start the PhD seeing the ending and that will give you motivation and meaning.

That’s the gift of putting the entire thesis into one document. You can see the end in sight.

Learn to take feedback

Learning to take feedback is tough, but the best students take the tough, hard critiques early, and ask for the tough, hard critiques early.

It’s very easy to ignore uncomfortable truths particularly when you’re in a PhD. But it is the grit in the oyster that creates the pearl. The issue that emerges from that robust feedback early on invariably ends up being the gift of your thesis—you put the problem into the work.

That crucial feedback that emerges not only makes the thesis but ensures a rapid completion of that thesis.

Weekly meetings

Regular meetings are a characteristic of quick finishers.

I know it seems horrible for a lot of students but it creates an accountability cycle.

Stay connected with your thesis every single day

And yes, this one includes part-time students.

Don’t talk about it, do it. Even half an hour a day—but make it every day. That is how you finish.

There’s never a perfect time to do a PhD. Don’t wait for the perfect time to read—read now. Don’t wait for the perfect time to write—write now.

Life is difficult. Write and read on the difficult days.

See more from Professor Brabazon  here .

Interested in pursuing a Higher Degree by Research ? Join CDU’s community of internationally recognised researchers, making real-world impact in northern Australia and the Asia Pacific.  Scholarships are available . Learn more .

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The 9 most effective ways to achieve PhD success

Feb 26, 2020

Writing a PhD is physically, intellectually and emotionally daunting. You may spend each day doubting yourself, not sure if you’re making the right choices and unsure whether you’ve got what it takes. During my life, I’ve helped thousands of PhD students like you. I want to share with you the nine most effective ways of achieving PhD success.  

They should give you some fresh insight into what it means to be a PhD student and what it takes to achieve PhD success. They will also make you think differently about the way you work. Some you may be familiar with, but others may be new. As with everything, keep an open mind and ask yourself whether a particular tip would be useful in the context of your own research and way of working.

1. Stop with the perfectionism

Your first drafts are probably going to be awful, and your final drafts will still have things that you could improve. In short, your thesis will never be perfect. 

However, just because your PhD isn’t perfect, that doesn’t mean it’s a failure. 

  You may try and convince yourself otherwise, but a few mistakes here and there or a research design flaw or two aren’t the end of the world. If you’re a perfectionist like I am, you probably know the struggle of trying to make sure you’ve made everything as good as it possibly can be, often at great cost. You also know the panic that sets in when you realise you’ve made a mistake. 

You’ll recognise how the importance of that mistake escalates. In your eyes, it isn’t just a mistake. It’s the end of the world. When you spot yourself falling into this trap, remind yourself that you’re only human, the person reading your thesis is human, and you’re not expected to execute everything perfectly all of the time. 

I n short: give yourself a break. 

2. Ask, ‘So what?’ 

I proofread a lot of PhDs and I coach a lot of PhD students. When I do, I find myself asking one question over and over again: ‘So what?’

When you are writing about, say, particular design decisions, or a specific theoretical concept, ask yourself ‘so what?’ That way, you go beyond merely discussing a particular phenomenon, method, or whatever, and instead tell the reader why such a discussion is important and why it is relevant in the context of your thesis.

That’s because, in your thesis, everything should be rooted in your research questions, research aims and research objectives. By asking ‘so what’ you are showing what those roots look like and, in doing so, being explicit about why a particular discussion is worth having and telling the reader why they should care you are having it. 

For example, if you are talking about a particular method, by asking ‘so what’ you tell the reader why that method is appropriate given your questions/aims/objectives, what benefits or drawbacks it will bring, and how it will bolster your study. If you fail to ask ‘so what’, you’re just describing a method and the reader is left wondering – you guessed it – ‘so what?’ 

3. Be critical 

Critical engagement with the literature is key when conducting a PhD. It isn’t just enough to summarise existing research, you need to pick holes in it and critique it. You need to say what’s good and bad about it, why it is relevant, what could be improved, and more. I’ve written an extensive guide on how to be critical in your literature review, so if this is something you struggle with, you should check it out. 

Beyond this, you need to be critical of your own writing. When you read back through drafts of your text, you should ask the same questions of your words: what works, what doesn’t, what is relevant, what could be improved, and so on. 

What separates draft chapters from passable, finished ones is the level of critical engagement. This has two implications. First, you won’t succeed unless you’re thinking and writing critically. Second, your first drafts won’t be as critical as they need to be and that’s fine. That’ll come as you revise the draft and you start to critically engage with your own writing. 

Your PhD Thesis. On one page.

4. stay organised as you write.

Learn how to stay organised and productive. Your thesis is going to run into several hundred pages, so staying on top of its organisation and layout is key. 

The easiest way to easily navigate through your text and to see what’s what is using the document map feature in Word. By effectively using the headings style pane, you can create a scrollable and clickable document map. It’s great for showing you the heading structure and allowing you to easily click your way through the text. For more info on how to create these, click here . 

A bonus of using the headings pane to correctly label and format all your titles, headings and subheadings, is that you can create a table of contents with just one click of the button. This will be your best friend in the run-up to submission. For more info on how to create a table of contents, click here . 

Another thing that you’re not going to have time to do before submission is manually compile your bibliography. For the love of all that’s holy, use referencing software. My preference is Zotero , because it’s free, simple to use, cloud-based and integrates with Word. It might take you a while to add all your references the first time you use it, but because you can then add the references in the text as you write, compiling your reference list is as easy as telling Zotero what referencing style you need and pressing one button. 

5. Accept criticism 

If there’s one thing that perfectionists can’t handle it is criticism. Ring a bell? It does for me. 

Let me give you an example. I like to think that I’m a pretty great proofreader and PhD-coach . My feedback and reviews are, on the whole, glowing. But sometimes I get a bad one when someone isn’t happy.

Now, the rational part of my brain tells me that I tried my hardest and that one negative review out of hundreds isn’t the end of the world, however disappointing. The perfectionist side tells me that my business is doomed. The imposter syndrome kicks in. ‘They’ve found me out!’ it screams. I panic, think about that one review all day and give it far more space and energy that it deserves. 

You may be the same when it comes to your PhD. Most of the PhD students I interact with tend to have perfectionist tendencies — some more than others. 

When you get feedback on your work, or when you are at conferences or other public speaking events, you sometimes have the same response to negativity. It can feel like the end of the world, and it can feel like your entire PhD journey is in vain. 

Sometimes this can be a good thing. Your worry and attention to detail can mean that you fix problems faster than most and that you’re more careful to avoid them in the first place. But it can also be detrimental. Much like me giving too much space and energy to that one review, you may find that negative feedback and critique can become more significant than it actually is. 

Step one in overcoming this is recognising if and when it’s happening. Ask yourself if you’re putting too much focus on critique. Once you’ve begun to foster greater awareness, you can start to shift your perspective from one of ‘I’m doomed’ to one of ‘Okay, what can I learn from this?’

Above all though, recognise your humanity and give yourself a break. We all make mistakes.   

6. Don’t marry your thesis

Most PhD students feel that to succeed, they need to marry their thesis. Recognise this? Do you feel like you have to devote your entire life to it, pushing away other things that are important for a balanced life (like, say, friends, partners or hobbies)?

Instead of marrying your thesis, treat it like a cruel mistress. See it as this part of your life that is doing its best to ruin you and to make your life as difficult as possible but that you can keep on the periphery as an addendum to an otherwise balanced, fulfilled life. 

What does that mean in practice? It means showing up when you have to and letting it do its best to ruin you. But – and this is the crucial bit – it also means stepping away from it regularly, having clear PhD/life boundaries, not taking things too personally, and realising that your PhD is just one part of your life, not all of it. 

7. Take some time off

We can kid ourselves and pretend every day is going to be a good one, or that we’re going to wake up with a spring in our step. But life (and your PhD) doesn’t work like that.    

You’re going to have days where you feel rubbish, or you don’t want to get out of bed. You’ll wake up with no confidence, or crippled with self-doubt, left wondering what the point of it all is, or why you even started a PhD in the first place. It’s at times like this that you need to embrace the power of taking a day off.

If you teach, find cover. If you work in a lab, let your supervisor know you’re sick. If you have a chapter to finish, it’ll still be there when you come back.

Remember, just because you haven’t got physical symptoms doesn’t mean you don’t need some you-time, or to curl up on the sofa in front of the TV.

The benefits will be great. By recognising your low mood, recharging your batteries and taking time out to care for your own wellbeing you can avoid bigger problems in the long run and come back to your PhD the next day in a more positive frame of mind. The alternative is that you fight through, fail to recognise that part of being human is having off-days, and then create bigger problems as you find your performance lacking and your stress levels rising.

8. Recognise unfairness

Even when you do have off days, or when the world is conspiring against you, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that ‘life is unfair’.

If you ever find yourself saying those words to yourself, ask yourself whether you are doing so because you assume that life should be fair, or because you think it will be fair if only x, y or z changed.

The truth is that life is unfair. The same is true of your PhD. Things won’t go according to plan, good work will get overlooked, more competent people will get promoted, and you will be treated unfairly.

It’s not right, nor is it rational, but it’s reality.

If you go through your PhD program assuming that life is fair, you will be disappointed as you confront the environment around you. I don’t intend to be defeatist. Instead by shifting your assumption about the world and your program – and thus assuming that it is, in fact, unfair – you better prepare yourself for those instances in which things don’t go according to plan or you do get treated badly.

The alternative is kidding yourself that things should go right and then getting thrown off balance when they inevitably don’t.

Building up this resilience is key to deflecting a lot of the irrational, nonsensical behaviours and outcomes you encounter on your PhD journey. Without it, you’ll be disheartened.

 9. Be mindful

I want you to imagine you’re holding a small red pillow. If I were to ask you to pick a pen up off the floor without dropping the pillow, you’d be able to do it. Sure, it’d be a bit cumbersome, but you’d manage.

Now imagine that I added one blue pillow on top of your red pillow. Picking that pen up is getting a bit more difficult now, isn’t it?

Gradually, I add one blue pillow after another. As I do, you start to disappear behind a tower of pillows. Picking that pen up without dropping the pillows is now impossible.

Now imagine that the red pillow represents a problem you’re having with your PhD. Perhaps it’s a problem with an experiment, or an issue you’re having planning a chapter. Whatever it is, it’s an objective issue you’re currently having.

Much like the pen and the red pillow, even though you’ve got that problem on your mind, you can still go about your day to day life largely unencumbered.

The blue pillows represent our brain’s capacity to worry, stress, ruminate, catastrophise and do all the other things it does to turn a small problem into a nightmare. Over time, you start to add blue pillows. You start to worry about whether you’re an imposter, or the perfectionist in you starts to convince you that you’re a failure. You start to worry about whether you’re going to complete the work or even why you bothered to start in the first place.

Much like with the blue pillows, as you add these problems one by one, you start to feel their weight and you can’t perform basic functions. You notice you’re crippled with stress, anxiety or worry.

But you have a choice. Sure, the problem – the red pillow – is real so you can’t really change that. However, you can change how you respond and you can choose not to add the blue pillows. Catch yourself when you’re adding those pillows and stop yourself doing it.

That’s the art of mindfulness. It’s the art of choosing how you respond to the world around you and it’s a great way to manage common PhD stresses and anxieties.

Practising mindfulness in this way sounds straightforward, but it’s an art and it takes practice. A good place to start is a guide I’ve recently published on The PhD Knowledge Base that talks about the science of mindfulness for PhD students.

Wrapping up

No advice is ever going to get away from the fact that doing a PhD is hard and that, to succeed, you need as much guts, resilience and fighting power as you do brains. But it is my hope that these nine tips for achieving PhD success will help you think differently about the journey you are on, and cause you to reflect on your own experience and your own way of doing things.

Keep your head down, be kind to yourself and put the hours in. You’ll get there in the end.

Hello, Doctor…

Sounds good, doesn’t it?  Be able to call yourself Doctor sooner with our five-star rated How to Write A PhD email-course. Learn everything your supervisor should have taught you about planning and completing a PhD.

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Share this:

Really solid advice and just what I needed to hear today! I am returning to my PhD after a 3 month break due to personal issues. I am planning to do things differently this time, take things in my own stride, and give up my lifelong habit of adding blue pillows to my load! Thanks :)

Great to hear it Hannah. Adding blue pillows is often inevitable. The skill is recognising when we’re doing it. Good luck!

I don’t know who wrote this text, but I thank him. He had explained very realistically. I felt exactly all 9 things during this time. How friendly and wise it is explained

Thanks for the lovely words!

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