The (brief) Story of My PhD

jameshaytonphd.com

[@nadagh3235]

Thank you so much!. I had the same feeling from the first month of my PhD. I came to study with high expectations in everything. Supervisors didn't like my writings, and they always make me feel inferior in my skills. It was a very stressful month and I also thought to quit. The tension increases day after day. From a team, I was the only one who already started painfully. I decided to accept my weakness, realize that I can do my best, and don't care about what others think of me. Most importantly, I stopped comparing myself to others.

[@nouralovesqoran]

OMG this is true. I passed my proposal stage just two days ago. Now I realize that the more I keep myself 'relax' and 'not over stressed' while working on my PhD, the more ideas come suddenly. James, you nailed it.

[@anasNCDEG]

You inspired me mate. I have alot of stress during my PhD especially struggling with the timeline

[@susomajannat4640]

In all sorts of Ph.D. motivation videos out there, I think this is the best one containing some realistic advice. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@rayb2587]

You enlightened many parts and erased any doubts. THANK YOU INDEED

[@TheTnaidu]

Wonderful and true about the relaxing and stopping worrying, congratulations even if that far back. Your videos are poignant and a perfect example of less is more. Thank you! shared your vlog on twitter!

[@nazanin5162]

This video is very inspiring. I am in my first year of Ph.D. and things did not go as well as I thought and now I am super anxious about my future. But I know what my problem is. I always worry about other's opinions about me and end results! Hope I can be able to deal with my problem as you did!

[@roisincoveney8724]

Find myself rewatching this video quite a lot, can relate to it a lot as a first-year PhD student, thank you for great advice.

[@ctYeong]

The best advice ever for PhD students ..

[@silentlessons4221]

thanks for your experience, i feel motivated. what a way to start my day

[@UnhandyDeadman]

Hey James - just coming into the real crunch period (~3 months left and I'm just finishing collecting data), and this has really helped me. That kind of 'engaged but not too invested' attitude is something I really want to try and emulate, as I've realised i have a lot of my self-worth wrapped up in my research. Thanks for this.

[@faisalfadzil9883]

Im just beginning to start my PhD and i am working at a factory. Thanks for the video, the stress i am feeling now is enormous.. but this video explains your experience really well. I have to find what it means to me 😊

[@flyingjeff1956]

I'm passing all this along to my son who is applying to PhD programs in the USA. Thank you for sharing.

[@enriquesolarte1164]

Same here. The most difficult thing to face is our own expectations. I finished their year of my Ph.D., I am still struggling. So far I have learned as never before in my life however results are still not coming out and sadly my publications are still been a delay and some rejected or re-submitted. Definitely, the hardest time in my life ever. Thanks for your sharing. This calms me down a little bit at least for a while.

[@kForto20]

I'm just finishing to write up my phd thesis and it is a very stressful time at the moment. Thank you for your words. They inspired me to hold on.

[@ignatiolu863]

Love this mate. You rock!

[@noelgranado5554]

Thank you, that's a very good analysis.

[@gigglysamentz2021]

This makes me think about the times when I feel the worse in the lab. And I realise it's usually because I planned how to do the perfect experiment, but a million things go slightly off along the way. Tbh, the results are always good enough, so I should really think through what is causing me so much pain and if it's justified...

[@muhammadimrankhan3585]

I am in the final year and have to have finish by the march 2020 and still is have to do a lot ..severe anxiety and can't think clearly

[@isaactfp]

Muhammad Imran Khan best of luck

[@FreeRsGuides]

How'd it go?

[@ademikunle]

"...my self esteem was no longer tied up in how well I did.". I think that's the secret of having a healthy PhD. I'm a 3rd-year PhD student.

[@jairocorgan]

Thanks for your story! It really helped me :)

[@jarrodsio]

tq for sharing. many phd candidates need to hear this.

[@drviv_tv]

Wow. Thank you! Now I know my main problem; SELF PRESSURE!🙏

[@mhacker84]

Impressive story!

[@giedret.2001]

that was really helpful. thank you.

[@CinemaMystery]

Dear Dr. James, I can't properly express in words how much helpful your advice means to me. The information is so useful and I am thinking of adding your name in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of my PhD thesis. Regards, Abu Sufian

[@James_Hayton]

Thanks! :)

[@troyt3530]

awsome sharing

Thank you. I am over 50 months into a 36 month PHD. I am now a remote student at a Uni notnstructured to support such students. It was very helpful to hear that other students covercame similar shortcomings.

[@James_Hayton]

I'm not sure they're the same shortcomings... I didn't do it remotely and I finished in time. What problems are you struggling with? How much more do you have to do?

@@James_Hayton I have not done any research or project work in 20 months. All my field work and research is complete. Just been writing. But I have been unable to please my supervision team with my thesis yet. Been stuck in limbo writing draft after draft for years. I would drop out if that would not mean owing 200,000$ to the Uni. I am trapped by the system which won’t let me submit. I feel my thesis is done and complete. But I only get 1-2 chapters back every month from my supervisors so who knows when they will be able to read everything and either kick me out or let me submit.

[@James_Hayton]

That sounds awful! So sorry to hear about your situation. Do your supervisors at least accept the basic idea of the thesis?

[@sonar_kella]

Thank you

[@hamdanisoumia2777]

we need more motivation please think to give more I really appreciate

[@deviasih5753]

Thank you so much. I am in my 2nd year and also not going anywhere 😭

[@seanwilliam6444]

'Ah shit now I can't quit' lmao

[@sudeshnabiswas2618]

I am starting my fourth year of phd. I need help

[@benedictquagraine9722]

Hmmm. Sounds like I could use some of this advice

[@MrMishra814]

Is there a way to disconnect your self worth from your work without having a breakdown of that sort?

[@ZGwoo888]

MrMishra hey just read this! I think this can be really hard and something I really struggled with. The thing is the research outcome is out of your control, this has to go back to the core of self worth. You have to make sure that your self worth does not come from your research it’s in who you are already. I think you will find this as you go but I’m sure many students will say the same thing.

[@the_fourth]

If you read the Bhagavad Gita, it says "The result is not in your hands. Only your work is in your hands". This is something that took me a long to apply to myself. Worrying about the future only arises from imaginations. It has nothing to do with reality. In reality, we only have our work in front of us.

[@coolshan2173]

👍

[@CG-zr7rc]

I just started my PhD around a month ago, for reasons associated with the university I could not study on campus for the first 2 weeks - coronavirus has now hit and I am super stressed, I have no direction and find it extremely difficult working in my bedroom for 8 hours a day - this video seems excellent though and maybe I should try relax!

[@YahyeMohamed]

I am having the same problem, now , I am first year PhD student but I cast go inside the campus or meet my prof due to covid 19, how are you coping with the lack of experiment, meetings and motivation? Please do u got any tips ?

[@CG-zr7rc]

@@YahyeMohamed sadly not, I am having a very rough time and finding it very difficult, hbu

[@tabassumyasmin9887]

can i talk to you ...

[@anjanatheladyboss]

thank you sir love from Nepal. it may helpfull for me too.

[@baraajad8484]

This cuts close to the bone 🙃