Ten Life Lessons From Doing A Phd

Today, Dr. Deepa Pullanikkatil is sharing amongst us what she learned during her PhD. Deepa is an Environmental Management professional person amongst an technology scientific discipline background too she has 14 years of piece of occupation experience inward developing countries of Malawi, Lesotho, Republic of Republic of India too Swaziland. She has a B Tech score inward Civil Engineering (India), Post Graduate Diploma inward Management (India), Masters inward Environmental Management (University of Free State, South Africa) too a PhD inward Environmental Science from North West University, South Africa. Her involvement areas include climate modify adaptation, ecosystems services studies too H2O resources management. Deepa wrote this weblog every bit a reflection of her journeying during the PhD studies.

1. FOLLOW YOUR PASSION.
Dedicating 3 to 4 years of your life on i report subject is alone possible if yous are actually passionate nearly it. The passion volition conduct keep yous through the tough times.

2. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MULTITASKING.
You terminate upwardly doing all tasks inward a substandard manner. Focus yous attending too fourth dimension on i project too practice it well. This may hateful making difficult decisions similar taking a sabbatical from your total fourth dimension work, but to focus on the PhD, or getting out of town somewhere serenity to practice focused writing too analysis.

3. DON’T WAIT FOR INSPIRATION.
If yous await for the “mood” to fix in, or for “inspiration” to come, earlier yous know it, 6 months would conduct keep but flown by. Work every day, fifty-fifty if it’s for but xv minutes on your thesis too at the terminate of the week, yous would conduct keep made some progress, which volition give yous the mood too inspiration to piece of occupation harder.

4. TAKE OUT ALL TIME-WASTERS.
Yes that agency whatsapp, facebook, word notifications, games, etc. To practice focused work, every solar daytime I would state myself that I volition alone banking enterprise fit social media afterwards 5pm, NOT offset thing inward the morning.

5. GET MENTALLY PREPARED FOR ROUGH TIMES.
I was doing my doctoral studies patch working total fourth dimension at a global NGO too having to juggle solid unit of measurement too social life. There were many times I came some quitting, many nights when I cried myself to slumber missing my solid unit of measurement when I was at my university, to a greater extent than than i event of feeling humiliated past times comments from reviewers, too several times when I had to start over too chip piece of occupation that I worked then difficult for. Coffee helped me concentrate, but took a cost on my wellness when I started taking 6-8 cups a day. The stress takes a cost on you, too yeah, I did acquire several greyness hairs inward the process. But what doesn’t kill yous makes yous stronger.

6. TALK information technology OUT, DISCUSS.
Talk to everyone who volition hear nearly your study, talking clears things inward your mind. I talked to almost everyone, fifty-fifty total strangers I conduct keep met inward airplanes too many times when I was stuck, I got breakthroughs from some of these discussions. Presenting at international conferences definitely helps; conduct keep the comments positively to amend your work.

7. BE PATIENT, ENJOY THE JOURNEY AND CELEBRATE YOUR SMALL WINS.
Things piece of occupation out amongst time, hang inward there. Keep a positive attitude. PhD teaches yous patience, but three/four years volition move past times earlier yous know it. Enjoy the journey. Celebrate your small-scale successes amongst a repast out or a solid unit of measurement holiday. H5N1 chapter completed, plain piece of occupation concluded, a magazine article published, a successfully completed analysis are all small-scale wins worthy of a small-scale celebration.

8. NO (WO)MAN IS AN ISLAND.
I learnt that inward gild to consummate my PhD, I needed back upwardly from my supervisors, family, friends, colleagues too other doctoral students. Without their support, it would non conduct keep been possible; this was a humbling experience. I can’t give thank yous my solid unit of measurement plenty for all their sacrifices, my friends for their unwavering back upwardly too kindness too my colleagues for their guidance. My parents, brother, sis inward law, husband, all played a piece of occupation too showered me amongst kindness too support. My mentors helped me then much, too having peachy supervisors aided tremendously. I learnt that i is theme on others too i is actually nix without others. Ubuntu philosophy of “I am because yous are” was a real humbling insight for me.

9. THE JOY DOESN’T LAST FOREVER.
When I got my results, I cried amongst joy. It was an amazing feeling, I felt real relieved. I enjoyed existence referred to every bit “Dr” too the honor received at the piece of occupation house definitely improved my sense of self. It feels peachy to live headhunted every bit a number of your education. Wearing the ruby robe too existence business office of the ceremonial graduation, where the whole academy celebrates you, is unbelievably glorifying yet humbling. I idea I would live filled amongst the glow for a long time, perchance fifty-fifty forever. But, No! The glow didn’t final real long. It lasted (yes I counted), 4 days since I got my results too nearly a calendar week afterwards graduation, thereafter, life goes on every bit usual. That’s when I realized, success is superficial. Success makes yous happy for a brusque while, but it isn’t lasting joy.

10. CHERISH YOUR FAMILY.
I am grateful for the pedagogy I received too past times no agency desire to belittle it. But I conduct keep realized that getting a PhD, although boosts your self-esteem for a while, does non convey lasting happiness. True pregnant too happiness inward life is industrial plant life inside yourself too inward those yous aid for, your family, friends too inward things which cannot live measured, such every bit dear too kindness. Raising a kid to the best of your abilities, making a domicile filled amongst love, that is truthful happiness.
Improving yourself, growing spiritually too overcoming your weaknesses, existence a someone whom people would retrieve fondly, that is truthful success. No number of degrees, no peachy honour winning publication too no global project tin compare to the miracle of a solid unit of measurement meeting too bringing into existence a child. I could never repay the back upwardly my parents, brother, sis inward law, friends, supervisors too colleagues provided me. It was wonderful to come across their proud smiles when I graduated, but I nonetheless wonder if the procedure was worth the sacrifices my parents made, the loneliness my hubby too I felt patch nosotros were away from each other, the tears my kid shed when she missed me?
H5N1 Doctorate is non the ultimate achievement, but what matters is living a life filled amongst love, that brings lasting joy… everyday… so…. The 10th too most of import life lesson …..cherish your solid unit of measurement too friends!