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.
@fersacambridge @CamEdFac @edfaclib My top #PhDlifehack is to be part of a community (Faculty, college, wherever). Don't try to do it alone!
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Karen Forbes (@karen_forbes) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge @CamEdFac @edfaclib #PhDlifehack 2: Use referencing software from the start - makes it easier to ke… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Karen Forbes (@karen_forbes) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge Giant paperclip to hold the pages flat while I work... https://t.co/2PO5n1vBRt
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge @AcademicChatter Awesome! I used curtain weights from John Lewis to keep books open all through my… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Katherine Firth (@katrinafee) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge @CJRauchEduc @felthamgirl @AmyHeidi @warehannahware @aline_frederico @smAshtonCAN @seemanath @hj267… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Laura Valadez (@lauravaladezmtz) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge @CJRauchEduc @felthamgirl @AmyHeidi @warehannahware @aline_frederico @smAshtonCAN @seemanath @hj267… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Rupert Higham (@rupert_higham) September 18, 2017Read research with a focus on the methods not just findings, commit to working regular hours every day, enjoy!… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Anna Vignoles (@AnnaVignoles) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge @seemanath @CJRauchEduc @AmyHeidi @warehannahware @aline_frederico @smAshtonCAN @hj267 @edfaclib I… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 18, 2017@fersacambridge @CamEdFac @edfaclib Being close to your librarians help a lot, for not just books. @LucyCavLib some… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Amy Hamizah Haidi (@AmyHeidi) September 18, 2017Yes - don't underestimate the power of librarians to support your research journey! twitter.com/fersacambridge…
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Education Library (@edfaclib) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge #PhDlifehack work on collaborative papers/projects. You learn so much from others
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Daphne M (@daphmarts) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge @CoraLinglingXu @gmsainz Imperative to build in respites. I scheduled exercise and a monthly massag… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Niki (@DrNikiSol) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge @CamEdFac @edfaclib My top #PhDlifehack (s):
🔶Write away from your desk
🔶Find a PhD friend who is i… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Sandris Zeivots (@SandrisUTS) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge #PhDlifehack
Exercise
Join a #ShutUpAndWrite group
Plan your day (use @ithinkwellHugh planners)
Follow @ThomsonPat
Enjoy!!
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Anne Melles (@aamelles) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge Hmmm...mainly that it's totally normal to cry during the PhD process and it's okay to talk to your peers about it!
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Hannah Ware (@warehannahware) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge I love #scapple for mind mapping and #reminiscejournal for my research diary 🙂
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Hannah Ware (@warehannahware) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge - try and do something every day on the phd 'to do' list, no matter how little, to keep the momentum going.
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Dr Nasima Riazat (@NSRiazat) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge - also follow #phdchat for support from fellow PhDs. When we started hashtag in 2011, there were only 3 of us using it. 🙂
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Dr Nasima Riazat (@NSRiazat) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge @CamEdFac @edfaclib chocolate #PhDlifehack 💛
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Cristina Fernández (@lamarshiposa) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge Fergus recommends coloured stickies for marking key points in your reading, plus not falling asleep… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Fergus Cat (@fergusgeocat) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge
Best #PhDlifehack
Dance, yoga and being part of a community
Share yours @FEHconference… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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(@jhumur) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge @warehannahware I research digital literature but my best tool lately has been writing on the walls… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Aline Frederico (@aline_frederico) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge @warehannahware https://t.co/abm5XzDOy8
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Aline Frederico (@aline_frederico) September 19, 2017@fersacambridge @CamEdFac @edfaclib Also wear study 'uniform' to save time choosing clothes, make big pots of soup… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Angela Savage (@angsavage) September 20, 2017Beautiful research journal with ribbons that you keep the messiest notes possible in #PhDlifehack @fersacambridge https://t.co/6tcCZctdQl
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 20, 2017A3 sketchbook as reading log and necessary workaround because I can't make notes in straight lines or boxes.… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 20, 2017And both those things mean a very large box of pens, pencils and inks 🙂 #PhDlifehack @fersacambridge https://t.co/fxZ7zhAZ7j
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 20, 2017Another #PhDlifehack - the essential quotation that keeps you going when you think you're losing it. Me and poet Jo… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 20, 2017With my faculty hat-Talk to your supervisor! It is a learning journey for both. Every student & every supervisor is… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Nidhi Singal (@nsingal14) September 20, 2017Working together with your supervisor,sharing,being a team with a goal of contributing to the field#PhDlifehack@Ann… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Aditi Bhutoria (@AditiBhutoria) September 20, 2017@fersacambridge @Louis_Major_ @Marisol_Basilio @nsingal14 @DrBethanMorgan Identify your best time for writing in th… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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ElaineWilson (@egwilson) September 20, 2017@fersacambridge Our #PhDlifehack is to keep track of what your uni offers in terms of events: people are keen to su… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Research Exchange (@ResearchEx) September 20, 2017@StineRavnaa @fersacambridge Hmm...not sure how wise, but: youtu.be/VcjzHMhBtf0 hehe don't stop believing! And p… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Marte CWS (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017@fersacambridge Another #PhDlifehack is to just write, without being critical to your own stuff. Writers block? Sta… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Marte CWS (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017@fersacambridge Or just a small note, that increases probability (for me at least) of getting into "flow". Just lik… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Marte CWS (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017@StineRavnaa @fersacambridge And be honest with your supervisor of everything you don't know - 🤣! Right @fitjar?… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Marte CWS (@MarteCWSolheim) September 20, 2017@fersacambridge Thanks, I am about to finish, so I guess my tip is DON'T GIVE UP!
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Vera Wilhelmsen (@LinguistVera) September 21, 2017#PhDlifehack shiny coloured stars for my star chart. Red stars for a block of PhD writing, gold for exercise, etc.… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) September 21, 2017@fersacambridge Follow @raulpacheco for many great tips - such as planning ahead! #PhDlifehack https://t.co/o0qppjNG8z
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Marte CWS (@MarteCWSolheim) September 21, 2017@fersacambridge I have chronological proof of supervisor mtgs, confs, articles, fieldwork, teaching - You never kno… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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sofia rios (@mextexausuk) September 21, 2017Which leads to my own #PhDlifehack - keep track of all that you do during your PhD (the moment it happens) on a spreadsheet @fersacambridge
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sofia rios (@mextexausuk) September 21, 2017#PhDlifehack — research and pick a citation management system early on and use it! twitter.com/fersacambridge…
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C.J. Rauch (@CJRauchEduc) September 21, 2017#PhDlifehack — also, find a good transcription software, I use F5… Makes it very manageable!
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C.J. Rauch (@CJRauchEduc) September 21, 2017Google Drive is another #PhDlifehack @fersacambridge @FEHconference
I cannot imagine going forward without it!
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(@jhumur) September 21, 2017@fersacambridge @KeeleEdu @monashunilib @ResearchEx Office Lens app: indispensable OCR document & notes scanning, s… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Tyler Shores (@tylershores) September 22, 2017@fersacambridge @UCalgary @StatCan_eng Schedule a regular 'workday' (e.g. 9am-5pm) even if you are working independ… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Ashton Brown (@smAshtonCAN) September 22, 2017@fersacambridge @AmyHeidi Your supervisor respects you, cares about you, and in her/his way even loves you - but ne… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Dr Keith S Taber (@DrKeithSTaber) September 25, 2017#phd tip of the day:BFF when writing ✅Manchester Phrase Bank phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk #phdchat #phdlife #PhDlifehack @PhDForum @WriteThatPhD
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Angela S. Gisselman (@ASGPhysio) September 25, 2017#PhDlifehack: Notebooks! One for supervisions and musings, one for #PhD reading, one for planning. And buy a nice c… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Stine Ravnå (@StineRavnaa) September 25, 2017#PhDlifehack: Follow blogs with helpful #PhDadvice, e.g. @ThomsonPat, @thesiswhisperer, @AcademicDiary, @ResearchEx and @raulpacheco.
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FERSA (@fersacambridge) October 01, 2017@fersacambridge Find *at least* one fellow student with whom you can be completely candid about your insecurities.… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Lego Grad Student (@legogradstudent) September 25, 2017@fersacambridge @legogradstudent Also don't underestimate the benefits of taking a break, socializing with people y… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Sabs (@beanagonzals) September 26, 2017@fersacambridge Make a record of all references, cite everything - you'll thank yourself when you come to write up!… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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UoN Faculty E&H (@FEHconference) September 26, 2017@fersacambridge @MarteCWSolheim Check my website 🙂 it's chock full of those! raulpacheco.org/resources/
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Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) September 27, 2017@fersacambridge Third advice: work very hard but leave time for yourself and your social life. In the long term you’ll thank yourself!
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Maria Vella (@MariaVeRaSto) September 28, 2017@StineRavnaa @fersacambridge Sure. 1) Keep a daily diary of what you’re reading and what it makes you think about i… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017@StineRavnaa @fersacambridge 2) If possible, seek out two supervisors. Do not stick to one. Multiple perspectives i… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017@StineRavnaa @fersacambridge 3) Set short term targets (e.g. 500 words daily, read 1 hr/day) AND long term goals (e… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017@StineRavnaa @fersacambridge 4) When writing articles, create a publication strategy. List journals in order high-l… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Henning Fjørtoft (@hennif) September 28, 2017@fersacambridge @ThomsonPat I often ask #phdchat hard questions - generally someone will come back with something u… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Dr Inger Mewburn (@thesiswhisperer) September 19, 2017#PhDLifeHack 2: vertical mouse to ease pressure when doing ten million hours of data entry. My arm's okay; the mous… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
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Julie Blake (@felthamgirl) July 20, 2017@fersacambridge Don't be pressured into working all hours or weekends. Make time for yourself. Oh and write EVERYTHING down.
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Leah Wallace (@LeahWallacee) September 22, 2017@fersacambridge I wrote a big thing on #PhDlifehack: 1. Grad School is a Special World. 2. Network! 3. Don’t Quit.… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Victoria Holec (@VictoriaHolec) October 03, 2017@fersacambridge #PhDlifehack write early and write often; even when it gets rewritten, the practice will stand to you 👊🏻
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Ciara Laverty (@ciara_laverty) October 03, 2017Read widely and not just academic works. Inspiration and insights can also be found in poetry and literature. PhDli… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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Stine Ravnå (@StineRavnaa) October 03, 2017#PhDlifehack: Keep your research enthusiasm and try to get involved in extra-academic stuff -- sports, volunteering… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
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FERSA (@fersacambridge) October 01, 2017
Stine Ravnå and Tyler Shores are PhD students at the Faculty of Education in Cambridge and the founding editors of the FERSA blog.
FERSA University of Cambridge Blog 