I had a workshop on how to plan and write a PhD thesis with 91 PhD candidates last week, and all the participants said they are more confident to complete their PhD on time on the feedback form.
This means a lot to me. I’m doing what I am genuinely passionate about: teaching, sharing my experience with students to help them learn effectively, with joy. I’m grateful.
I spent days planning out the 2-hour sessions even though I have been delivering this workshop twice a year for a couple of years. I update it every time and need to include the most relevant information and strategies:
Too much, it would overwhelm my students, and they would get lost in where to start when trying to use them
Too little, it wouldn’t be an effective session for my students
In this post, I’ll share with you one strategy most students in the workshop found helpful to double their productivity and complete their PhD successfully.
Are you ready?
Two odd questions to help you complete your PhD thesis on time
First, if you have to eat a live frog, for your own good, when will you eat it? The first thing in the morning or the last thing in the evening, or anytime in between?
The second question, if you have to eat two frogs, which one will you eat first? The bigger, uglier one first or the smaller one first?
Does sitting and looking at it for a while make it easier? Think about it. It doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long. The fog won’t get any tastier. And you’ll be preoccupied with the anxiety of eating a frog later. Also, you might get overwhelmed at the end of the day, and you’re tired. You didn’t eat the frog and missed the associated benefits and opportunities.
The same logic applies; eat the ugliest one first. Agreed?
Please bear with me. And please don’t eat a real live frog. These ideas are from the book entitled ‘Eat That Frog: Get More of the Important Things Done Today!’ by Brian Tracy.
The important lesson here is:
By eating the frog first thing in the morning and eating the ugliest one first, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve done the hardest work for the day. But, more importantly, you get the important things done.
The frog is a metaphor. Are you ahead of me now?
Yes, in this case, it’s a metaphor for your PhD thesis.
The ultimate strategy to double your PhD productivity
The number one strategy to double your productivity is to work on your PhD research first in the morning.
Why?
First of all, after a good rest, we wake up with a full tank of cognitive energy. And we only have 3 to 4 hours maximum of high-level cognitive energy in a day– where we can do energy-intense tasks that require concentration, creativity and willpower. The amount of cognitive energy decreases while the day goes on. The key is to work with the level of mental energy. Do the critical tasks when cognitive energy is full, and the less challenging tasks when cognitive energy is low.
Second, we tend to have fewer interruptions at the early time of the day. We all have the experience of new tasks and responsibilities rolling in through all channels with the day going on. So, the first thing to do in the morning should be the most demanding and most important task. Get it done before any urgent task lands in your inbox or check your inbox.
One technique to significantly increase your chance to ‘eat the frog’ is to schedule it in your calendar with when, how long, and where you’re going to do it. Dr Heidi Grant Halvorson, a social psychologist, points out deciding in advance when and where you’ll take specific actions to reach your goal can double or triple your chances for success.
One more tip to help you sit down and do your hard work is having a reward after completing this task. It can be a piece of chocolate or a snack you like. If you reach a milestone, you can treat yourself to a night out in a restaurant you fancy or a day trip or anything you’ll enjoy.
The last note here is, be consistent. As Richard Scott said: we become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day. You need to work on your essential tasks; every day or during the weekdays, to build momentum. Pretty soon, you’ll see your draft thesis growing in pages, and you’re having your Viva.
Are you ready to start your day with your PhD thesis?
Why not?
Join the Complete Your PhD Online Course
oin the Complete Your PhD Course. I’ll show you:
- How long do I need to complete each section of my thesis?
- How can I stay motivated to work on my research?
- What strategies can I use to work more effectively?
- Which technologies will help me the most?
- How can I get unstuck from writer’s block?
- When should I submit my thesis?
- What can I expect at my viva?
Get ready to complete your PhD on time with joy!