Six Study Tips for Master’s and Ph.D. Students
Many students aspire to get accepted into a master’s or doctoral program. A love for academia can be unbreakable, and a higher education degree that allows you to explore subjects you like to study is ideal.
However, no matter how passionate you are about the subject and how knowledgeable, studying will always be a challenge for any student regardless of the level. Whatever degree program you opt for, you can expect to have your work cut out for you. If you don’t have a solid plan in mind, you can expect yourself to start floundering pretty soon. So, if you’re starting to get overwhelmed by the heavy workload, keep reading below. You can employ various study tips to help you get through your postgrad degree, no matter how challenging it may seem.
Prioritize a work-life balance
One reason why master’s and Ph.D. students start to feel overwhelmed and burnt out is because they fail to achieve a work-life balance. While the workload can be intense during postgrad education, making room for everyday activities is necessary if you want to perform well. If your day comprises nothing but study, you’re going to experience immense mental and physical exhaustion.
Instead, be sure to take time out for yourself. Meet your friends, connect with family, cook yourself a meal, and go for a walk. Do whatever you can to clear your head and refresh yourself before hitting the books again.
If you’re working alongside your degree, it’s even more important to make time for these small breaks. Job satisfaction hinges on your work-life balance and can significantly impact your performance. So, Job satisfaction and the importance of a work-life balance are thus intricately linked. By chalking out a balanced routine, you can perform equally well at work and while studying.
Focus on the small things
When you’re writing a doctoral thesis or completing a master’s project, the sheer workload you need to get through can be daunting. You may feel you haven’t accomplished much unless you write an entire chapter in a go. However, focusing on the small things is essential to keep yourself motivated and stay on top of deadlines.
Instead of looking at the big picture all the time, consider the small details and tasks you accomplish each day. Researching your topic alone is significant progress and can help you build a solid base for when you start writing. Writing a few pages at a time is better than not writing at all and can help you slowly but surely move closer to your goal. If you’re rushing yourself all the time, the final goal is also likely to seem chaotic and hurried instead of well-crafted. So, be sure to take your time and focus on the small details.
Don’t compare your project to others’
When you’re completing a master’s or doctoral project, you’ll likely be going over an immense amount of material. In this, you’re likely to encounter some monumental, incredibly well-done projects. At times, it can be natural to start comparing your project to better-performing students and become over-critical of your work. However, this attitude will only bring you down and hinder your motivation and productivity in the long run.
Everyone’s thesis journey is different, and master’s and doctoral programs are about the learning curve. Publishing is thus more about learning than showing off what you know. Being mindful of your journey and capabilities can help you stay focused and keep you from being over-critical of the work you’ve put so much hard work into.
Stay on top of your deadlines
When you hear of a deadline a month away, you might relax and tell yourself you’ve got plenty of time. However, while it’s important to take it slow, it’s also important to recognize when you’re starting to procrastinate. Procrastination can set you back and lead to burnout when you’re overburdened in the last few days. It can also damage the quality of your work and can lead you to put out subpar, rushed work.
Instead, start working the day you become aware of your deadlines. Working slowly but surely, as discussed above, can be useful and can divide your workload. Creating a schedule can help you set mini-deadlines for yourself, dictating how much research or writing you need to get done in a day. This way, when your deadlines loom close, you can be almost finished. Additionally, you can also have ample time to recheck, edit and refine your work to reduce any errors.
Create a work environment
Only a few lucky students can maintain laser-sharp focus regardless of where and who they’re with. For most of us, a work environment is necessary to get in the zone and have a clear, strong focus on the topic at hand. If you’re attempting to work in a new environment each day, chances are you’re going to struggle because of distractions. These distractions can set you back on your schedule.
Instead, create a work environment that suits you best. However, it’s important to recognize where you work best when doing so. For some, this can be an isolated, quiet place where they can work without disturbance. For others, it can be a coffee shop or a cozy room with their favorite music playing. Figure out what works best for you, and stick to it whenever you need to get work done.
Don’t be sneaky
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you might want to cut corners now and then to speed up work. However, doing so won’t just undermine the quality of your work. Rather, it can undermine your academic integrity and can stick with you for years to come. Seemingly harmless things, such as not citing all the authors, borrowing from another’s work, failing to recheck data, can damage your academic integrity and your project.
Instead, focus on getting all the details right. Not only can this be an excellent learning experience, but it can also help you get the most from your work. Citing all the authors, rechecking data, and creating an original product can make your work shine and make your hard work pay off.
Conclusion
Muddling through a master’s and Ph.D. program can seem challenging, especially when you’re caught on all ends with deadlines. However, following the tips mentioned above can help you get through the work much easier and make your work much better. So, create a balance between academic and personal tasks, follow deadlines, create an environment conducive to studying, and don’t cheat.