When you decide to pursue a doctorate, your academic record must already be quite good, and you must have developed habits and strategies that will ensure the success of your studies.
However, it is always a good idea to keep in mind some tips that will assist us in maintaining discipline and focus in times of stress.
1. Get organized.
From the environment that surrounds your workplace to the agenda, computer files, calendar, extracurricular activities, and research notes; everything must be kept in order so that your time and, therefore, your work is much more efficient.
Consider the big picture: your ultimate goal, and then consider the small picture: how to get there from small habits. This strategy will result in significant changes.
2. Prioritize your activities.
You must prioritize your activities with the goal of completing your doctoral studies. Remove distractions before beginning to complete tasks. Turn off your phone and computer's notifications. Concentration is best achieved by working in blocks of several hours.
Don't let people steal your attention.
You must also learn to say no when necessary. In the previous point, we discussed organizing ourselves, and in this one, we discussed prioritizing, so that if it is not within your plan and does not add value to your goal, you can say no without guilt.
Remember that your will must be stronger than your excuses; this will help you maintain your discipline. Unavoidable in order to achieve objectives
3. Create professional networks.
Professionals in the sector can help you with connections, from having a research support group to getting resources for your project, through job or research opportunities, and networking will make a difference in your student and work life.
Human relationships keep us connected and are extremely important in our professional development. Nowadays, we have access to digital platforms, some of which are highly specialized, which allow us to interact with people all over the world and, of course, create networks in our field that can be extremely beneficial.
Improve your habits and determination; this is the only way to achieve great results.