Getting through a research degree

Completing an HDR means you'll have to navigate:

• large blocks of unstructured time
• distant deadlines
• uncertainties in direction
• competing personal commitments.

Managing your time well can help ease the pressure of these challenges.

To help you get started, the Graduate School outlines the steps and tasks you need to complete in your first week, month and year. You'll also need to manage yourself, your tasks and your resources to ensure you’re making consistent progress.

Managing yourself

Understanding yourself, your productivity and your motivating factors will help you manage your time more effectively.

You can start by doing a time audit to map out your current schedule. Think about any existing commitments and how they will fit in with your research. This will help you:

• establish a timeline and schedule for your project
• develop short and long-term deadlines
• define clear goals and when you want to accomplish them.

It's important to create a work space where you will be productive. Think about what you'll need in the space to ensure you're motivated and able to work without distraction.

You should also undertake any skills development that will help you work more efficiently (i.e. scholarly writing, library or software workshops). Complete this early on so you're more equipped to handle the challenges ahead.

If you have any questions about managing your candidature, including changing, travelling or interrupting your degree, contact the Graduate School.

Managing your tasks

It can be challenging to manage tasks when you’re not sure where your research will take you, but there are steps you can take to maintain structure and a sense of progress.

Treat your research like a regular job with regular office hours to help maintain momentum and motivation. You can also:

• use daily to-do lists
• keep track of monthly or irregular tasks with a monthly planner
• break large tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks
• understand the requirements for your thesis.

If you start avoiding work, you may be unconsciously sabotaging yourself. Speak to your advisor or contact a counsellor for help in recognising this behaviour and how to handle it.

Managing your resources

Compiling research, reference materials and thesis drafts over two or more years can get complicated. Bring structure and organisation to your resources by:

• maintaining an effective filing system for hard and soft materials
• using clear and concise file names for drafts of your work
• using bibliographic management software (e.g. EndNote or Mendeley) to keep track of reference materials, with detailed summaries and important points for quick reference.

Self-sabotaging behaviour is behaviour that gives you a plausible excuse for failure or lack of progress. This can include:

• perfectionism
• overcommitting yourself to responsibilities outside of your project
• avoiding high priority or difficult tasks by filling your time with easier, less important tasks
• procrastination or not putting in enough effort
• choosing bad working environments with many distractions.

If you find yourself making excuses that keep you from progressing your work, you could be sabotaging yourself.

Get help with self-sabotaging behaviour

Exhibiting some self-sabotaging behaviour some of the time doesn’t indicate a problem. You should address this behaviour if you stop meeting deadlines, coming to university, or talking to your advisor.

Changing unproductive habits and thought patterns is not easy. Guidance from your advisor and support networks can help you get back on track.

If you need more help, make an appointment with a student counsellor. They can provide an independent and confidential advice on the issue and how to move forward.

Keep yourself on track by establishing a network of support. This can help you stay motivated to progress your work. It can also:

• help you feel less intellectually and socially isolated
• create a source of immediate and frequent feedback
• add a level of accountability to your progress
• make it easier to identify issues with your own work by recognising similar issues in your peers' work.

Create a support group

There are groups and support resources available at UQ, or you can create your own support group.

Gather two or three fellow HDR students at approximately the same project stage and meet regularly to discuss work and provide feedback.

When participating in a support group:

• Avoid getting caught up in socialising or complaining – focus on the work.
• Provide constructive feedback and encourage your peers to do the same.
• If you’re unsure about any peer feedback you've received, ask someone with more experience such as your advisor.