We
have all said this at the beginning of an academic year; “This time I will work
very hard on my studies and I will be very successful“. Well, from experience,
I can tell you that achieving that goal can be worse than not achieving it. The
problem is that you can end up spending a lot of time and energy wondering how
to do it and doing it without asking yourself first if you should.
As
a PhD student it is undeniable that you will have to spend a lot of time on
your studies. However, it is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that
an excessive amount of hard work will equal building a better future. That is a
complete lie. Discipline in your studies will definitely get you in a good
position, but discipline does not mean giving all your life to your work. An
obsession with perfection in your studies/work may end up making you lose a
valuable friendship or a beloved hobby, but definitely many interesting
opportunities in your life. So at the end of your degree you may end up with an
interesting academic curriculum, but maybe at the cost of a future that will
actually make you happy.
Moreover, an excessive amount of work can hinder your
performance in your studies. For instance, sometimes the motivation to
study/work comes from the passion that you have for your subject, but sometimes
it can only be provided by your friends, your physical health, your
extra-curricular activities, or the time spent with your family. You will
definitely need refreshment in your academic life that can’t be found in
the workplace.
The
key to achieving a good balance is to understand and apply discipline. This
means to be focused and productive while you are working, but knowing when to
stop and do something else. Yes, it is true that sometimes deadlines will make
this impossible, but if you start with this routine from the outset the
deadlines will not be as “deadly” as they usually are.
In
the year that I’ve been doing a PhD, I can confidently say that I have enjoyed
my experience of studying and researching at a more advanced level. And I can
only be thankful to have been given this opportunity. But a big part of that
great experience is down to the fact that I also took the time to enjoy the
city, my family, my friends, and life outside my studies. So, the best advice
that I could give to anyone considering doing a postgraduate degree is to know
that it is not only fair to balance your work with your life, but it is
compulsory to make your studies worthy of being done.
Gabriel Perez, PhD researcher (Chemical and Biological Engineering)
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