A workshop for current graduate students and PhD candidates at Kyoto University Graduate School of Agriculture and Graduate School of Economics. Delivered in a hybrid format. A deep dive into my own PhD experience and lessons that I hope to pass onto current and future students.
1. Thursday, June 30th 2022
Presented by Chika Kondo
10 things I
learned/still
learning during
my PhD.
KYOTO UNIVERSITY
I will share the recording to those who filled out
the form.
2.
3. Build a Positive
Support
Network
1.
Personal Support Network
wellness check, accountability/deadline
check, writers circle
Research Network
make conference friends
stay connected
find mentors
Relationships take work!
how do you and your supervisor work best
5. 2. You will feel lost and
that's okay.
Your research will change directions and that's okay.
what you are passionate
about
topic that is impactful
work that you are
uniquely suited for
Play to your strengths and
keep refining your research
proposal
Most phds deal with
imposter syndrome
Failure doesn't make you a
fraud
Positive affirmations work.
Try it!
7. 3. Fieldwork / Notes
Organization
Stay organized and create a system for your fieldnotes
After interviews, do your best to stay up and write up
notes and reflections. Debrief and follow up.
You will thank yourself later!
9. Experiment until you figure out your SWEET
SPOT.
When do you work best? early morning? late night? afternoon?
after working out? before eating? after eating?
Where do you work best? Same place? different places?
What kind of setting? Noisy? Absolute silence? Alpha Waves
BGM?
How: dual monitor? standing desk? floor?
Create a routine to activate focus sweet spot writing time.
TREAT it as SACRED
Let your family, friends, colleagues know, when this writing
time is. No disturbances unless it's an emergency and limit
distractions.
Always leave your writing with more to write. Have a clear
direction and next steps.
Avoid writing binges when possible.
4. Protect
your
Writing
Time.
10. 自分の"Sweet Spot "が把握するまで色々試す
WHEN いつがベストですか?早朝ですか?深夜ですか?午後で
すか?運動した後ですか?食前ですか?食後ですか?
WHERE どこで仕事をするのが一番良いですか?同じ場所?違
う場所?
WHAT どんな環境?騒がしい?完全な静寂?Alpha Wavesの
BGM?
HOW 方法:デュアルモニター?スタンディングデスク?床?
集中スイートスポット執筆時間を活性化するためのルーチンを
作る。
執筆時間はな神聖のように扱う
家族、友人、同僚に、この執筆時間がいつなのか知らせてお
く。緊急の場合を除いて、邪魔をしないこと、気が散らない
ようにすること。
常に、もっと書きたいことがある状態で書き残す。明確な方
向性と次のステップを置いていく。
可能な限り、書き溜めはしない。
4. 執筆時間を
守る
11. 5. Get the
first
publication
out of the
way
Natural Resource Economics
PhD requirements is just 1
peer-reviewed journal- Start
early.
Your first draft will suck, but
it's far better than an idea in
your head.
With practice, you will get
better at writing for peer-
review journals.
Conference papers are also
good practice
13. Separate editing from writing.
Figure out your routine with
reading and writing.
Don't spend all your sacred
writing time, reading.
We have MAXIMUM 4-5 hours of
high level productivity a day.
Reward yourself for writing.
Feeling distracted? Down?
write it out. e.g. morning
pages
Create balance.
When you are stuck, go talk to a
friend and talk it out.
6. Writing is mentally
and physically taxing.
15. Do things that keep your spirits up. What
activities make you happy?
Check in with friends and other phds. follow
phd social media accounts (ig, twitter, etc.)
Balance between being compassionate with
yourself and holding yourself accountable
7. You can't
phd 24/7
17. 8. it takes grit
to reach
PhDONE
How to build grit:
Connection
Wellness
Healthy thinking
Meaning
Angela Duckworth defines grit as
“perseverance and passion for long-
term goals.”
19. 9. Ask for
help.
Ask questions.
If you aren't used to asking
for help, start off small.
If you don't know something, it's okay to say
you don't know and ask questions. You own
your own learning. Know and use your
surrounding resources.
Use your zemi space and lab mates. Start
a writers workshop or schedule writing
bootcamps. practice presentations.
know your weakness and make baby
steps to improve.
21. Writers Block. Life will happen.
Identify your Reset Factory
Settings
Know that it will probably
happen.
You can get through it
Death
Sickness
celebrate the positives in
your life!
negatives will also happen.
always start small.
helping someone can often
help yourself
sleep is critical
10. Know how to
Reset.