How to Finish Your PhD

Are you stuck in your PhD? Is progress imperceptible to the naked eye? You’re feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done and there’s no clear path. The more you worry, the less work you get done; the less work that gets done, the more you worry: it’s a vicious cycle. With the help of this practical book, you’ll take a new approach to your thesis.

I’ve coached thousands of PhD students through to the finish line. I also managed to complete my own PhD when it seemed vanishingly unlikely. Some people breeze through their PhD, knowing exactly what they’re doing and never giving their supervisor a moment’s worry. That probably isn’t you. For most of us it’s tough – that’s why relatively few people get to call themselves Doctor. It’s hard, but not impossible. I want to help make it possible for you.

I’ll help you understand why you’re stuck and what you can do about it. By the end of the book, you’ll have the clarity and confidence you need to finish your PhD. Together we’ll create an action plan that’s right for you. Each chapter includes activities and downloadable resources.

You won’t find anything about theory, methodologies, or epistemologies here. There are plenty of other books on how to write a PhD – this book is on how to finish it. Take a look at the outline below to see what we’ll cover.

CONTENTS

1. What’s the Purpose of PhD?

Why are you doing a PhD? (I’ll help you remember)

What on earth is a thesis, anyway?

How can you set some limits and avoid doing too much?

2. Getting Ready to Do Things Differently

Forgetting the past and focusing on the future

Adopting a growth mindset

Overcoming imposter syndrome and defeating your inner critic

3. Making a Plan

You’re the project manager!

Who’s on your team?

What needs to happen and when?

Anticipating problems and solving them in advance

Breaking everything down into more manageable chunks

4. Working with Your Supervisor

What type of supervision do you need?

Managing the supervisory relationship

Resolving conflict

Agreeing plans with your supervisor

Soliciting effective feedback

5. Managing Competing Priorities

Understanding your circle of control

Managing your time effectively

Saying no

Choosing the best time to write

Looking after your health

6. Becoming a More Productive Writer

Protecting your writing time

Finding the right place to work

Improving focus and eliminating distractions

Making writing easier for yourself

Defeating procrastination

7. Building Routines and Keeping Going

Meeting your monkey sidekick

Creating startup and shutdown routines

Developing good habits

Measuring progress

Avoiding perfectionism

8. Getting Ready for Submission

Thinking about your examiners

Breaking down the editing process

How much time do you need for editing?

Knowing when to stop

Your submission checklist