Friday 19 December 2014

5 reason you should take a study break this Christmas

I admit, that a 'thesis holiday' sat in my meeting agenda with my supervisor for well over a month! It wasn't until my supervisor gave me the instruction that for two weeks I was to do no writing on my thesis. that my 'holiday' was scheduled. I can't not write though. So my supervisor gave me 'permission' to write anything else except my thesis. This is great as I can still write my ebook and the edited book chapter that was accepted (but not on my thesis topic!). But, I still need a break. I'm on 'paid work' holidays and I'm mentally prepared to not write or read anything to do with my thesis from this coming Monday BUT, here are 5 big reasons, I know my supervisor wants me to ensure I take a study break:

1. Sustainability - I need to avoid burnout. I need to start with a fresh mind in the new year.

2. Spend quality time with my friends and family- admit it- friends and some family get neglected during the PhD journey! Christmas time is about being with the important people In your life.

3. Mind break: everyone's mind needs a holiday every now and again- the mind needs to take a break from itself.

4. Reconnect with things you love doing such as beach trips, baking or reading a novel.

5. Sleep, rest, eat repeat. It's the festive season and I love this time of year. Let's enjoy it!

So, are you taking a studybreak? 

Friday 12 December 2014

Why you should 'network' during your PHD?

I have been getting out of my comfort zone and taking up every social offer at Uni. This includes presentations, seminars, workshops, social gatherings for staff or students. I am taking up every opportunity to network. Most of the time I have known at least one person at these events. On one occasion I knew nobody but at least I knew I had something in common with the other students- we were all working on our PhD. It was a HDR student dinner organised and provided by the Uni committee. It was worth going - I won a $100 gift voucher for submitting a feedback survey!

Besides sometimes having free food on offer, what are the benefits of networking during your PhD?

- meeting like-minded people
- meeting academics that could help with your thesis
- find out 'who's who' at University
- gain a job
- share ideas
- broaden your knowledge by learning about others' research
- minimize research isolation
-did I mention sometimes there's free food?

When networking at events with like-minded people, finding common ground is easy: research! 

Here are 5 tips to getting a conversation going at a networking opportunity:

1. Ask about their research first
2. Listen before you speak
3. Be interesting - share something besides your research
4. Be polite - definitely don't say something negative about another academic- it's a small world!
5. Be able to share your research topic in one, maybe two clear concise sentences.

What do you benefit from networking during your PhD?




Thursday 4 December 2014

Starting and finishing school: the bar has been set

Presenting your research idea to an audience is hard enough but when it is a requirement to continue your research it is quite daunting. Completing this seminar at 'starting school' means a PHD candidate moves from probationary to confirmed. Then at the 'finishing school' at the end of the research journey there's the final presentation similar to the viva in other countries.

Yesterday, I attended one of each seminar for my school, the School of Education, and it was my first time seeing these types of presentations that I will be also giving in the future. I plan to hold my confirmation seminar early next year (so hold me to that!). It was a privilege to be there for my fellow students and listen to their research journey. 

I now see why my supervisor has been encouraging me to go to these presentations. Not only did I find them enjoyable because they were also from the school of education but because of the following benefits too:

*meet students from other fields and own field
*meet more academic staff
*develop my own ideas
*broaden my knowledge on other topics, methodology and methods 
*learn what works and what doesn't work when presenting own ideas and research
*support fellow students- hopefully they will return the favour when it's your turn!

I'm sure there are many more and I'm looking forward to attending future 'starting and finishing school' presentations. One thing I know is that for the first presentations I attended yesterday, my fellow students certainly set the bar high.