Managing Yourself as a Research Student

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Managing Yourself as a Research Student

• Hugo Gonzales, PhD
• University Counselling Service
• Student Services Unit

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The Art of Writing a PhD Thesis

• In a forest a fox bumps into a little rabbit, and
  says, "Hi, junior, what are you up to?" "I'm
  writing a dissertation on how rabbits eat foxes,"
  said the rabbit. "Come now, friend rabbit, you
  know that's impossible!" "Well, follow me and
  I'll show you." They both go into the rabbit's
  dwelling and after a while the rabbit emerges
  with a satisfied expression on his face. Along
  comes a wolf. "Hello, what are we doing these
  days?" "I'm writing the second chapter of my
  thesis, on how rabbits devour wolves." "Are you
  crazy? Where is your academic honesty?" "Come
  with me and I'll show you." ...... As before, the
  rabbit comes out with a satisfied look on his
  face and this time he has a diploma in his paw.
  Inside the cave there is an enormous mean-looking
  lion sitting next to the bloody and furry remains
  of the wolf and the fox.
• The moral of this story is
• It's not the contents of your thesis that are
  important -- it's your PhD advisor that counts.

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Overview

• Introductions
• Scenarios
• How to manage stress The Balancing Act
• Establishing priorities in your life
• Reaching your goals SMARTE strategy
• SSU and UTS Counselling

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Scenarios

• Supervisor indicates that you do not have enough
  information and need to do more experiments
• You are working mostly in isolation
• Afraid that it may be hard to keep motivation for
  2-3 years of postgraduate studies
• You find that your family puts high demands on
  you
• You find yourself going through highs and lows
  during your postgraduate studies

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Managing stress of postgraduate studies The
Balancing Act
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Coping with short term stress mental approaches

• Decreasing value of events
• Diminishing uncertainty
• Using Imagery
• Challenging negative thoughts
• Self-hypnosis
• Meditation

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Coping with short term stress physical approaches

• Engaging in exercises
• Progressive muscular relaxation, autogenic
  training
• Breathing retraining

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Coping with long term stress

• Time management Prioritise, write it down,
  focus, study socially, keep regular hours
• Your attitudes maintain a perspective, keep in
  control, accept change, keep a good attitude
  towards others
• Health and diet
• Environmental influences light, noise, tidiness,
  own space

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Establishing priorities in family and social
networks

• Managing time at home schedule activities with
  children, balance between family and academic
  priorities, providing support for other family
  members, demonstrating flexibility to change, use
  family for support, conflict resolution
• Developing network of friends Establish
  mentoring support, Building friendships with
  university colleagues, being assertive, project a
  positive image, pay and receive compliments,
  trust some key people, share and show feelings,
  form good relationships, set personal boundaries

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Establishing priorities cont..

• Time for yourself you have at least one hour to
  yourself, learn to say no, use diversion skills
  (music, getaway, hobbies, play) spiritual skills
  (trusting in yourself, seek meaning and purpose
  in life, valuing)

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Reaching your goals SMARTE strategy

• Specific
• Measurable
• Advantages
• Realistic
• Timescale
• Evidence based

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Setting Personal goals

• To use networking to improve job opportunities
• Identify what stops your from achieving your
  goals
• Find out what will help you to achieve your goal
• Resources you need to achieve your goal
• Set up deadlines

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Student Services Unit (SSU)
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SSU

• Health doctors and nurse
• Housing Service
• Career Service
• Special needs, Financial assistance
• Counselling Services

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Why might you, as a postgraduate student, need to
see a UTS University Counsellor?
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Sometimes you may experience stresses..
http//whatatop.com
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1. Study related issues

• Improving concentration or motivation, dealing
  with procrastination http//www.ssu.uts.edu.au/cou
  nselling/self/procrastination.html or
  perfectionism http//www.ssu.uts.edu.au/counsellin
  g/self/perfectionism.html
• Increasing confidence Challenging unhelpful
  beliefs (It has to be perfect, If I cant get
  it done Im a failure)

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Cont

• Becoming more organized
• Time management
• Difficulty with your supervisor
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Unhelpful thoughts

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Personal Issues

• Improving relationships
• juggling family and relationship commitments with
  Postgraduate, PhD commitments and work
• Handling life crises
• Dealing with depression, stress, grief
• Improving problem solving and decision making

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Administrative Issues

• Special consideration
• Academic and non-academic misconduct
• Extensions, unsatisfactory progress reports, etc

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UTS Counselling Service

• Free of charge
• Confidential
• 10 friendly counselors to choose from
• Open 9am-6pm
• Scheduled appointments and standby service /
  phone appointments.
• Easy to access Tower 1, level 6