I had a really productive two hours this morning, but since then I have done nothing. I've tried doing a bit of writting but only managed one word before I got stuck I can't seem to concentrate on any reading either. Whenever I have a period of time like this I start worrying that if I don't do something I will never finish in time. Any tips on how to get my concentration back would be great!

I read a couple of books that were good,

The unwritten rules of PhD research by Gordon Rugg and Marian Petre

How to get a PhD: a handbook for students and their supervisors by Estelle Phillips

Hope that helps, good luck

Well Done on getting your PhD!!!!

Hi cmml100,

I'm about 8-9 months into my PhD and I also feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I think a PhD is not about knowing how to go off and design and carry out an experiment straight away but a process by which you learn how to do this well, so when you finish you are a competent researcher. So I wouldn't worry to much at the moment if you feel like this. Maybe try talking to other people in your dept and try bouncing some ideas off them to try and find a way of moving forward.

Hope things work out either way.

Hi pprabbit,

My uni is the same as SeaBird, in that the uni report it as a fail if it takes longer than 4 years, but you would still get your PhD if you pass, but you have to pay extra fees.

Sounds like you might have enough time to write up though, good luck I'm sure you can do it

I generally work from 9 till 5, but if I need to stay late sometimes then I do. Also Im doing a PhD in biology and work with live cells which means that sometimes you have to come in at the weekends, but generally I just work mon-fri and my supervisor seems happy with my progress (only in my first year though)

Wow well done!!!

Hi MichaelA,

Its nice to hear that someone else feels the same. I've got a meeting with my supervisor today so I'll talk to him then. He is very supportive of me so I'm sure he'll try and think of a way to move forward.

I hope you decide not to quit! Have you got another supervisor you can talk to or an experienced postdoc around that could make some suggestions? If not then maybe try talking to your supervisor again.

I'm about 8 months into my PhD and I'm starting to wonder what I've been doing for all this time. I feel like I've been working really hard, but I don't think I've done anything worth while. I've spent a lot of time trying to get experiments to work and learning techniques. Is this what most people do in the first year? I've been speaking to another PhD student who is at the same point and they are always going on about the ground breaking work they are doing and all the things they are discovering. I know that things can't be like that for everyone all the time, but it still leaves me feeling deflated.

You can fill out surveys through this link. You don't get paid much for each one but it soon mounts up and it doesn't take long:

http://www.yougov.com/users/registrationintro_ref.asp?refid=499037&jID=3&sID=1

I got about £100 last year which paid for a holiday

Hi Lulu,

I'm about 8 months into my PhD and going throught the same thing. I don't feel clever enough to be doing a PhD and I'm worried that when people try to boost my confidence they are just being nice or are over estimating my abilities, but it sounds like a lot of students feel the same things.

Hope you feel more confident!!

I get to work the hours I want
I have a great supervisor
I work with people who don't think that money is everything and actually enjoy their jobs

I was wondering how other people get along with the people they work with? I get along with the people I work with really well, but the other day three people I work with had a massive argument. There has been a lot of talking behind peoples backs since which I've been trying to stay out of by hiding in my lab, but I find it all a bit upsetting. The people who are arguing are much older than me so I think they should know better. I don't know how to handle the situtation. Today I really didn't want to go in because things haven't improved and I'm not sure it will just blow over. Is this normal behaviour in academia as I have never seen this in other places I have worked at?

I'm 5 months into my PhD (developmental biology) and I work roughly 9-5 cause thats when I work best. I play for my local rugby club which trains 2 times a week and has games on Sunday. I also share a horse with a friend so I ride three times a week. I asked my supervisor if all this outside activity would affect my PhD and he said at the moment it was fine and he was happy with my progress, but he did say that I might have to rethink things towards the end of my second year and during my third year as that is when he said the work load would probably increase.

As long as you and your supervisor are happy with how you are progressing then I would say that outside activities are great as they help keep the stress level down.

Thanks Deiseal