Quote From Chococake:
What exactly are you doing that there is so much to do? Its normal to feel lost in the 1st year.
Hey :) On my first day they just through a bunch of information at me (deadlines for a review, changes in the proposal and protocol to begin testing before xmas, teaching and marking schedule, modules I have to take etc.) It's in an area significantly different compared to the things I've been doing for the last 3 years. It can be overwhelming when they ask you questions you don't know the answers to.
Quote From akkasistan:
This is very normal. I'm three weeks to submission and this feeling of being dumb as f*** still hasn't gone away. One solution is to develop strategies for work and self-care. Plan your workload: compile a bibliography; set out what you'll read over the week and then organise your daily reading timetable. (I would suggest setting yourself a daily target split between articles and chapters. You'll feel much more successful and motivated at the end of the day.) Take breaks. Meet other people - PhDs and non-PhDs. However, if you feel the stress is really affecting you, perhaps organise a meeting with the student health centre (mental health) at your university?
And, at the end of it, when you have Dr before your name, remember these feelings. It will help you to be humble, caring and kind towards the lowly PhD students you'll supervise one day. ;)
Thanks for the reply akkasistan! That is very helpful indeed! :)
