Should you quit your PhD?

Summary

This video script addresses the difficult decision of whether to quit a PhD program. It challenges the common advice to persevere, acknowledging that for some, continuing may lead to failure or personal cost. The speaker shares a personal story of near-quitting and the turning point that led to success. The script suggests evaluating self-care, the significance placed on the PhD, available support, and the possibility of change as factors in the decision. It emphasizes that one's worth is not defined by a PhD and encourages prioritizing well-being over academic pressure.

Takeaways

• 😥 The common advice for struggling PhD students is to persevere, but this may not always be the best solution.
• 🔍 It's important to consider individual circumstances when deciding whether to continue or quit a PhD program.
• 🤔 Reflecting on personal well-being and the ability to cope with failure is crucial in making the decision to continue or quit.
• 🍽 Prioritizing self-care, including proper nutrition and social interaction, can significantly impact mental health and academic performance.
• 🧠 Recognizing that a PhD does not define one's worth can alleviate pressure and allow for a healthier approach to academic work.
• 🤝 Having the right support from supervisors and peers is essential for a successful and fulfilling PhD journey.
• 🏆 Understanding that walking away from a PhD can be a courageous decision, and it's okay to do so if it's not the right path.
• 💡 Considering changes in approach or seeking different support can make the difference between success and failure in a PhD program.
• ⏱ Acknowledging the sunk cost fallacy is important; additional time and effort should be invested wisely with a clear plan.
• 🌟 Self-worth should not be tied to academic achievements, and individuals have the resilience to handle whatever outcome they face.

Q & A

What is the most common advice given to PhD students who consider quitting?

The most common advice given is to 'keep going' and not to give up, often with reassurances that it will be okay and that others have successfully endured similar struggles.

Why does the speaker suggest that the common advice to 'keep going' might not be suitable for everyone?

The speaker suggests that this advice might not be suitable for everyone because, for some individuals, continuing their PhD may lead to failure, prolonged struggle, or significant personal costs that outweigh the potential benefits.

What was the turning point for the speaker during their own PhD journey?

The turning point for the speaker was when they decided to give their experiments one last shot with a different approach, after almost quitting due to stress and frustration. This change in mindset and work strategy led to successful results.

How did the speaker's mindset shift after deciding that they would be okay if they quit or failed?

The speaker's mindset shifted to a more relaxed and focused approach, allowing them to work without the constant pressure of success, which ultimately led to better performance and successful completion of their PhD.

What role did luck play in the speaker’s successful completion of their PhD?

The speaker acknowledges that luck played a significant role, including having good support from their supervisor, a supportive research group, and some accidental but positive results in their experiments.

Why does the speaker discourage the idea that 'if I can do it, you can do it too'?

The speaker discourages this idea because everyone's circumstances are different. Factors like personal, financial, or health issues, and the level of support from supervisors, can significantly affect the outcome of a PhD journey.

What is the importance of self-care according to the speaker, and why should it be prioritized during a PhD?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-care, including proper diet, sleep, and social interaction, as essential for maintaining mood and mental performance, which are critical for solving complex academic problems.

How does the speaker suggest PhD students manage their sense of self-worth in relation to their PhD?

The speaker suggests that students should not tie their self-worth to their PhD. Instead, they should believe that they are already enough and that their value does not depend on achieving a PhD.

What should a PhD student do if they are not receiving adequate support from their supervisor?

If a PhD student is not receiving adequate support, the speaker advises that they should speak up and possibly consider changing supervisors or getting additional help, rather than continuing to suffer in a toxic or unsupportive environment.

What is the speaker's final advice to someone considering quitting their PhD?

The speaker's final advice is that it's okay to quit if the PhD is not right for you or if it is costing too much in terms of personal well-being. The decision should be based on careful consideration, and walking away can be a courageous choice.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Dilemma of Quitting a PhD

This paragraph introduces the common advice given to PhD students considering quitting, which is to persevere and not give up. However, it acknowledges that this isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. The speaker shares a personal story from 2006 when they nearly quit their PhD due to exhaustion, stress, and a sense of inadequacy. Despite receiving typical encouragement from others, they felt dismissed. The speaker emphasizes that there isn't a universal answer to whether one should quit a PhD, and different individuals may require different approaches to make the best decision.

05:00

🍽️ Prioritizing Self-Care in PhD Journey

The speaker discusses the importance of self-care for PhD students, countering the misconception that suffering is necessary for academic success. They recommend prioritizing basic needs such as proper nutrition and social interaction to maintain optimal brain function and mental health. The paragraph suggests that neglecting these needs can lead to a downward spiral affecting mood, sleep, health, and relationships. The speaker also introduces the idea that the PhD should not be the sole determinant of one's self-worth and encourages a reevaluation of its importance in one's life.

10:02

🤝 The Importance of Support in PhD Pursuits

This paragraph delves into the role of support systems in PhD programs. It highlights the responsibility of universities and supervisors to provide adequate support and guidance. The speaker points out that some supervisors may lack the necessary skills or empathy, hindering student progress. They stress the importance of having the right support and the potential need to seek change, such as a new supervisor or additional help, if the current support is insufficient. The paragraph also touches on the 'sunk cost' fallacy, cautioning against continuing solely due to the time and resources already invested.

15:03

🛠️ Changing Approach for a Successful PhD Completion

The final paragraph addresses the possibility of changing one's approach to overcome challenges in a PhD program. It references Einstein's definition of insanity as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. The speaker suggests simplifying and prioritizing tasks, such as focusing on data collection and analysis before writing. They also mention the potential need for personal changes, like addressing undiagnosed ADHD or seeking new support. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the individual's inherent worth, independent of a PhD, and encourages making a conscious decision about whether to continue or quit a PhD program.

Keywords

💡PhD

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in many countries. In the context of the video, it represents a significant personal and professional commitment, often associated with extensive research and academic pressure. The video discusses the challenges faced by PhD students and the possibility of quitting, highlighting the intense emotional and physical toll it can take.

💡Quit

To quit refers to the act of leaving or abandoning something before it is finished. In the video, the concept of quitting one's PhD is explored as a potential decision, with the speaker sharing personal experiences and considerations that might lead someone to this choice. It's presented as a difficult but sometimes necessary option.

💡Stress

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. The video script discusses how the stress of pursuing a PhD can negatively impact various aspects of a student's life, such as mood, sleep, health, and relationships, and how managing this stress is crucial for making informed decisions about continuing or quitting.

💡Self-Care

Self-care refers to the actions people take for maintaining their own health and well-being, particularly during times of stress. The video emphasizes the importance of self-care for PhD students, suggesting that neglecting basic needs like sleep, diet, and social interaction can exacerbate the challenges of doctoral studies.

💡Support

Support in the video refers to the assistance and encouragement provided by supervisors, family, friends, or institutions. It is highlighted as a critical factor in a PhD student's ability to persevere or decide to quit. The script discusses the negative impact of a lack of support or even the presence of an obstructive supervisor.

💡Experiments

Experiments are a core component of many PhD programs, particularly in scientific fields. The script uses the failure of experiments as a metaphor for the setbacks and challenges that can lead to feelings of inadequacy and the consideration of quitting.

💡Self-Worth

Self-worth pertains to one's own perception of their value or worth as a person. The video discusses how some PhD students may tie their self-worth to the completion of their degree, which can create immense pressure and a sense of failure if they consider quitting. The speaker encourages viewing self-worth as independent of academic achievements.

💡Sunk Cost

Sunk cost is a term from economics referring to costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered. In the video, the concept is used to caution against continuing a PhD solely because of the time, money, and effort already invested, which may not be a rational basis for future decisions.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is the state of an individual's psychological and emotional well-being. The video script touches on the impact of PhD studies on mental health, suggesting that the stress and demands of the program can lead to burnout and other mental health issues, which are important considerations when deciding whether to continue or quit.

💡Thesis

A thesis is a document submitted in support of an academic degree that presents the author's research and findings. In the video, the process of writing a thesis is mentioned as a significant milestone in a PhD journey, which can be a source of stress and a factor in the decision to quit or persevere.

💡Coping Strategies

Coping strategies are methods or techniques used to manage stress or difficult situations. The video suggests that developing effective coping strategies is essential for PhD students, as it can help them navigate the challenges of their studies and make more informed decisions about their academic path.

Highlights

The common advice to PhD students considering quitting is to persevere, but this may not be suitable for everyone.

Some individuals may continue and fail, or suffer greatly, making the PhD journey not worth it for them.

The speaker shares a personal story of nearly quitting a PhD due to stress and lack of progress.

Despite common encouragement, the speaker felt dismissed and decided to reevaluate their situation.

A moment of realization led the speaker to consider the consequences of quitting and finding alternative paths.

The decision to quit can bring relief and clarity, allowing one to assess their situation more objectively.

The speaker decided to give the PhD one last effort with a changed approach, which ultimately led to success.

It's crucial to make changes in approach and mindset when facing difficulties in a PhD.

The realization that one would be okay even without a PhD can reduce the pressure and improve work quality.

Support from supervisors and peers is essential for a successful PhD journey.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-care and not neglecting basic needs during a PhD.

PhD students should not tie their self-worth to the outcome of their degree.

The speaker suggests that if one believes they need a PhD to prove their worth, they should reconsider their motivations.

The right support can make a significant difference in a PhD student's success and well-being.

Students should evaluate the quality of support they receive and consider whether it's worth continuing without it.

The sunk cost fallacy can lead students to continue in a PhD even when it's detrimental to their well-being.

It's important to consider the potential costs and benefits of continuing or quitting a PhD.

The speaker recommends simplifying and prioritizing tasks to improve the chances of PhD success.

Seeking alternative solutions, such as changing supervisors or getting a diagnosis for ADHD, can be beneficial.

The speaker concludes by encouraging PhD students to make decisions based on their well-being and not societal expectations.

Quitting a PhD can be a courageous decision and should be respected as such.

The speaker advises against generic reassurances and instead encourages active listening when someone shares their PhD struggles.

Transcripts

should you quit your PhD if you talk to

people or look online the most common

response to this question will probably

be something like don't worry everybody

goes through this just keep going don't

give up and it will be okay and then

perhaps they'll share their own story

and say if I can do it you can do it too

now this is well-meaning advice and for

some of you it might be exactly what you

need to hear but the Inconvenient Truth

is that un fortunately for some people

it isn't okay some people keep going and

fail or they keep going for years but

never submit or they pass but it cost

them so much that it just isn't worth it

so there isn't one answer that will be

right for everybody for some it really

is best to just keep going and for

others it may be better to walk away so

what I'd like to do in this video is

share some different ways of thinking

about it and some questions to ask

yourself to help you make the best

decision so let's starts with a little

bit of my own story so in the summer of

2006 nearly 3 years into my PhD I almost

quit I was so tired so stressed so sick

of experiments not working and so

demoralized and weighed down by thoughts

that I wasn't good enough that I just

didn't think I could take it anymore

more and when I spoke to people about

this they all gave me the typical answer

don't worry it's normal just keep going

and it will be okay and even though this

was well intentioned to me it just felt

a bit

dismissive it wasn't okay I wasn't okay

the stress had been building slowly over

time and by the time I started to tell

people that I was struggling it had

already started to negatively affect

other areas of my life life so my mood

my sleep my health and my relationship

but I just kept going until one day I

was working in the lab and I dropped

something I'd been preparing for days

now it wasn't the first time this kind

of thing had happened but something

inside me snapped so I swore loudly and

stormed out of the lab and out of the

building and started walking across

campus I didn't know where I was going I

just wanted to get as far away from the

lab as I possibly could I just couldn't

do it anymore I couldn't take the

constant failure and lack of progress

and I was going to fail anyway I thought

so I might as well

quit so after walking for 10 minutes or

so I found a bench and sat down to think

through what I was going to

do if I quit I'd have to face telling my

supervisor my family and my friends but

I figured they would understand and if

they didn't honestly I didn't

care I would also have to find a job and

I didn't know what I was going to do but

I figured I would find something and

whatever it was couldn't possibly be as

bad as the

PHD so basically I realized that if I

walked away then I would be okay and

that even though I didn't what would

happen I trusted in my ability to cope

and I felt such a relief I felt such a

weight lifted from my

shoulders but then I figured well

there's still a few things I could try

to get the experiments working so I

decided to go back to the lab and to try

these things basically that I would give

it one last shot but then if these

experiments didn't work then I would qu

it but if the decision to walk away or

not depended on these experiments then I

wanted to make sure that I gave them my

best effort so I would slow down and do

things as carefully as I possibly could

basically giving myself the greatest

possible chance of success but without

the pressure of

success so I went back to the lab tided

up and started again taking my time and

doing things carefully Y and the

experiments worked and so I thought ah

now I can't quit and so I stayed I

kept going and I got through getting

enough data for a couple of Publications

writing my thesis in just 3 months and

ultimately passing my defense with no

Corrections now you can take this story

as inspiration if that's what you need

but there are some important nuan

here the first is that I didn't just

keep going doing things the way I was

doing them and expecting it to somehow

just turn out okay I made changes to the

way I worked and just as importantly I

changed the way that I thought about the

work so realizing that I would be okay

if I quit it was only a small logical

step from there to realize that I would

be okay if I failed it would be

unpleasant but I trusted in my ability

to cope and this freed me up to do the

work without spending so much background

mental energy worrying about the end

result worrying whether I was good

enough or worrying what the examiners or

anyone else would

think but this is one of those things

that's easy to say and much harder to

adopt and for me for whatever reason it

just seemed to click at the right time

and this brings me to the next important

point I was lucky I was lucky in that I

made changes while I still had time I

was lucky in that I had great support

from my supervisor and others in the

research group and lucky because one of

my papers came from an accidental

result so the changes that I made to my

Approach made success possible because

everything else was in place and I just

had to get out of my own way but had the

circumstances been even slightly

different I still easily could have

failed and here's the thing a lot of

students have much more difficult

circumstances than I had whether that's

personal financial or health

circumstances or perhaps a lack of

support or even obstruction from their

supervisor so what worked for me won't

work for everyone else and I won't say

if I can do it you can do it too because

I don't know what you're going through

so let's break it down into smaller

chunks so the first question I would ask

is whether or not you're looking after

your basic needs so there's a common

assumption among PhD students that you

have to suffer in order to succeed so

they will work harder and logger hours

cutting back on sleep and social contact

while also neglecting exercise and

diet but sacrificing more doesn't

necessarily increase your chances of

success as an academic you need your

brain to function at its best if you

want to solve difficult cognitive

problems so before quitting try

prioritizing the basics of self-care so

first recommend Commendation I would

make is to take the time to make real

food so when you're tired and stressed

it's really easy to fall back on the

most convenient option but the food you

eat can have a big impact on your mood

and mental

performance the second recommendation I

would make is that at least once a week

you should try to do something social in

person now there are of course a lot of

other things you can do but if the

thought of doing either of these two

things seems impossible it's probably a

sign that things have gotten a little

bit out of control and I would try to

take care of these before trying to make

any major decisions about your

PhD and taking the time to prioritize

basic self-care can help in two

important ways first it can help your

mood and mental performance but more

importantly it sends the signal to

yourself that you are worth taking care

of and this brings us to the next

question are you putting too much weight

on the

PHD so when you're immersed in PhD

research sometimes it can be difficult

to see anything else it takes on this

all consuming importance where your

entire life prospects and sense of

selfworth are tied up in it and this is

more common than might think because all

of us are conditioned from a very young

age with certain beliefs around

education and what it means to get

certain

qualifications and these beliefs even if

they're subconscious can be powerful

drivers of our

Behavior now for some people this might

be a motivator but others experience it

as the crushing weight of expectation so

I should be able to do this so if I

can't then I'm a failure or I'm letting

my family down and this can leave you

unable to make decisions or take

necessary risks or unable to finish

anything but also unable to walk away

even if you're utterly

miserable the truth is that a PhD does

not define your

worth and if you think it does if you

believe deep down that you're somehow

not good enough if you don't don't have

a

PhD getting one won't fix the problem it

will feel good for a few days but the

underlying insecurity won't go away just

because you get to put doctor in front

of your

name so instead of investing your entire

sense of self-worth in the PHD try to

work with the assumptions that you are

already

enough that you don't need to prove your

Worth to anybody and that you have the

ability to cope with whatever

happens and if these are things that you

struggle with then it may be worth

speaking to a therapist and getting some

help now for me realizing that I would

be okay if I walked away or if I failed

took the pressure off and freed me up to

not only do the work but enjoy the work

without worrying about the end result

but as I mentioned earlier I was also

very lucky in that I had great support

from my supervisor and others and this

brings us to the next question do you

have the right

support so when you first applied for

PHD programs your main thought was

probably about whether or not you would

be

accepted but it's not just about you

meeting the university standards they

also have an obligation to give you

appropriate support and guidance and

unfortunately a lot of PhD supervisors

completely lack the skills or empathy

required to do this acting as a barrier

to their students progress and

development instead of a facilitator and

Mentor often just saying come back when

you have a complete draft now sometimes

this is just because that's what their

supervisor did they stumbled through

without any support so they think this

is what everyone should have to do but

sometimes if you're really unlucky

you'll end up with a supervisor who's

deeply insecure about their own position

so they maintain it by keeping others

down and then there are also some

supervisors or institutions who will

actively exploit their students using

them basically as indentured labor while

giving zero support to the students

research and they get away with this

because nobody wants to complain after

being accepted into a PhD program nobody

wants to risk upsetting their supervisor

and being cut a drift especially if your

sense of selfworth is tied up in the

PHD but if you aren't getting the right

support if you aren't learning anything

from your supervisor other than how to

suffer why are you there why try to

prove yourself to someone who doesn't

care about you or who is exploit ing you

and if you're afraid of what they might

do why would you

stay if you aren't getting the support

you need or if you are being actively

mistreated you should speak up and the

willingness to walk away removes any

power that they might have over

you now one reason why some people stay

in situations they shouldn't is simply

because of the amount of time and effort

and money they've already

invested now if there's a good chance of

success then it might make sense to

invest a little more but if the only

reason you're staying is the sunk cost

then investing more might just dig

yourself into a deeper

hole so I think it's important to pause

and think about what the costs are in

terms of time energy and money as well

as the potential impact on your health

and relationships and to make a

conscious decision as to how much more

you are willing to

invest for example you could decide that

you'll spend another year and that if

you don't finish in that time then

you'll walk away but then you also want

to give yourself the best possible

chance of success in that extra

year and this brings us to the final

question which which is whether there is

anything you can do

differently so as Einstein may be said

insanity is doing the same thing over

and over and expecting a different

result so if things haven't been working

up to now what might you be able to

change so most often what I'll recommend

to most people is to simplify and

prioritize because one of the most

common problems is simply trying to do

too much and typically I'll advise

prioritizing data collection and

Analysis over writing because without

the data and Analysis you don't have

anything to write

about but then there may be other issues

you need to address for example a lot of

the students I've worked with have been

struggling with undiagnosed ADHD so

they'll be frustrated that they can

sometimes hyperfocus and work for 16

hours straight but then be unable to do

anything productive for two weeks in

that case getting a diagnosis and

finding effective coping strategies

might be the

answer or maybe you'll need to change

supervisor or get some other help if

they can't give you the support that you

need so to sum up I'm not saying that

you should quit your PhD but that it's

okay to quit if it's really not right

for you or if it's costing you too much

you have the choice so stay if you

really want to stay but don't stay just

because you feel you can't

quit some people might judge you for it

but they don't deserve your

consideration and personally I think

that walking away is a sign of courage

and I have a lot of respect for people

who make that

decision above all whether you stay or

go remember that you are enough you

don't need a PhD to prove your value and

you have the ability to cope with

whatever

happens and finally if someone comes to

you saying they're struggling with their

PHD don't just say it's okay everyone

goes through this because you might not

know what they're going through so let

them talk rather than trying to reassure

them that it's okay because sometimes

they don't need the problem solving all

they need is to be

heard so if you're struggling and

thinking of quitting your PhD or if you

already quit or if you decided to stay

please do share your thoughts and

experiences in the comments below and if

you like this video please do give it a

like And subscribe as it helps me to

grow the channel and reach more people

and also check out my website at phd.

Academy where you'll find details of my

onetoone coaching and academic writing

course so that's all for me thank you so

much for watching and I'll see you next

time