How to finish a PhD thesis quickly | 5 simple tips to write a thesis in two months!

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares practical tips on how to finish a PhD thesis quickly, based on their experience of completing a thesis in just two months. Key strategies include creating a disciplined writing schedule, setting small achievable goals, maintaining supervisor engagement, avoiding perfectionism, and ensuring regular rest. The speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on progress over perfection, breaking the task into manageable chunks, and sustaining motivation through visible milestones. The video is an encouraging guide for PhD students looking to stay on track and finish strong.

Takeaways

• 😀 Create a disciplined routine: Dedicate time each day to writing, with structured breaks, to maintain focus and momentum.
• 😀 Set clear, achievable goals: Break down the thesis into manageable tasks (e.g., producing graphs, writing about results) to keep track of progress.
• 😀 Commit to your supervisor: Have a conversation to ensure they understand your timeline and are committed to providing timely feedback.
• 😀 Don’t get bogged down by perfectionism: Focus on progress, not perfect formatting or minor details. Just write the words.
• 😀 Build in rest periods: Rest is crucial for maintaining energy and motivation. This includes taking breaks, ensuring proper nutrition, and avoiding burnout.
• 😀 Use small rewards to stay motivated: Track your progress by visualizing completed tasks, such as moving paperclips after finishing chapters or goals.
• 😀 Stick to a daily writing schedule: Writing every day helps build momentum. For some, this could mean taking one rest day a week, but for others, daily writing is key.
• 😀 Be kind to yourself: Ensure that you factor in proper rest, whether in the form of evenings off or full days off, depending on your personal preferences.
• 😀 Hold yourself accountable: Use a calendar to track your writing progress and stay motivated by marking off completed days.
• 😀 Celebrate milestones: Breaking down the thesis into mini-goals allows you to celebrate smaller victories along the way, which can keep you motivated and focused.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video transcript?

The video focuses on how to finish a PhD thesis quickly, based on the speaker’s experience completing their thesis in two months.

According to the speaker, what are the three main tasks students should focus on while writing a thesis?

The three main tasks are producing graphs, producing images, and writing.

Why does the speaker emphasize creating a structured writing routine?

A structured routine ensures consistent progress, increases productivity, and helps maintain discipline during the intense thesis-writing period.

What writing schedule did the speaker follow to complete their thesis in two months?

The speaker wrote multiple sessions each day: an hour and a half in the morning, followed by another hour, then another hour and a half after lunch, and another hour later in the day.

Why is supervisor buy-in important for finishing a thesis quickly?

Supervisor buy-in ensures timely feedback and revisions, preventing delays that often occur when supervisors take too long to respond or review material.

What strategy does the speaker recommend for maintaining motivation during the writing process?

The speaker suggests setting mini-goals, such as completing a graph and writing about it daily, and using visible progress markers like moving paper clips between jars.

How does the speaker suggest students deal with perfectionism during thesis writing?

Students should focus on producing words rather than getting stuck in details, accepting that early drafts will be rough and can be refined later.

What advice does the speaker give regarding rest and work-life balance during thesis writing?

Students should build rest into their schedule—resting in the evenings or taking a full day off if needed—while still maintaining enough momentum to work consistently.

Why does the speaker discourage drinking alcohol during the thesis-writing period?

The speaker believes staying clear-headed and focused helps maintain productivity, momentum, and overall well-being during an intense writing period.

What emotional perspective does the speaker share looking back at their finished thesis?

The speaker reflects with pride, noting that the pain of writing is forgotten over time and replaced by a sense of achievement when revisiting the completed work.

What should students do before fully starting their thesis-writing sprint?

Students should communicate clearly with their supervisor, outline expectations, and secure commitments for timely feedback to avoid bottlenecks.

How does the speaker describe the typical timing of thesis writing during a PhD?

Thesis writing generally happens near the end of the PhD, around years 2.5 to 4, once enough data has been collected.