The PhD Life Coach

4.55 GREATEST HITS - How to edit your work without hating yourself

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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One of the most frustrating moments in a PhD or academic career is reading through your first draft—only to realise it’s a mess. It doesn’t flow, the arguments feel clunky, and now you’re stuck figuring out how to fix it.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing practical techniques to help you transform that rough first draft into a polished manuscript—without the overwhelm and self-criticism. Whether you’re writing a thesis chapter, journal article, or conference paper, these strategies will make revision smoother, faster, and far less painful.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on How to shorten your written work

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I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

4.54 GREATEST HITS - How to write when you’re confused

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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Writing can feel like you’re banging your head against a wall sometimes. Trying to craft sentences, when you’re not entirely sure where you’re going, and then spending hours working and ending up with nothing to show for it. In this episode I unpick the self-talk that makes this more painful than it needs to be, I introduce the concept of “thinking writing” and give you some specific tasks to experiment with. I don’t promise to stop you feeling confused - but I will move you from “confused and that’s a problem” to “confused and that’s OK and I know exactly what to do next”.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on Why Word Count Goals Don't Work for PhD Writing – And What to Do Instead

4.53 GREATEST HITS - How Winnie the Pooh can help you manage your mind

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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In this episode we think about our own inner dialogue. How do you speak to yourself? Are you critical? Quick to judgment? Pessimisitic? Put yourself under pressure? All of these things are so common in academia yet we never really get shown how to manage our minds. Instead we either indulge these thoughts (ie we believe them and look for evidence they're true) or we admonish ourselves for having them (ie we tell ourselves "we're our own worst enemy"). In this episode I'll give you a very practical (and slightly silly) technique to help you develop a more kind, compassionate, and firm inner voice. And it involves Winnie the Pooh...

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on how to coach yourself and why you should.

4.52 GREATEST HITS - How to be your own best supervisor

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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There is no voice you hear more often than the voice inside your head, yet we often spend very little time thinking about HOW we speak to ourselves and the effect it has. When did you last call yourself useless? Lazy? Stupid? In this episode we think about how we can notice our negative self-talk and start to be our own best supervisor.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on how do I stop beating myself up in hindsight?

4.51 GREATEST HITS - How to prepare for a difficult meeting

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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If you put off having difficult conversations or get frazzled just thinking about it, then you need to bookmark this episode! I am going to give you my three step process for preparing for a difficult meeting. You’ll learn how to manage your own worries, strategize for success, and leave feeling proud of yourself.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on what to do if you fail an annual review or milestone.

4.50 GREATEST HITS - How to have a great relationship with your supervisor

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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***NOTE - this is NOT talking about abusive, problematic and/or unacceptable supervision. I talk about this more in episode 19 of season 1 - What to do (and think) if you have a toxic relationship with your supervisor. The strategies in this episode are mainly focused on enhancing supervisory relationships that just don't feel as good as they could right now.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on How to manage your supervisor or boss.

4.49 GREATEST HITS - What to do if you’re lonely in academia

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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This is the second episode this week focused on community and relationships. Loneliness in academia is so common yet so rarely talked about. In this episode I’m going to get honest about some of my experiences of loneliness, share why I think academia can be a particularly lonely place, and give some tangible tips that you can use to make it all feel a bit better.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on seven things I’ve learned this year that might help you too (one of the things is about community!)

4.48 GREATEST HITS - How to build your own academic community

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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This week we’re thinking about community and relationships! So many people feel isolated in academic and like they "should" have more of a community than they do. In this episode, I talk about the benefits of having a community inside and outside of academia and the barriers there might be to building a community. I then go through some really simple tips to help you build an academic community, step by step.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on Ten lessons I learned about doing PhDs by playing Stardew Valley (no particular connection but I love this episode!

4.47 GREATEST HITS - How to prepare for your academic summer - structure and freedom

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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This is the second of my two part series about thriving in our academic summer. This time we consider the balance between structure and freedom and how to plan a summer that meets all of our needs. I chose these episodes for my greatest hits because I think there’s a lot to learn here not just for how we organise our summers but also how we plan our time and our priorities more generally.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on why we should think about our career in phases.

4.46 GREATEST HITS - How to prepare for your academic summer - acceptance and resistance

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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This is the first of my 24 favourite episodes, repeated for you this summer! The summer period can be particularly stressful for academics, whether it's because you miss the structure of "normal" term or because you don't feel like you even GET a summer any more. This is the first of two episodes considering how we can make the summer ours again and enjoy this part of the academic year. Today we're talking about the benefits of combining some "acceptance" with some "resistance" so that this doesn't feel more painful than it needs to!

We often assume that the route to achieving our goals is to “improve” ourselves in some way and so we search podcasts (like mine!), YouTube, or wherever for advice and tips. The trouble is, there’s a lot of misconceptions about what self-improvement should actually look like and even more misunderstandings about the specific tool of timeblocking. In this episode, I share five things you may well be misunderstanding and what I think you should do instead.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode with author Kirsty Sedgman on being unreasonable.

4.45 Some common misconceptions about self improvement - and what to do instead

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on seven mistakes academics make and how to avoid them.

4.44 How to do a PhD later in life (a double coaching episode)

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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Whether you are doing your PhD later in life, you supervise older PhD students, or you’re younger and sometimes feel like you’re not ready for academia, then this episode is for you. You’ll hear me coach Louise and Kath, who are doing their PhDs later in life. We discuss how imposter syndrome hits different when you’ve got prior experience, the impact of other commitments, and even some regrets. Both take some tangible next steps away from the session, so I hope you will too, whatever your life stage.

If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on doing a PhD with menstrual dysfunction.

4.43 How I made an idiot of myself (circa 2011)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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I was bored, feeling imperfect, and came up with the idea to share with you some of my idiocies from the depths of my academic career! I was very active on Facebook in the early to mid years of being an academic and apparently had no shame - in today’s episode, I share many statuses that will hopefully make you laugh AND remind you that you don’t need to be sensible or perfect to succeed in academia!

If you liked this episode, you should check out the opposite end of the scale - how I finished my PhD in just over two years (and why I wouldn’t recommend it).

4.42 How to plan time off when you’re busy

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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It’s coming to a time of year where you might be planning some time away from work, whether that’s a full holiday, a clear weekend, or even just not working in the evenings if you usually do. The trouble is, we’ve all also got a thousand things to do, and often end up telling ourselves that we don’t have time to take a break or that we will only feel guilty if we do. In this episode I take you through a process of deciding what you need, planning what that could look like, and addressing the worries you have about taking the time for yourself.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my pair of episodes on how to prepare for your academic summer - one focuses on “acceptance and resistance” and the other on “structure and freedom”.

4.41 What to do if you fail an annual review or milestone

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This episode is for anyone who either has failed a key milestone, or is worried about failing a milestone, or who knows someone who has failed a milestone. This can feel like a massive problem and often makes us doubt whether we can even achieve our goals. I’ll take you through a step-by-step process that will take you from upset and confused to clear with a plan to move forwards. Even if you’ve always passed in the end, it’s essential listening for anyone who has ever worried about failing.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on How to manage negative feedback.

4.40 Why you should body double and how to do it well

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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Body doubling is where you get in a room or virtual space with another person, with the intention of getting something done in a way that is more productive or pleasant than doing it alone. Originally developed by the disabled community, and especially those with executive functioning challenges, body doubling can be live or online, synchronous or asynchronous, and can be for any tasks that you want support in getting done. In this episode I share some of the reasons this approach can be so effective and how you can make it work for you. I’ll also share some exciting news about new videos coming your way soon!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my existing study along video here.

4.39 Nine things I learned about academia from watching reality competition shows

Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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If you think you would do better work if you had more time, or you wonder whether to push back against or accept feedback, or you get envious of the success of others, then this is a great episode for you! Having spent more time than I like to admit watching reality competition shows, I started spotting parallels with the things I was hearing in coaching. So in this episode I ramble my way through nine specific and hopefully useful examples that might help change the way you are seeing academia at the moment!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on eight things that PhD students and academics can learn from the Traitors!

4.38 How to get through the next steps post-thesis submission (A double coaching episode!)

Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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Handing in our thesis can be such a pivotal moment that we can forget there is more to do afterwards! In this double coaching episode, I chat with Lekhana and Lena who are both post-submission about the new challenges that they are facing. Lekhana discusses how the wait for her viva is affecting her motivation, whereas Lena (who is post-viva) describes the difficulties of getting changes done while navigating the transition out of academia. Hear as we coach through these common challenges - even if you’re a long way from this submission period, there’s a lot to learn!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to prepare for your viva.

4.37 How do I stop beating myself up in hindsight

Mon, 11 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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It’s so easy to look back and beat yourself up about things you feel you “should” have done earlier, differently or not at all. That can lead to a spiral of self-criticism that’s not only unfair to past us, but that also makes it really difficult to move forward for fear of experiencing the same regret in the future. In this episode, I discuss a philosophical model I came across called the Justied Decision Perspective and in what ways it could help us stop beating ourselves up in hindsight and instead move forward with more learning.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on why we should all be more compassionate and curious (one of the Be Your Own Best Boss series).

4.36 How do I know if my work is good enough

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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“Is my work good enough” is the million dollar question running through most PhD students’ (and many academics’) mind! In a sector famous for high, yet very poorly defined, standards, it’s no wonder many of us spend a lot of time worrying about whether our work is good enough. In this episode, I chat about why this concern is totally understandable (spoiler - it’s not your fault!) and why it can also be so debilitating. I suggest instead that you ask yourself “good enough for what specifically”. I’ll give you a few options to consider and some pitfalls to avoid when learning how to decide for yourself when something is good enough.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on what to do when you get contradictory advice.

4.35 What to do when you don’t stick to your systems

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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So many people set up new to-do list systems, or decide to time block, or come to one of my workshops about how to review your week, and then don’t stick to the system. We then often beat ourselves up, declare it a fail, and never go back to it. In this episode, I give you a much more productive way to figure out what to do when you don’t stick to your systems. We identify WHY you might be finding it difficult, and WHAT you can do to use your systems more consistently (and recognise what you’re already doing). If you’ve ever ditched a new planner after two weeks, this episode is for you!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on why you don’t need a new planner!

4.34 How to understand your own procrastination (a special coaching episode)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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If you think you are the only person in academia struggling with procrastination, then you need today’s episode! Hear from Susie and Zareen, two students in my PhD Life Coach membership, as we discuss hiding from the big scary thing, never feeling ready enough to start, and shiny object syndrome.You’ll hear real coaching, with real students, and get some specific tips to help you with your procrastination.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on Why you should notice the paradox of imposter syndrome.

4.33 How to cope in academia with menstrual dysfunction (a double coaching episode!)

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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In the second of my April coaching series, we hear from Til and Alex who both experience pre-menstrual dysfunction that impacts their ability to work on their PhDs. We discuss how they’re affected (including how it exacerbates their ADHD) and coach around the tricky balance between achieving their goals and looking after their health. This is a must-listen for everyone, whether you have these symptoms yourself or you care about and/or work with someone who does.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on doing a PhD with chronic illness.

4.32 How to do tasks you’ve been putting off (a special double coaching episode!)

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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This is the first in a series of live coaching episodes, where I work with students currently in The PhD Life Coach membership on issues that affect their academic lives. This week we’re starting with an old favourite - procrastination! Thoko and Deb are at different stages in their PhD journey but both struggle with procrastination and focus. We discuss why we often procrastinate planning, how we avoid working on tasks that involve accepting external critique, and why walking in the rain can be a great analogy to understand how to do tasks we’ve been putting off.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to stop procrastinating.

4.31 How to get going on work without external accountability

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0100

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One of the hardest things in academia is the lack of accountability for the most “important” work. We know we must write, but there’s rarely external deadlines and so many other things feel more urgent. One of the PhD Life Coach membership students asked how to get going on a task without external accountability and this is an extended version of my answer to her. I’ll discuss why external accountability helps, how we can put these frameworks in place for ourselves, and how to overcome common pitfalls.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on what to do if you want more reassurance.

4.30 How to write when you’re confused

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to use a do know, don’t know list.

4.29 Why you shouldn’t wait for a polished draft

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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One of the most annoying phrases I hear is “my supervisor only gives feedback on polished drafts”. This is usually accompanied by stories of wasting weeks stressing about whether the work is polished enough, only for the supervisor to later declare it “missing the point” or other such criticisms. In this episode I discuss (ok, I rant about) why waiting for a polished draft is a fundamentally flawed policy and what we should do instead. I give advice for supervisors who think that this is the easiest/best way (I know you’re not doing it to be unhelpful!) and for students whose supervisors still do this. Check it out if you’re in this position, or if you just want to hear me get a bit feisty!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to edit your work without hating yourself.

4.28 How to manage when your work is interrupted all the time

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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Lots of people struggle to get work done because they feel like they’re always interrupted, whether that’s by colleagues, friends or family. In this episode I discuss how we can explore this with curiosity, and give some tangible tips about how to reduce the likelihood of interruptions as well as reducing the impact on your work. There’s some hard truths in here too, so be ready to get called out (in a loving and compassionate way as usual!)

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to spot, and stop, all or nothing thinking.

4.27 How to stop thinking about your academic work

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

It’s easy to feel like our academic work has taken up permanent residence in our brains! Recently a member told me they woke up thinking about their PhD, went to bed thinking about it, and were fed up of not thinking about anything else. In the episode, I help you work out whether it’s a problem that you’re thinking about your work and, if you think it is, you’ll get some concrete advice about how to nudge your brain away from the topic.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to use role-based time-blocking.

4.26 What to do when you don’t have enough time

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Lots of PhD students and academics feel unable to make decisions about their time management because of a series of beliefs that feel very true. They simultaneously tell themselves “I can’t fit in writing during the day because I have other commitments” AND “I can’t write more in the evenings and weekends because I’m tired” AND “I can’t reduce my commitments during the day because they’re fixed” AND “I have to (and should be able to) find more time for my writing”. In today’s episode, I discuss how believing those four statements trap you in a box, and what you can do to find a way out.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on what to do when you have too much to do.

4.25 How to do difficult tasks

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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If you are stuck on a difficult task, then this is the episode for you! So often we get caught up on a task that we’re finding difficult, and then we struggle to see a way forward. Unfortunately we often then start making it mean something about ourselves - that we’re not good enough to be able to do the task, or that other people would find it easy, or that it “should” be achievable and it’s a problem that it’s not. In this episode we’ll think of different reasons why a task might be difficult, and go through some simple steps forward that both reframe how we think about these tasks and help us navigate a way forward.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on what to do if you feel stuck.

4.24 How to identify options when making a decision (a coaching episode with Claire!)

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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In this coaching episode, podcast listener Claire is exploring career options, but worries she lacks the lateral thinking skills to come up with possible ideas. I am not a career coach, but we use this example as an opportunity to explore how limiting beliefs can prevent you finding solutions and how there are many routes to creative ideas. Listen in as we discuss her situation and identify a path forward. If you want to be on the podcast in the future, make sure you’re on my newsletter to hear about future chances to volunteer!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on How to make decisions you love and this episode on how PhD Students Can Network Smarter & Avoid Career Panic with Dr David Mendes from Beyond the Thesis

4.23 How to manage tasks that are not on your To Do list

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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If you end the week somehow having been busy but not having done the things you intended, then this episode is for you. I’m going to help you make more intentional decisions about how to deal with tasks that land in your lap during the week, so that you can feel more in control and accomplished. I’ll also share why adding tasks to your to do list retrospectively can be a great strategy for your motivation, organisation, and future development. Let’s get control of our tasks and our weeks so that WE decide what gets done.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on Why you should never cross things off your to do list and what you should do instead.

4.22 What to do when your task is taking longer than you thought

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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Do you have a piece of work that is taking way longer than intended? This episode will help you figure out why AND what to do about it. When things take longer than we thought they would, it throws off our schedule and other tasks, and can lead to us spiralling into a panic. Often we feel like we can’t stop long enough to decide what to do - we “just” need to get it done. In this episode I’ll explain why it’s not that easy, and I’ll give you a series of quick questions to ask yourself to understand what has happened, why and what options will help you address it. Crucial listening for anyone who finds their timelines get out of control and/or for anyone who supervises someone with these issues.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on What to do when you can't judge how long things take.

4.21 How much should I work per week in academia

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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Everyone I know in academia somehow simultaneously believes that they’re working far too much AND that they’re not working enough to get it all done. That leads to a horrible situation where we feel unsatisfied and exhausted, and we often don’t get to enjoy our downtime because we feel guilty too. In this episode, I answer a very common question - how much should I be working - with a more nuanced answer than you will get from most people! If you worry you do too much or not enough, then this is the episode for you.

If you want to find the Randy Pausch lecture that I mentioned, it’s here.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to stop wasting time by trying to be too efficient.

4.20 How to manage the critical voice when you’ve got too much to do (a special DOUBLE coaching episode)

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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A critical inner voice is one of the most common and difficult experience as a PhD student or academic. In this episode, you get to hear me coaching TWO of my current students in the PhD Life Coach membership, who are both part time PhD students while holding down demanding careers in our National Health Service. It runs like one of our group coaching sessions, where they each get coached AND hear each other get coached on self-talk, prioritisation, and compassion. If you have a critical inner voice, or if you’ve ever wondered about the benefits of group coaching, then you’re in the right place!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on How Winnie the Pooh can help you manage your mind.

4.19 How to pursue goals that you’re not sure are possible

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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It’s a time of year where lots of people are setting goals, worrying about which goals to set, and then beating themselves up if they don’t meet them. In this episode, I answer a question I was asked about how to set goals when you’re not sure they’re possible. I share five ways to evaluate big audacious goals to see if they could be a good fit for you and then share two skills that you’ll need to develop in order to pursue a goal that has the potential to be unrealistic! It’s the perfect episode if you have a tempting big goal on your mind!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to achieve your goals using the self-coaching model.

4.18 How and if you should use a Brick to reduce phone usage

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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I really wanted to cut down how much I use my phone and I bought a Brick! This episode is my honest review of the experience so far, and includes some evidence-based advice about what you can and can’t expect from a product like this. I take you through my ups and downs and the behaviour change approaches that I have applied to my Brick strategy. A must for all habitual phone users! {PS this is NOT sponsored by Brick and I bought my own device!}

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on why phone addiction confession might help you too

4.17 Why I left academia (it may not be what you think)

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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We hear so much about people leaving academia at the moment and it’s easy to make assumptions about people’s reasoning. I realised when talking with a one-to-one client that my story is not necessarily a typical one, but it could be one that it is interesting for people to hear. So, in today’s episode, I share my reasoning for leaving academia. I don’t do so in an attempt to encourage others to do the same, and while telling my story, I recognise many privileges that led me to have the career that I have had. Instead I simply wanted to share my experience with you all.

If you liked this episode, you should check out “how I finished my PhD in just over two years (and why I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it)”.

4.16 Why you should notice the paradox of imposter syndrome

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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Imposter syndrome often affects the most high achieving people yet it can still feel so true that you’re “not good enough” and “conning” other people into believing you’re better than you are. In this episode, I discuss a paradox that I see a lot in academics experiencing imposter syndrome - the tendency to simultaneously believe that you are an imposter AND hold yourself to higher standards than you hold other people. I’ll discuss the five past experiences that may influence why you have these paradoxical beliefs and why recognising this can be the first step to overcoming some of these imposterish thoughts.

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to overcome imposter syndrome.

4.15 What to do when you don’t know what to do

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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One of the most paralysing thoughts in academia is “I don’t know what to do”. Whether it’s about your next career move or how to analyse your data or what argument you want to emphasise, we can get stuck in the “don’t knows” for weeks or months. In this episode I help you break “I don’t know” down into “I can find out”, “I can’t know”, and “I get to decide”, so that you can plan a route forwards. Perfect for anyone who is bored of feeling stuck in indecision!

If you liked this episode, you should check out my episode on how to use a “do know don’t know” list.

4.14 What to do when the **** hits the fan

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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Short one this week - I am using a current example from my own life to talk you through how to look after yourself when it all goes wrong. I talk through how I decided what work I am and am not going to do, and how I am looking after myself in the process. It’s short and the audio will be less crisp as I’m recording on my phone but I think it will be useful for many of you.

4.13 How to celebrate big wins without getting too big for your boots

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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We’ve talked before about celebrating tiny wins, so now we’re talking about big wins. If you feel uncomfortable celebrating papers being accepted, finishing your PhD or getting a job, or any of the other big objective successes, then you’re not alone. In this episode we’ll talk about why this can feel so uncomfortable, how we can expand our definition of “celebration” and how we can ensure that we recognise and remember these important events. This is particularly relevant for you if that sounds much too embarrassing and social awkward to even consider!

If you liked this episode, you should check out “how to be kind to yourself”.

4.12 What the Celebrity Traitors taught me about imposter syndrome

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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THIS EPISODE CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS!! Imposter syndrome is top of my mind at the moment because it’s the focus of my membership this quarter. I’m also utterly obsessed with The Traitors and have been loving the UK Celebrity Traitors which just finished. If you want to hear how the final five (and the winner in particular) made me reflect on imposter syndrome, and hear my tenuous links to an academic context, then check out this episode! If you haven’t seen it, and have no intention of watching it, no worries - you’ll still get some useful insight into overcoming imposter syndrome!

If you liked this episode, you should check out “eight things PhD students and academics can learn from The Traitors”. I am apparently obsessed….

4.11 Why my phone addiction confession might help you too

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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This week I’m confessing my dirty secrets. Have a listen and compare your screen time to mine! I talk through why I’m unhappy with my current phone usage, why I’m not beating myself and what I’m doing instead. If you’ve ever felt like you can only change by “being more disciplined” or “criticising yourself into wanting it enough” then this is an important episode for you. I might not have a success to report back yet in terms of reducing my phone usage, but I’m feeling very proud of how I’m going about this challenge!

If you liked this episode, you should check out “how accepting where you are is the first step to getting where you want to be”.

4.10 Why we should celebrate tiny silly wins

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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If you’re bored of reading people’s “I’m happy to announce…” posts on LinkedIn, where they only seem to celebrate big wins like “I got a new job” or “my paper’s published”, then this episode is for you. I’ll tell you why big wins aren’t as motivating as they could be, why we should look out for tiny wins, and why sometimes the sillier the win, the better! Join my tiny win revolution and share your silliest wins today! Post on LinkedIn or Instagram, tag me, and use the hashtag #tinywins, and I’ll pick my favourite post in November 2025 and give you a free 30 min coaching session!

If you liked this episode, you should check out “why we should be more proud of ourselves and how to do it”.

4.09 Why you are more than a Gantt chart

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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Sometimes it can feel like the only thing that matters is whether you are “on track” or not. We measure our self-worth in progress, we report to our supervisors about where we are against our plans, and the only answer we can think of to “how’s it going?” is “busy”. In this episode I talk about why you are so much more than a Gantt chart and how believing that can change the way we interact with our supervisors, our friends and families and, most importantly, how we treat ourselves. This is perfect for anyone who is fed up of feeling behind all the time.

If you liked this episode, you should check out “how to cope with annoying comments at Christmas” (even if it’s not Christmas!)

4.08 How to stay focused when a lot’s going on - a special coaching episode

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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In this episode, I talk with Gabriela, a student in my PhD Life Coach membership. She is taking a few weeks off to get married and is struggling with getting distracted, worried that she’ll feel guilty while she’s away, and that she’ll dread coming back. Listen as we work through ways to address these challenges. Whether you are taking a big break like Gabriela, or you struggle to switch off even for the weekend, this episode will help you! You can also hear more about what it’s like being a student in my membership.

If you like listening to coaching episodes, you might like this conversation with final year student Swagata, about overcoming overwhelm and overwork in the last few months of her PhD.

4.07 Why you need an instruction manual

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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When you buy something like a car or a piece of technology, you get a manual - it explains what you need to do routinely to keep the product running well and helps you troubleshoot common issues. Today we consider what would go in YOUR instruction manual - what does it take to keep you as a human being running smoothly during your academic experience and how should we deal with common challenges that come up. I help you identify what should go into your “manual” and how this can help us thrive in our studies and careers.

If you found this episode useful, you might like this episode on what to do if you’re behaving like a toddler!

4.06 I answer listener questions

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today I’m answering listener questions in the same way that I answer questions for students in my memberships. People have submitted questions about all aspects of PhD Life and I’ve selected 7 to talk about today - for each question, I help you unpick what is really the problem, what is making it feel difficult and try to give some tangible ways forward. In the membership I do this all the time and post the answers into our private podcast. Listening to other people’s questions being answered helps you apply the learning to your own life so have a listen and see which of these resonate for you!

If you found this episode useful, you might like this client Q&A episode, where I discuss getting stuff done when you don’t really feel like it.

4.05 How to send that scary email

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today I’m sharing a real life coaching experience we had in the membership this week. One of the members came to an online coaching session because she had a “scary” email to send and she realised she’d been procrastinating for what felt to her like ages. You have likely experienced this too! The trouble is, when it feels scary, we often end up overthinking it, making it more complicated than it needs to be, and/or putting off actually sending the email for a long time. In this episode, I take you through the process I took my member through to go from “I’m too scared” to “let’s get this done”.

If you found this episode useful, you might like this client Q&A episode, where I discuss post-deadline slumps, uncommunicate supervisors, and judging your own work.

4.04 How to prioritise when you have competing challenges - a coaching session with Predrag

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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In this coaching episode, I’m chatting with a part-time, international student who is juggling full time work, a family, a disability, and a PhD that started many years ago. Predrag contacted me for help with prioritisation and time management. Regardless of your own situation, this discussion will help you think through how to balance your different commitments and how to structure your time when everything feels important.

If you found this episode useful, you might like this one on how to read academic papers more quickly and this recent one on how to make better notes.

4.03 How to mentor anyone in academia with Dr Maria Lamonaca Wisdom

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Whether you’re a PhD student or an academic, we need to be thinking about how to make mentoring more effective and enjoyable for everyone involved. This week I’m talking with author and university leader Dr Maria Lamonaca Wisdom about her new book, How To Mentor Anyone In Academia. We chat about why mentoring can be so challenging, how we can set ourselves up for success whether we’re the mentor or the mentee, and what we’d change if we were in charge of university systems.

You can find Maria's book on the Princeton University Press site here.

If you found this episode useful, you might like this one on how to have a great relationship with your supervisor.

4.02 How to take better notes

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Pretty much all PhD students have a vague (or very strong) sense that they’re not taking “good enough” notes. Yet for most of us, we’re not really clear what good enough notes would actually be like, and often have really unrealistic expectations about what function our notes should serve in the future. In this episode, I don’t give you new systems or softwares to improve your notetaking - instead, I talk about how notetaking is your first opportunity to practice being an academic who is IN the field, not just reporting ON the field. I’ll give you some specific notetaking activities to try and a pep talk on how important it is for the world to hear YOUR academic voice.

If you found this episode useful, you might like this one on how to read more quickly and this one on why we should stop focusing on being more efficient.

4.01 How to use your existing expertise when you feel like an imposter

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Feeling like you know absolutely nothing is perhaps the worst part of doing a PhD. You know you need to become an expert but often you feel like a complete imposter. One great strategy is to identify areas of your life where you DO feel more competent or confident and consider how to transfer that learning to your PhD. This could be a past or current career or even hobbies and life experiences that you often overlook. In this episode, I’ll talk about why this is so helpful and how to use your expertise to make your PhD progress more easily.

If you found this episode useful, you might like this one on how to overcome imposter syndrome.

3.48 What to do when you don’t make time for yourself (special coaching episode with Gillian)

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today I’m coaching Gillian who is a member of The PhD Life Coach membership! She has been making great progress on her procrastination during Q2 of the membership, but asked for coaching around making time for herself. She lives with her parents and young son, and finds that she spends all her time in daughter mode, mum mode, and PhD student mode, and hasn’t been “just Gillian” for a while. She also finds the different roles blend together which can make her feel like she’s doing everything and nothing at the same time. Listen in as we work through her challenges and come up with a plan!

If you found this episode useful, you might also like this one with Marie on How to plan your week.

3.47 What to do if you’re lonely in academia

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Loneliness in academia is so common yet so rarely talked about. In this episode I’m going to get honest about some of my experiences of loneliness, share why I think academia can be a particularly lonely place, and give some tangible tips that you can use to make it all feel a bit better.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might like this episode on the six types of social support you need and this one on how to build your academic community.

3.46 How to prepare for a difficult meeting

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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If you are preparing for a viva or oral defence, check out this episode for more specific advice.

3.45 How to write your discussion when you don’t know how (special coaching episode with Becci)

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today I’m coaching Becci who is writing her final thesis discussion chapter. She told me “I feel like I don't really know what I'm doing and I'm just flailing around in the dark spewing out thousands of words and wondering what my point even is. Up to now, I've found it quite easy to understand what I need to do and what chapters need to look like but this part just feels like a huge and important amorphous blob.” Hear how we worked through these thoughts and came to a plan (and listen to the end of the episode to hear where Becci is now!!)

Links:

If you want to hear other people getting coached, sign up here to get a full searchable archive of the podcast - you can filter by “coaching” and find all the episodes!

3.44 Understanding how power affects student-supervisor relationships

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today we’re thinking about the relationships we have with our supervisors/advisors. These are one of the most complex and important elements of your PhD experience yet we rarely consider the nature of the relationships. In this episode, we think about how power is distributed in these relationships and how this affects how we each behave. This episode is relevant for PhD students AND supervisors, even if you think you have a great relationship!

Links:

You might also find these episodes on managing your supervisory relationships useful.

How to have a great relationship with your supervisor

What to do if you have a toxic relationship with your supervisor

3.43 Answering your questions – balancing different commitments, academic role models and surviving publish or perish culture

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today I’m answering listener questions! We hear from people who are feeling pulled in different directions for a variety of reasons, a student who feels she lacks academic role models, and another feeling pressured by a publish or perish culture. I give some words of advice and thoughts to consider to help navigate these challenges. Remember – if you have questions you want answered, join my newsletter and send them over and I’ll answer them in a future episode!

Links:

You can hear me answer other listener questions here and here.

3.42 What to do if you are considering leaving your PhD – a special coaching episode

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Today you get to hear a real coaching session with a listener, Ruth, who is considering not finishing her PhD. We talk through the reasons and I take her through a process to help her make a decision that works for her. This is a great episode for you if you ever doubt your own abilities to finish your PhD or if you have any big decisions to make.

3.41 Thriving with autism in academia: Advice for students and universities

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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In this episode, I’m joined by Jess Dineen, who is both a PhD student and a neurodivergent consultant, speaker, coach, and founder of NeuroNatives. We discuss the strengths and challenges of being in academia with autism, how autistic people can support and advocate for themselves, and how individuals and universities can better support neurodivergent people. Whether you are autistic yourself, or you want to be more inclusive and supportive of your autistic colleagues, Jess shares both lived experiences and evidence based strategies that will help.

Links:

Connect with Jess on LinkedIn and find out more about her business Neuronatives.

3.40 How to read academic papers more quickly

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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One of the most common comments I hear from PhD students is that reading always takes longer than they expect. In this episode, I share four elements that you need to take into account when deciding how much time you are going to give an article, book or other piece of writing. By being more intentional in considering these elements, you can be much more accurate in how long each piece will take to read and often read it in less time. This is crucial for anyone at any stage of their research career – not only will it help you to manage workflow and hit deadlines, it will also improve your understanding of the literature.

3.39 How to get ahead when you’re feeling behind

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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In this episode, best selling author Sophie Hannah shares her “Book Ahead” method for managing multiple projects when you already feel behind. Born in the midst of a particularly busy year of writing, the first iteration of the Book Ahead method not only got the job done, it also changed how Sophie felt about herself, her other projects, and one of her long-standing “bad habits”. If you feel like you’ll be behind forever and want a technique that doesn’t just involve simply working more, then this is the episode for you!

Links:

About Sophie Hannah and the Dream Author coaching programme

Pre-order Sophie’s new book, No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done

– UK, North America; available at other good bookshops!

3.38 Nine things PhD students need to tell themselves more often

Mon, 26 May 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Most PhD students and academics spend a lot of time telling themselves they’re not doing enough, they’re behind or they’re not good enough. Even if you truly believe that’s true, constantly having those comments in your head makes everything feel more difficult. When I talk with clients about intentionally choosing other thoughts, they often struggle to come up with thoughts that might help more AND that still feel true. In this episode, I give you nine examples that you can pick up and play with today!

Links:

What to do when you get contradictory advice

How to coach yourself (and why you should)

Why what you do matters (and when it doesn’t)

3.37 Why academics need to think like entrepreneurs

Mon, 19 May 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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In this episode, I welcome Dr Ilana Horwitz, author of the new book, The Entrepreneurial Scholar. Being entrepreneurial isn’t just about starting a business — it’s about thinking creatively, seizing opportunities, and applying academic skills in innovative ways. We explore how PhD students and academics can develop an entrepreneurial mindset and connect with people outside their field to unlock new possibilities. Plus, we talk about how academic careers can be enriched by embracing flexibility and finding new ways to contribute to society, whether through collaboration, commercialization, or interdisciplinary projects.

Links

Find out more about Dr Ilana Horwitz here.

The Entrepreneurial Scholar website (Ilana’s book)

3.36 Why you shouldn’t always do your best

Mon, 12 May 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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If you are bored of being told “just do your best” and not knowing what that means, then this is the episode for you. We are gonna talk today about why you shouldn't be trying to do your best all the time, what the problems are if you do try and do your best all the time, and most importantly, what you should do instead.

Links:

Why perfect plans fail

Client Q&A – getting it done when you don’t feel like it

3.35 How PhD Students Can Network Smarter & Avoid Career Panic with Dr David Mendes from Beyond the Thesis

Mon, 05 May 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Struggling to figure out your career path after your PhD? In this episode, David Mendes—host of the Beyond the Thesis podcast—shares expert tips on using networking to map out your job market early. Learn how to have strategic career conversations, explore industry roles, and avoid last-minute decision panic. This conversation offers practical steps PhD students can take to better understand their options and plan with confidence.

Links:

Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD (David’s podcast)

Connect with David on LinkedIn

David’s Skool.com link

3.34 Why making halfassed decisions is making your PhD harder

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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We don’t usually think of a PhD as a decision making process but it really is. We decide what research we do, how we do it, how we report it, and we make hundreds of decisions a day about what order we will do work in, what opportunities we will take up and refuse, and who we should ask for support. In this episode, I share the problems that happen we only vaguely, half-heartedly make decisions – and as usual, let you know what we need to do instead.

3.33 How to make your week more effective

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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If you start your weeks strong but usually end disappointed, then this episode is for you! I’m going to be sharing how everything improved for me when I separated “boss me” from “implementer me” and used that idea to understand why I felt so frustrated at the end of the week. I’ll identify the most common issues so you can see which resonate most with you and give you some specific ideas to try out this week!

Sign up for the webinar on 23rd April 2025 here

3.32 How to work out why you procrastinate and what to do about it

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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Pretty much every PhD student struggles with procrastination yet the advice is often very generic. In this episode, I talk about a theoretical framework that helps us better understand why each of us, as individuals, procrastinate so that we can make more tailored plans to support ourselves. I also explain why it’s totally understandable that you procrastinate and why we know it’s a modifiable behaviour – i.e. you can change!

You can find the link to the Svartdal and Lokke paper here.

3.31 Protecting your mental health during your PhD with Dr Marissa Edwards

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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This week I’m joined by Dr Marissa Edwards, one of the editors of the Research Handbook of Academic Mental Health. We chat about why higher education can be a uniquely stressful environment, why some researchers may have particular challenges, and how we can look after ourselves while we navigate our academic careers.

Links:

You can find out more about Dr Marissa Edwards here and connect with her on LinkedIn

Her book is the Research Handbook of Academic Mental Health.

We also mentioned Dr Zoe Ayres’ book Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD.

If you found this episode useful, you might also like these:

Are you in an emotional overdraft?

Overcoming overwhelm and overwork in your PhD

Creating positive academic environments – insights from sport psychology

3.30 Doing a PhD with a chronic illness, with special guest Krystina François

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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In this episode, we welcome Krystina François, a third year PhD student and current member of The PhD Life Coach membership. Krystina shares her experiences of doing a PhD with chronic illness, coming to terms with being disabled, and how she balances the needs of her PhD with looking after her health. We have a mini coaching session about her writing schedule, which is relevant for all PhD students, as well as hearing her recommendations about how universities could better support students completing their research with health challenges.

If you found this episode useful, you might also like these:

How and if to work when things feel uncertain

How to stop feeling guilty when you rest

How to seek the help you need

3.29 How to Stop Wasting Time by Trying to Be Too Efficient

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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In this episode of The PhD Life Coach podcast, Dr Vikki Wright explains why chasing ‘perfect efficiency’ is actually making your PhD harder. Many students think that taking flawless notes or writing excellent first drafts will save time — but this mindset often leads to procrastination and stress. Instead, Vikki reveals why starting imperfectly is the key to progress. She explains that writing is part of the thinking process, reading evolves with your understanding, and connecting with others can be the most effective use of your time. If you're overwhelmed by the pressure to be ‘productive’, this episode will help you work smarter — not harder. Ideal for PhD students and academics feeling stuck, behind, or anxious about their thesis. Listen now to learn how embracing imperfection can help you finish your PhD with less stress.

Links I refer to in this episode:

Why you shouldn’t read when you’re writing

Why perfect plans fail: embracing imperfection in academic writing

How to get started on a task

How to use the do know don’t know list

3.28 How to overcome your fear of presenting (with special guest, author Linda Ugelow)

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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If you dread presentations, or would just like to be a bit more confident when speaking, then this episode is for you! Linda Ugelow, author of Delight in the Limelight, is talking about why so many of us struggle with public speaking and what we can all do to improve. If you listen carefully, you’ll also find out what happened when I was live on stage in a wetsuit too 😊

You can find out all about Linda here or follow her on TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.
You can also buy her book, Delight in the Limelight or find it on Audible.

You can get her Speaker Preparation Checklist to feel grounded, focused, and energized when you speak.

If you want a giggle, you can also watch my FameLab disaster video and my response

3.27 How to “do it all” – a listener Q&A episode!

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode I answer three questions from listeners on different topics, but that are all loosely connected to the idea that we want to be able to “do it all”. I give Julia some tips on writing up a PhD with small children, I advise Susan on how prepare for her comprehensive exams, and I give Sajini some ideas about managing overwhelm when balancing writing up with working as an international student. Interestingly, these are all topics that I don’t have direct experience of, but stay with me as I apply our mindset principles to these very real challenges.

3.26 How to look after yourself when conducting emotionally distressing research

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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All research can be stressful but if your topic is inherently distressing, it becomes even more important to look after your own wellbeing.

In today’s episode, I welcome Dr Tina Skinner and Sarah Warbis who are experts in researcher wellbeing. They talk about how researchers can support themselves and, even more importantly, what support institutions should be putting in place to ensure that those conducting research in distressing topics get the help they need. Whatever your topic, there is a useful advice about caring for your own wellbeing.

*Please note that there is brief mention of some distressing topics from the start.*

Links

The Researcher Well-Being Project

Join the Researcher Well-Being Group

You might also be interested in this new research by Dr Mary Quinton on Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts.

3.25 How to edit your work without hating yourself

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Links I refer to in this episode

How to shorten your work

How to handle negative feedback

What to do when you get contradictory advice

How to break work down into chunks

How to improve your writing (with Dr Katy Peplin)

3.24 How and why to write for Medium (and beyond)

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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Want more people to read your research? This week, I’m joined by Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium, to explore the benefits of writing for a general audience. We’ll discuss how sharing your ideas beyond academia can boost your visibility, strengthen your writing skills, and position you as an expert. If you’ve ever wondered whether anyone will actually read what you write—or how to reach more people—this episode is for you!

Find out more about Tony Stubblebine and some of his most popular articles here

3.23 Why what you do matters (and when it doesn’t)

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you ever wonder why you’re even doing this? Whether your research actually matters and whether the world actually cares? In this episode I’m telling you exactly why I believe your work matters, no matter what you’re researching. I’ll also tell you what bits (that we often worry about) don’t matter! This episode is designed to listen to whenever you need it, so make sure you save it somewhere for those days when you’re struggling!

Links I refer to in this episode

What to do when you want more reassurance

3.22 Are you in an emotional overdraft? With special guest author Andy Brown

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you ever feel like you’re only succeeding because you’re working more than is healthy? That you are subsidizing your work at the expense of your wellbeing? Then today’s episode is a must listen! I welcome Andy Brown, author of The Emotional Overdraft and we chat about what we mean by an Emotional Overdraft, how to know if you have one, and what to do about it.

Links I refer to in this episode

You can find out more about Andy Brown and The Emotional Overdraft here

Find out the extent of your emotional overdraft by completing this assessment

3.21 Six types of social support you need as a PhD student (and how to get it)

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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Doing a PhD and even working in academia can be a lonely business. Sometimes we just don't feel like we've got the support we need around us. In this episode, I am going to identify six different types of social support that I think all academics need and give you some ideas to start assessing where you think you are at the moment. From there we’ll identify some steps forward that you can take, so that you can get the social support that you need.

Links I refer to in this episode

You can find links to Dr Lilia Mantai’s research here

How to build your own academic community

3.20 Why we should think less about deadlines (and what we should do instead)

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you find yourself putting stuff off because it’s not due yet or never reaching some goals because they don’t have a specific deadline at all? Is the only thing that actually gets you moving that slight panic associated with a looming deadline? If so, this is totally normal but it can mean that work feels very pressured and that we don’t always do the things that we want to be doing in the long term. In this episode, I will talk about how we can reduce our dependence on deadlines and how we can use start dates to organise our tasks instead.

Links I refer to in this episode

Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

How to do role-based time blocking

Total Workday Control by Michael Lindenberger

3.19 Secrets we wish PhD students knew with Dr Gertrude Nonterah of the Bold PhD

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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In this episode, I chat with Dr Gertrude Nonterah, founder of The Bold PhD. She shares her own experience of transitioning from an academic career to an industry position and starting her own business that supports people with PhDs to build their personal brand and find jobs outside academia. She also shares some of the hints and tips that she has gathered through speaking with hundreds of academics, that she wishes all PhD students knew!

Links I refer to in this episode

Dr Gertrude Nonterah on LinkedIn

The Bold PhD

55 academics reveal PhD student secrets you won’t learn in school!

3.18 How and When to Change Your Plans: Overcoming Resistance, Embracing Flexibility, and Making Big Moves

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Changing plans can feel daunting, especially when you’re committed to a specific path and you’re not sure what is the “right” decision. In this episode, we dive into why it’s so hard to shift gears, why adaptability is essential for success, and how to navigate change without losing momentum. You'll also hear about a major update I’m making to my membership programme—offering insights that could inspire your own big decisions. Whether you’re rethinking your PhD research goals or looking to build resilience in your everyday life, this episode is packed with practical tips and real-world examples to help you embrace change with confidence.

Links I refer to in this episode

How to make decisions that you love

How to go from idea overload to clarity

3.17 Overcoming Overwork and Overwhelm in the Final Months of Your PhD (a special coaching episode!)

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I coach Swagata, a PhD student navigating the intense overwhelm and exhaustion of her final months of writing up. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of looming deadlines, struggled to balance rest with productivity, or found yourself trapped in guilt for taking a break, this episode is for you.

What’s inside this episode?
✨ The challenges of finishing a PhD – Swagata shares her honest experience of overwork, guilt around resting, and feeling like her energy isn’t enough to meet the demands of writing up.
✨ Practical time-management strategies – Together, we explore actionable ways to organise her time effectively, so she can focus on what truly matters without burning out.
✨ Reframing unhelpful thoughts – I help Swagata identify and challenge thought patterns that are making her PhD journey more painful than it needs to be, offering insights that can help you, too.
This episode is packed with relatable struggles and realistic solutions for any PhD student feeling overwhelmed. You’ll gain practical tips to ease your workload and mindset shifts to approach your final months with more clarity and confidence.

👉 Listen now to discover how to tackle overwork, embrace rest guilt-free, and finish your PhD without sacrificing your well-being.

3.16 Why I’m banning highlighters

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I make a feisty case for why we should ban highlighters! I’ll give you four reasons they’re not helping you and tell you what you should be doing instead. Forward this to all your favourite stationery-obsessed friends!

3.15 Creating Positive Academic Environments: Insights from Sports Psychology with Dr Andrew Dewar

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

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In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Andrew Dewar from Oxygen Conservation to explore how we can build more positive, motivational environments in academia using insights from sports psychology.

We dive into strategies for fostering recovery, supporting each other, and creating climates that inspire students and supervisors alike. Learn how to:

Create a supervisory relationship that cares for both the people involved AND academic performance
Boost autonomy, competence, and connection in your academic life.
Apply proven techniques from sports psychology to reduce stress and enhance performance.

Whether you’re a PhD student striving for balance or a supervisor aiming to better support your team, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in academia.

🎧 Tune in to discover how you can contribute to something bigger while achieving your personal and professional goals.

Links I refer to in this episode

Dr Andrew Dewar (LinkedIn)

Oxygen Conservation

Andrew’s podcast episode – From Hire to High Performance

Radical Candor by Cal Newport

So good they can’t ignore you by Cal Newport

Stephen Covey’s Circle of Influence

3.14 Why Word Count Goals Don't Work for PhD Writing – And What to Do Instead

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, we’re diving into a common trap many PhD students and academics fall into: setting word count goals like “500 words a day” or “6,000 words by next month.” While these goals sound productive, they often oversimplify the complex process of academic writing.

I’ll explain why relying on word count as a measure of progress can hinder your motivation and overlook crucial aspects of writing, such as revising, outlining, and refining ideas. Most importantly, I’ll share smarter, more effective ways to track your progress and keep your writing on track without feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re struggling to stay motivated with your thesis, dissertation, or academic papers, this episode is here to help you rethink how you approach writing. Tune in to make meaningful progress without getting stuck in the word count trap!

Perfect for PhD students, early career researchers, and anyone navigating academic writing challenges.

Links I refer to in this episode

Why you shouldn’t read when you’re writing

How to plan your academic writing (with special guest Dr Jo Van Every)

How to break your work down into chunks

3.13 Client Q&A - Motivating yourself in your final year, achieving post-PhD goals, and effective podcast listening

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I answer three thought-provoking questions from PhD students and graduates:

Handling Final-Year Disappointment
A PhD student asks how to cope with the sense of disappointment that can arise in the final year when you realise your initial goals and ambitions have had to be scaled back. I explain why this is actually a good sign and how to use this understanding to motivate yourself to move forwards.
Staying Motivated Post-PhD
Charlotte, a member of my coaching programme, seeks advice on self-coaching as she works on writing papers post-PhD, with no pressing deadlines or external accountability. I explore ways to find intrinsic motivation and structure this next phase of her academic journey.
Making the Most of Podcasts
Sophie enjoys listening to podcasts while multitasking but struggles with taking notes or fully engaging with the content. I offer tips for integrating podcasts into her routine more effectively to maximise their value.

This episode is packed with practical advice for navigating common challenges in your academic journey and beyond.

Links I refer to in this episode

How to go from idea overload to clarity

3.12 Why perfect plans fail: Embracing imperfection in academic planning

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I share a fresh approach to planning for PhD students and academics that doesn’t rely on perfection. If you’ve ever felt like planning isn’t for you because you “never stick to it,” this episode is for you. We’ll explore imperfect planning: creating flexible time structures that make it easy to pick back up after things go off track.

Tune in to learn:

Why expecting perfection derails most plans
How to make plans that support your goals without guilt
Simple tips for sticking with your goals in a flexible, realistic way

Perfect for anyone balancing research, deadlines, and the unpredictable journey of PhD life!

Links I refer to in this episode

How to use role-based time-blocking

How to plan when you hate planning

3.11 Navigating AI during your PhD: An Honest Conversation with Dr. Jessica Parker of MoxieLearn

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Whether you’re a regular AI user or prefer to keep your distance, understanding AI’s role in academia is becoming essential. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jessica Parker, founder of the AI platform MoxieLearn, about the when, why, and how of using AI as a PhD student. We explore where AI can genuinely enhance your research—and where it might fall short. From the best benefits to the biggest pitfalls, and even some thought-provoking questions about the future of higher education, we delve into both the philosophical and the practical sides of AI. Tune in for insights, real-world advice, and an honest look at what AI means for the PhD journey.

Links I refer to in this episode

Moxie

Moxie's Research

Dr Jessica Parker’s LinkedIn Profile

Ethan Mollick's Substack "One Useful Thing"

The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI

Dr Sarah Eaton – Six tenets of post plagiarism

3.10 How to go from idea overload to clarity

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

I don’t know about you but my brain has so many ideas and thoughts of things I should do, shouldn’t do, mustn’t forget, want to change, or need to make a decision about. I needed a system to get them out of my head but where I knew I would come back to them. In this episode, I’m sharing a system I’ve been testing to help capture and crucially organise and act on ideas more effectively. This process is all about easing mental overload, holding onto those fleeting insights, and spotting patterns in our thinking to boost clarity and problem-solving. I’m still experimenting at the moment, so I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas—perhaps there are tweaks that could make this even more useful for researchers and PhD students!

Links I refer to in this episode

How to plan your week (with special guest and ex-client Marie)

How to use role-based time blocking

How to manage your tasks

Second Brain by Tiago Forte

Zettelkasten Method

Obsidian

3.09 Client Q&A – post-deadline slumps, uncommunicative supervisors, and judging your own work

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you struggle to get back into work after a big deadline? Have issues connecting with your supervisor? Or feel like you don’t even know whether your work is good enough or not? Then this episode is for you! In my second client Q&A episode, I answer three questions from listeners on these topics and give actionable advice if you find yourself in these situations. I even give a little controversial advice to supervisors so make sure you listen out for that too!

Links I refer to in this episode

What to do if you want more reassurance

How to manage your supervisor or boss

How to have a great relationship with your supervisor

What to do and think if you have a toxic relationship with your supervisor

How to improve your writing

3.08 How to be more patient and realistic (part of the Be Your Own Best Boss series)

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you make unrealistic plans and get impatient that you’re not progressing more quickly, then this is the episode for you! I’m going to give you specific tips about how to be more realistic and more patient so that you can be a better boss to yourself! I’ll talk about when you need to be realistic and patient, what thoughts will help and what feelings, actions and results we can then generate. If you like it, check out the rest of the five part series where I talk about 8 other qualities – compassionate, curious, strategic, ambitious, intentional, resourceful, encouraging and accepting. These all come from my online course, how to be your own best boss, which you can find on my website if you want more support! www.thephdlifecoach.com

Links I refer to in this episode

Why we all need to be more intentional and resourceful

Why we all need to be more encouraging and accepting

Why we all need to be more compassionate and curious

How to be more strategic and ambitious

3.07 How (and if) to work when things feel uncertain

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

It’s a tough world at the moment. I’ve had lots of clients struggling with job insecurity, family or personal health issues, and the direct or indirect effects of all the bad stuff that’s happening in the world right now. In this podcast, I give some ideas about how you can show yourself compassion, decide what (if any) work you are capable of, and how to support yourself through these challenges times. The emphasis is always on compassion - it’s OK to find this difficult. When we can reduce the self-judgment, we can then spend time thinking about how to support ourselves.

3.06 How to inspire the next generation (with Rosa Smith from the Brilliant Club)

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0100

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Do you remember what fascinated you about your PhD topic? Sometimes when we’re stuck in the middle of endless studying it can be hard to recall why we even chose this programme. This week in the podcast I’m talking to Rosa Smith from the Brilliant Club about how sharing your research with schoolkids can inspire everyone involved! Rosa talks about how the Brilliant Club works with less advantaged young people in non-selective, non-feeing paying schools in the UK and improves critical thinking skills, academic performance and university prospects. In addition, we hear about how the PhD student tutors in turn develop their communication skills, organisation, confidence and teaching skills, all while getting to share their research with others. You can find out more about the Brilliant Club here - https://thebrilliantclub.org/

3.05 Client Q&A – getting it done when you don’t feel like it

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you struggle to get stuff done when you don’t feel like working, this episode is for you! I’m answering three questions from my listeners:

Q1 How do I go from rough notes to writing sentences?
Q2 How do I edit when I’m scared I’ll realise it’s rubbish?
Q3 How do I get stuff done when I feel unmotivated?

I’ll tell you all the ways this is totally normal AND what you can do about it!

BTW Do you ever have questions that you’d love to have answered by someone understanding and knowledgeable? Drop questions in the comments and I’ll answer them in a future episode!

Links I refer to in this episode

How to write the thing when you’re struggling to write the thing

How to improve your writing with Dr Katy Peplin

How to plan your academic writing with Dr Jo VanEvery

How to work with the version of you that shows up

3.04 How to be more strategic and ambitious

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Sometimes in academia being “strategic” and “ambitious” can feel like criticisms – like we’re building our career at the expense of others or being too “corporate” for a university setting. In reality, being strategic and ambitious is just about deciding what contribution you want to make to the world and why. If you often underestimate yourself, or feel like however hard you work other people are progressing more quickly, then this is the perfect episode for you. It’s another in my Be Your Own Best Boss series, helping you to be the exact boss to yourself that you need. We’ll think about the circumstances in which it’s useful to be strategic and ambitious, what thoughts and feelings will help you, what actions you need to take and what results you will get. This will help with goal setting, prioritisation and decision making – there’s even some inspiring motivation for you at the end!

Links I refer to in this episode

Why we all need to be more intentional and resourceful

3.03 How to get started on a task

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

A lot of PhD students and academics struggle to get started on a task or believe that they can’t start until they’ve got lots of time. In this episode, I show you how to get started on a task, so that you can complete work even when you’re busy, with less drama and stress. I show you how some of your thoughts are holding you back and give you three ways to get started on your key tasks.

Links I refer to in this episode

How to use the Do Know Don't Know List

How to break your work down into chunks

How to use Role Based Time Blocking

3.02 How to start the academic year

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This week, we’re talking about starting a new academic year! This is NOT about goal setting or new resolutions - instead I'm talking about three ways that you can start the year that are more positive and empowering. These are how to harness your strengths, how to predict the future (and why) and how to modify your environment to support yourself to succeed. These are inspired by my How To Start As You Mean To Go on workshop that I ran for my membership a couple of weeks ago – this will be available as a self-paced course soon, so keep an eye out for that!

3.01 How the PhD Life Coach can help you this year

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

We are back for a brand new season and I want to help all of you struggling with procrastination, overwhelm, imposter syndrome, working too much, not working enough, feeling behind, having too much to do or wondering if you want to be doing this at all. In the episode I'm going to give you five FREE ways that I can help you, one nearly free way (ie someone else pays!) and then a couple of options if you're ready to work with me more closely. Check it out!

2.48 Why we should ask if this will make the summary

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Sometimes we can feel like we have to do everything, that everything is urgent, and we don't even know when to start. Sometimes the best approach is to work out how to be efficient, organise ourselves and get stuff done. Other times, it's worth questioning what we're doing and whether it really matters. In this episode we're going to reflect on creating a "summary" of our careers and asking "will this make the summary?" We can use this perspective to decide what we do and how we do it, so that we can achieve our goals and enjoy the process. This is the last episode of season 2 and we will be back in a few weeks for season 3 and the new academic year! In the meantime, check out some of the back catalogue of episodes that you might have missed or revisit some of your favourites.

****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.47 Nine lessons the Olympics taught me that help in academia

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Whether you have been watching the Olympics or not, we have so much we can learn from Olympians. Don't worry - this is not going to be the usual "you've got to work harder, you've got to grind" toxic mindset. I am going to share nine lessons that you probably haven't thought about before, that you can use to help you finish your PhD and succeed in academia!

YouTube link here!

****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.46 How to work with the version of you who shows up (with special guest Dr Alison Miller)

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Sometimes we have the best intentions for the work we're going to do, but we wake up just not feeling it. We're tired, we lack focus, we don't think we're in the right frame of mind to work. Sometimes we beat ourselves up and force ourselves to sit down and work and other times we just give up entirely. In today's episode, Dr Alison Miller, of The Academic Writers' Space, tells us why she believes we should learn to work with the version of us that shows up. She takes us through some simple exercises that we can use to first understand and then potentially modify the way we're feeling so we can achieve our goals while honouring ourselves.

****

Alison Miller, PhD is a dissertation coach and academic productivity expert. She is the founder of The Dissertation Coach, a coaching and consulting company that has helped over 14,000 graduate students earn their degrees, She is also the founder of The Academic Writers' Space (TAWS), a virtual coworking community designed for academic writers who want to work effectively and sustainably. Alison recently transitioned to running TAWS full-time. She is dedicated to the success and well-being of graduate students and academic writers everywhere.

Learn more about Alison and the coworking community she founded at: https://www.theacademicwritersspace.com/

Find her on social media at: https://flow.page/taws
****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.45 Why we should all be more intentional and resourceful (and how!)

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

You ever feel like you get to the end of the week and you have no idea what you did, you've been busy but you definitely didn't do the things that you wanted to get done and the week just seems to have got away from you, then you are in exactly the right place. Today I'm going to be thinking about how to be more intentional so that you achieve your goals and enjoy your life and more resourceful so that you can get the support you need!

There's a few other episodes that I think you might find useful if you want to really develop your intentionality. So do make sure you go to the website, phdlifecoach. com, click on the podcast section, you'll find this episode and all the others. There's like 86 now, so make sure you have a good snoop and I'll give you two or three more episodes that will be worth having a listen to if you haven't already.

https://www.thephdlifecoach.com/2-27-how-to-plan-when-you-hate-planning-special-coaching-episode

https://www.thephdlifecoach.com/2-37-why-you-shouldn-t-read-when-you-re-writing

https://www.thephdlifecoach.com/2-42-eight-ways-you-might-be-secretly-procrastinating

***

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.44 What to do when you get contradictory advice

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

PhD students and academics often wonder how to handle contradictory advice and how to decide what to do. In this episode I think about what makes contradictory advice feel so challenging and I give you some questions to ask yourself to help you decide what you're going to do.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.43 What to do when you can't judge how long things take

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

So many people tell me they struggle to plan because things always take longer than they anticipated. They then end up not following their plan because things run over and they get disheartened. Sometimes they stop planning entirely because it feels pointless. If that sounds like you, I've got you! In this episode we'll talk about why it's hard to judge how long things take and how to get better at it, so that we can learn to plan and to stick to our plans.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.42 Eight ways you might be secretly procrastinating

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Procrastinating is when we scroll social media instead of working, right? No! Procrastination is anything that we do to avoid the emotions associated with doing the task we intend to do. In this episode, I will share eight things that I think are often used as procrastination and help you figure out what to do if you recognise yourself in this! I suspect we all will...

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.41 Why we all need to be more encouraging and accepting of ourselves

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is for anyone in academia who struggles with self-criticism and judgement (ie most people!) My series "how to be a better boss to yourself" introduces 10 qualities that we need to nurture in ourselves to support ourselves to achieve our goals and enjoy our lives. In this episode I talk about being more encouraging and accepting of ourselves. We think about why it's important, how to do it, and what impact it would have in our lives! If you like this one, make sure you also catch up with part one where we talk about being more compassionate and more curious.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.40 How to use a Do Know Don't Know list

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

One of the things I hear clients say most often is that they don't know what to do. They either don't know what decision to make in their life, they don't know how to do something, they don't know how to present their argument, how to structure their paper, they don't know which study to do, they don't know, they don't know, they don't know.

It comes up all the time at every level of the academic journey, whether you're a PhD student or a full professor. This idea that we don't know something and that that is a problem can really cause a lot of delays. It's a huge source of procrastination. If you've written something in your kind of task list for the day and you get to it and you're like, yeah, I'm not really sure how to do that, it's really easy to decide, oh, I'll do it later. It's really easy to put off because you're putting off something that's kind of a bit nebulous anyway. This is something I've addressed with some of my one to one clients recently, and lots of them have had success with a really specific tool that I like to call the do know don't know list, which I'm going to share with you today.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.39 How to be your own best personal assistant

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you ever feel disorganised, chaotic or behind, then maybe you need to spend time in "personal assistant" mode! In the episode, I discuss how to help prepare for your future self, to make tasks feel easier, more organised and even more pleasant. I explain how to use this approach to be more productive and help you work more effectively - and why it can feel so good!

Links

How to be your own best supervisor

How to use boss mode to plan

How to plan your week

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.38 Why we should all be more compassionate and curious (One of the "Be Your Own Best Boss" Series)

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you beat yourself up or tell yourself that you don't know what you should do, then I am going to help you be a better boss to yourself! This is the first in a series of episodes identifying qualities that we all need to try and nurture so that we can be give ourselves the support we need to succeed and enjoy our lives. In this episode I talk about compassion and curiosity!

Links

- How to stop comparing yourself to others

- How to stop feeling guilty when you rest

- Why you should be more proud of yourself

- How to rest over the holiday period (Christmas themed, but always relevant!)

2.37 Why you should never read when you're writing

Mon, 27 May 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

So many of my clients this week have been struggling with writing. Now that's not unusual. But what has been unusual is how they've all identified the same issue with writing. They talked about settling down to have a block of writing where they decided what they were going to do. And started writing, and then realized there was a little detail that they couldn't remember, or an argument they wanted to check, or something they just wanted to look up.

And so they'd get the article, they'd check, and then they'd find themselves in a rabbit hole, disappearing off, looking up new things, finding out the details, and sort of plunging off into that literature. And then, before they knew it, their two hour block had gone, they'd written a hundred words or something, and spent the rest of the time reading.

And when I shared with them what I'm going to share with you guys today, the words You've blown my mind have come out more than once this week. It didn't strike me as being that revolutionary, but it seems to have been. This is in one to one coaching. This is in the workshops that I offer. This has come up several times this week. And so I wanted to share it with you. So if you find yourself reading when you're intending to be writing, This episode is for you.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.36 What to do when you get distracted

Mon, 20 May 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you have things on your list that you should be doing, but you're not? Are you finding yourself getting distracted by anything and everything? Whether it's distracted by doing other admin y easy tasks, whether it's getting distracted by television or social media, whether it's even getting distracted by cleaning. I'm seeing this all the time with my clients at the moment, and even experiencing it a bit myself, so let's get into it.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.35 What to do if you feel stuck

Mon, 13 May 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Often as PhD students or academics, we get that feeling of being stuck and unable to do the next steps. In this episode, I coach Danielle, who struggles with feeling "stuck", making decisions about next steps and procrastination. We discuss where these problems come from and identify some steps to move forward. Ideal for anyone who feels that they are behind, overwhelmed or don't stick to their schedule.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.34 How to manage your tasks

Mon, 06 May 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This week is one of those really practical episodes where I tell you specifically how I do something - in this case, how I manage my various tasks. This isn't intended as "you have to do it like me", but more an example of how I have worked out a system that works for me and how you can do the same.

2.33. Why we should think of our careers in phases

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

So many of my PhD student and academic clients are feeling overwhelmed, overcommitted and like they have to do everything. In today's episode I talk about why we should think about our careers in phases, as a way of addressing this. We're going to think about what we mean by phases, what decisions we can make once we know what phase we're in, and how it can change the way we think and feel about ourselves and our obligations and choices.

2.32 How to plan your academic writing (with special guest Jo VanEvery)

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Whether you're a PhD student or an academic, it can be really hard to plan how to fit your writing into your busy schedule. In this episode we're joined by Jo VanEvery, founder of the Academic Writing Studio, to think about how to plan what writing you do when and how to prioritise it when so many things feel important. If you're watching this when it's first released, you'll also see an announcement of our new webinar!

****
You can find out more about Jo VanEvery and her Writing Studio here, including books to help you plan your writing and lots of different sources of support! https://jovanevery.co.uk/

If you think this might be useful for you, make sure you check the show notes, or if you're on my email list, you're going to get this anyway. And you will find out exactly how to sign up. It's a 90 minute webinar, it's 25, it's going to be amazing. Make sure you're there.

SIGN UP HERE!

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.31 How to get back into work after a break

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

It's that time of year when academics and PhD students are coming back after Easter/Spring break and trying to get back into the swing of uni life. Whether you spent the holiday having a "real" break, catching up on work you wanted to do, organising work you wish you didn't have to do, or just procrastinating, this is the episode for you. We'll think about why feeling the dread makes it hard to get going and what you can do instead. Let's start the new term as we mean to go on!

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.30 How to break your work down into chunks

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you have items on your to do list that you aren't doing, you need this episode! We're going to talk about how to break your work down into manageable chunks. Everyone says we should do this, but no one really tells us how to do it. What is a manageable chunk anyway? How big should it be? What should that look like? What type of chunk will make it easier for us to get started? If you're procrastinating or overwhelmed by your to do list, I'm going to help you figure out how to break down your work into easy, manageable chunks so that you can get on, get them ticked off, and enjoy your work again.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.29 Seven mistakes academics make and how to avoid them

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Everyone makes mistakes. It's inevitable that we're going to make mistakes. But one of the most important things is to be able to recognize what mistakes we're making, figure out why we're making them, and if appropriate, move away from that pattern of mistake. So in today's episode, I'm going to be telling you seven mistakes that I see lots of PhD students and academics making that I want you to check that you're not making too. Some of them are relevant to everybody. Some of them are a little more focused on people who are balancing teaching and research and all of those things as well. They are all things I want you to check that you're not doing.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.28 How to stop comparing yourself

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

At every stage of the academic journey, people are comparing themselves to those around them and doing it in ways that just doesn't help and where they end up feeling guilty, feeling frustrated, feeling hopeless. Whether you're a first year PhD student looking at the rest of your cohort wondering if you're doing enough or whether you're some kick ass senior professor who's smashing their career, we're still looking across to other labs going, Oh, well, they, you know, they have still got more grant income than me. They still got more publications than me. It's so sad. And it doesn't have to be like that. So today we're going to be thinking about how to stop comparing yourself to others and what to do instead.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.27 How to plan when you hate planning (special coaching episode)

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, you get to hear a live coaching session with Laura! Laura is a part time PhD student who has tried every planning and task management tool possible! She shares that she finds it stressful to even think about planning and is worried about how to manage the last couple of years of her research. I coach her as I would in a private coaching session and we reach some great insights about how Laura is already planning way more than she gives herself credit for and how she can keep developing her skills. Perfect for anyone who has ever been self critical, worried about planning or fed up of never finding the perfect system!

2.26 How to manage your energy

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

How many times have you seen or been on a time management course? How many books and podcasts and blogs and social media posts have you seen about time management?

I want you to compare that to how many times you've seen courses and support for energy management. So much less. It's so rare to see people discussing energy management compared to how often we see people talking about time management, and it just doesn't make sense because time passes. We can organize our tasks within time, but we can never manage time itself. It's the one commodity we have very little control over.

But that's okay. Because actually time management is rarely the issue. Our issues are usually around energy management and focus management, yet there's much less support out there for this. So that's why I'm recording this podcast.

****

I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.25 Five things I still struggle with that might surprise (and reassure) you

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This week in the podcast, I get real! Some of my clients have told me that they sometimes find the idea of implementing new systems intimidating and they worry they will "fail". In this episode I tell you about the things that I still struggle with and how I got to be ok with that. It's perfect for any perfectionists out there, ideal for anyone who has tried a thousand systems and now considers themselves permanently disorganised, or anyone who beats themselves up. Let me know what you think!

2.24 How to plan using "boss mode"

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you struggle to plan your time and organise your tasks, this is the episode for you! I'll be sharing what I mean by "boss mode" and showing you how this can help you plan your tasks, stay focused, manage overwhelm and minimise procrastination.

*****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach.com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.23 What to do if academia feels unfair (special coaching episode)

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the first in a series of episodes where I share a real life coaching session! In this episode, I talk with Ruth, a PhD student, who worries that succeeding in academia relies on having connections, rather than the quality of your work. She agreed to be coached for the podcast and we discuss why this bothers her, how it affects her work, and reach some conclusions that will help her move forwards.

When you're listening, make sure that you relate it to your own life and think about how you can apply her experience to your own concerns. The session is slightly edited for time but mostly runs like a full session, so it'll also give you an insight into what it's like to be coached and how insightful it can be to listen to other people getting coached. Hope you enjoy!

2.22 What to do if you want more reassurance

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Wouldn't it be nice if sometimes someone just told us that we were doing a good job, that we were enough, that we were doing things well enough and that they were proud of us. And yet so often, that doesn't necessarily happen in academia. Lots of us feel that our supervisors could give us more reassurance, our collaborators or heads of school could give us more reassurance, and it's really hard to keep pushing yourself to work as hard as we all do, when we feel like we're not getting the praise and reassurance from other people that we think would really help. In today's episode, we're going to be thinking about what you can do about that. And, clue, it's not all about asking other people for reassurance.

*****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach.com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.31 Eight things that PhD students and academics can learn from The Traitors

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the first time I have ever had to put a spoiler warning on my podcast. I'm so excited. If you have an intention to watch series two of the UK Traitors and you haven't yet seen it, please go listen to a different episode!

You don't have to have watched The Traitors for this to be an immensely useful episode, but if, like me, you got a little bit obsessed with The Traitors, then you are going to love this episode Because we're going to be identifying eight things that all PhD students and academics can learn from The Traitors. This started out as five things you can learn. I got carried away. I might add more as we go through. Who knows? I'm a little overexcited.

*****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The PhD Life Coach covers the most common issues experienced in universities, including procrastination, imposter syndrome, and having too much to do. I give inspiring and actionable advice and often have fun expert guests join me on the show. Make sure you subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you already listen, please find time to rate, review and tell your friends!

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach.com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

#phd #academia #lecturer #professor #university #procrastination #overwhelm #amwriting #writing #impostersyndrome #timemanagement #support #coaching #highereducation #research #teaching #podcast #community

2.20 How to improve your writing (with special guest Katy Peplin from Thrive PhD)

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

How to be a better writer is one of the most common questions asked by PhD students and academics of all levels. While there are tons of useful "how to write" books on the market it can be difficult to translate this learning into actually improving your own writing. In this episode, I talk with writing coach Dr Katy Peplin about ways that you can support yourself to get better at writing and look after yourself at the same time! Hope you enjoy - there's some great advice!

Here are some links if you want to hear more from Katy:

Free:

Template Webinar

Work more intentionally toolkit

Paid:

Community

Your Guide to Running a Writing Group

Self-paced workshops

2.19 How to stop procrastinating (part 2)

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Last week we talked about how to manage procrastination in the moment, using my NICE model - that's super useful but are there ways we can prevent procrastination happening so often? I think so, and in this episode I share how building a clearer relationship with your past and future self can really help! Check it out and let me know what you think. To find out more about working with me, go to www.thephdlifecoach.com

2.18 How to stop procrastinating (part 1)

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

It's the biggie! Procrastination! The bane of everyone's lives and common at every level of academia. In this episode, I will help you understand why we procrastinate and then introduce a quick and easy model you can use to help you reduce your procrastination. This episode ended up being way too long, so I've split it in half and you can have the second half next week!

2.17 How the PhD Life Coach university membership supports students

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I'm chatting with Tara Wittin, Head of the University of Birmingham Graduate School and Danielle, who is one of the participants in my university PhD Life Coach membership programme. We talk about how the membership works, what benefits the students get from it, and how it fits with the other student support available at the university. Whether you're a student or an academic, have a listen and hear why consistent long-term coaching support is so important for all PhD students

2.16 How to achieve your goals using the self-coaching model

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

It's new year. We've all got goals. We've all got new year's resolutions and we all have faint memories, maybe strong memories of all the previous times that we've tried to achieve things, and it's just not worked. If that's you, if you have a long history of not achieving the things that you set out in the new year, or achieving different things, or still achieving them but beating yourselves up for all the other things you didn't do, you are in the right place. We're going to be thinking about how we can use self coaching to make sure that we actually achieve our goals this year.

2.15 Seven things we can learn from Santa

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Santa completes the biggest project of the year every single year, delivering all those presents all around the world, and I think we can learn a lot from how he does it. This is slightly tongue in cheek, but I still think there's some important lessons in here for anyone studying or working in academia!

2.14 How to stop feeling guilty when you rest over the holiday

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

I've spent so many holidays where I've kind of intended to do some work but not really planned when or what, and then didn't really feel like it at the time, so I didn't, but I felt guilty about the fact I wasn't working because really I should, in inverted commas, be working, and then I also wouldn't do any of the really fun stuff that I wanted to do either because I should be working so I shouldn't do that stuff. But then when I did work, I'd feel guilty about the fact that I wasn't resting and really I probably needed to rest and I wasn't spending more time with my friends and family and doing the other things I'd intended to do over the holidays. And it just turns into this big pile of guilt where whatever you do, you just feel bad about it. And you don't get either the work done or the rest, or the quality time with your families. And just finish the holiday feeling a little bit like well, I don't know where that went. And now it's turn time and we're back on again till Easter. It's not a good feeling. I know you felt it too. I don't feel it anymore because of some of the things I've put in place. So let me share those with you today and let's figure out how not to feel guilty over the Christmas break.

2.13 Why you should act without thinking

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

On this podcast and in my coaching sessions, I spend a lot of time talking about thoughts. Talking about how the thoughts that we have shape our feelings and actions, and how we can intentionally modify our thoughts, not to just make stuff up, but to focus on thoughts that we already believe, but that we know serve us better, in order to feel better, do the actions we intend to do and achieve our goals. So there's lots of focus on thoughts.

In this episode, I'm going to turn that completely around and tell you the opposite. If you want to know why and how that still makes complete sense, I promise, keep listening.

To find out more about working with me, go to www.thephdlifecoach.com

2.12 Five things you probably need to hear right now

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you're listening to this in real time, it's the beginning of December and we are on the final run in to the winter holidays. One of the things that has really stuck out to me recently is how many of my clients need to hear the same things. So this week I'm going to be talking about five things that I think you need to hear right now! Let's go!

2.11 How to manage your emotions when everyone is stressed

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you're trying really hard to kind of look after yourself and stay on top of your own stress levels, but you're finding yourself surrounded by other people who are stressed, other people who are complaining, then this is the perfect episode for you. We are going to be thinking about how can you manage your mind when those around you are losing theirs without needing to push them out of your lives, without needing to solve their problems, how can we study our own emotions and look after ourselves, no matter what is happening around us?

2.10 How to do academia with ADHD (with guest Dr Alex Conner!)

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, we're going to be talking about all things ADHD with special guest Dr Alex Conner from https://www.adhdadult.uk/. So whether you have it yourself, you think you might have it, you sometimes wonder, or whether you work with, know, or love people who do have ADHD, then you are going to learn so much about how to support yourself and how to support other people.

Just to give you a heads up though, before we start there's one very short mention of suicidal thoughts when we're talking about mental health in ADHD. It's not a big topic of discussion, but it does come up, so I wanted to mention it. And there is also a little bit more swearing in this episode than there usually is, so you have been warned!

To find out more about working with Vikki, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com. To find out more about working with Alex check out https://www.adhdadult.uk/ and the Adult ADHD podcast

2.9 How to network (with guest Dr Jen Polk)

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you hear the word networking and just think that this is the most awful thing ever, or that you're really bad at it, or that you shouldn't have to do it, or it's really hard, or it's not the right time? If so, you are going to love this episode because we're going to tell you all the reasons you're wrong. I have a guest with me, Dr Jen Polk, and we are going to be talking all things networking.
Find out more at www.thephdlifecoach.com

2.8 How to prepare for your viva

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Have you got your PhD viva coming up soon? Or is it something that you're already starting to dread even though it's a few years away? If so, this is the perfect episode for you. We're going to be thinking about all the stories about PhD vivas, how we can prepare for them, and how we can look after ourselves in that process. You get to decide how we do this and I'm going to help you figure out how.

2.7 How to plan your week (with special guest, ex client PhD student Marie!)

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, an ex-client Marie is telling us about the "perfect weekly meeting" that she developed during our time coaching together. She uses this to set the tone for her week and it's really changed how she feels and how she gets stuff done. It's so much more than a to-do list, and instead really gets to the core of how to start a week with intention. Hope you find it useful!

2.6 How to coach yourself (and why you should)

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you're a regular listener, you're going to have heard me talk about self coaching, about exploring the thoughts that we have and the impact that they have on our emotions and our actions and the things that we achieve. I thought it would be really useful to have a single episode where I actually take you through the principles of self coaching, why we do it, how we do it, and how you can start incorporating it into your lives and the benefits that you might see when you do.

2.5 How to shorten your written work

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Every single one of us will have written to a word count at some point in our academic careers. Often as undergraduates, the struggle is to write enough words to hit the word count, but as we get further through our academic careers, the challenge increasingly becomes to stay under the word count. So if you've ever struggled to shorten your work to meet the requirements of your submission to your degree program or to a journal, then this is the episode for you.

Ironically, it's also one of my longer episodes but it's jam packed with useful stuff!

2.4 Nine things I learned from organising our wedding that you can apply to your PhD

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0100

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When was the last time you learned something outside of your academic work that you then used within your academic work? I think it's time for another one of those tenuous links between two things that are seemingly unrelated, but actually are connected much more than you think. So in this episode, I'm going to be talking about nine things I learned planning my wedding that might be useful in your PhD too.

You can find out more about working with me at www.thephdlifecoach.com

2.3 How to manage your supervisor (or boss)

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Our professional relationships with the people who supervise or manage us can have huge implications for how much we achieve and how much we enjoy our academic work. Yet often we can be quite passive about it - "they are how they are" and we just have to cope with it. In this episode, I'll share some straightforward ways that you can "manage" the people above you to make it more efficient and more fun for everyone involved.

If you want to get a full transcript or find out more about working with me, check out my website www.thephdlifecoach.com.

2.2 How to manage negative feedback

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

When did you last get some negative feedback? As PhD students and academics, we get negative feedback quite often, either comments on drafts of papers, rejections from journals, applying for jobs, all sorts of things. We get bits of negative feedback and it can really hurt. So what do we do when we experience negative feedback? What do we do with the fact it hurts and how could we perhaps do something different in the future? That's what we're going to be talking about in today's podcast.

2.1 What to do if you already feel behind

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0100

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Welcome to Season 2 of the PhD Life Coach! In this first episode, I talk about feeling behind! It's easy to spend a lot of time telling yourself that you're behind your own plan or you're behind other people. Neither feel good and neither help us make more progress.

I'll talk through why these sort of thoughts hold us back and give some ideas about what to do instead. None of this needs us to be a super human - the tips are simple and achieveable, and help us move towards our goals with less pain.

41. Seven things I've learned this year that might help you too

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0100

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In this final episode of the 2022/23 academic year, I reflect on seven things that I have learned since starting this podcast. Whether it's managing perfectionism, staying consistent or building community, there's loads that you can apply to your own journey. After this, I'll be taking a short break and returning at the beginning of September. There's 41 episodes up for you now so perhaps revisit some of the ones you've missed, or that you've found particularly useful and I'll see you next year!

40. On Being Unreasonable in academia with guest Kirsty Sedgman

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I welcome Kirsty Sedgman, academic and author of On Being Unreasonable. We talk about Kirsty's fascinating route into her current academic role and what encouraged her to write a book about unreasonableness. We also discuss the tricky subject of what is considered "reasonable" within academia and how we can push boundaries to create our own meaningful paths.

In this episode, Kirsty Sedgman talks about her book On Being Unreasonable: Breaking the rules and making things better. She also briefly discusses her earlier works Locating the Audience and The Reasonable Audience.

She mentions several other scholars, including Eleanora Belfiore’s work on cultural policy practice, Jess Thom co-director of Touretteshero, Ellie Mackin Roberts and her TikTok work, Salamander Street Press, and Howard Zinn and his work on civil disobedience.

You can also find out more about working with me at www.thephdlifecoach.com and find a transcript at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast.

BONUS - start your day!

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you start your day not clear on what the priorities are and just feeling indecisive and unmotivated? We all do sometimes. What we often need in that moment is to be a bit reflective, think about what we need, get clarity on our tasks and remind ourselves why we do this.

But it's so hard! When you're already in a funk, it's so difficult to regulate yourself like that. I know! I try and fail often.

To support you, I've made a start the day video that can guide you through it instead! Watch this every day, or at least any day that you're struggling and let me help you start the day with clarity and intention.

Let me know what you think! I have a bunch more of these planned so let me know any comments.

39. How to prepare for your academic summer - structure and freedom

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the second of a two part series about thriving in our academic summer. This time we consider the balance between structure and freedom and how to plan a summer that meets all of our needs.

In this episode I talk about another episodes of my podcast:

How to use role-based time-blocking

You can find a transcript at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast and also find more details about working with me

38. How to prepare for your academic summer - acceptance and resistance

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

The summer period can be particularly stressful for academics, whether it's because you miss the structure of "normal" term or because you don't feel like you even GET a summer any more. This is the first in a short series of episodes considering how we can make the summer ours again and enjoy this part of the academic year. Today we're talking about the benefits of combining some "acceptance" with some "resistance" so that this doesn't feel more painful than it needs to!

In this episode I talk about some other episodes of my podcast, including:

- How to rest during the holiday period

- How to be your own best supervisor

- How accepting where you are is the first step to getting where you want to be

- How to make decisions you love

For a transcript and other links, check out my webpage www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast

37. What is an academic adjacent career and why might you want one?

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0100

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When PhD students (and even academics) think about their career options, it often gets divided into "academic" or "non-academic" careers. In this episode, my guest Holly Prescott, a careers consultant for PGRs, talks about academic adjacent careers. She explains what they involve, why people should consider them and we discuss some of the issues that sometimes hold people back from discovering, and moving into, these interest careers.

In this episode, Holly talks about:

- her theatre company Ottisdotter and their latest production Lady Inger

- her blog, PostGradual and an article on academic adjacent careers

and the podcast Research Adjacent with Sarah McLusky.

36. Why we should be more proud of ourselves (and how to do it)

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Lots of people struggle to feel proud of themselves, even when on paper they look really successful. In this episode, I talk about why this is, why it can cause problems and how to develop a habit of being more proud of yourself.

Find the transcript at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast

35. How I finished my PhD in just over two years (& why I wouldn't recommend it)

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

People often ask me how to finish up a PhD quickly but not many people know that I did exactly that. In this episode, I consider why people worry about finishing quickly enough and share some reasons why it was possible in my case (sneaky preview - none of it was because I was cleverer or better than anyone else in my cohort...) I also discuss the downsides of speeding through and what I think people could do instead. This is my most personal episode so far so hope you enjoy!

34. What I learned about task transitions from doing triathlons (badly)

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

So many clients tell me that they struggle to transition between different types of tasks, particularly when it comes to fitting writing into their regular days. In this episode, I'm talking about my not-very-illustrious history of attempting triathlons and what I learned about "transitioning" between the different sections of the race. If we're going to time block effectively (and not just tell ourselves that it "doesn't work for us"), then we can pick up some really useful tips from triathletes to use in our every day lives.

If you want to find out more about working with me, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com

33. How to do role-based time-blocking

Mon, 29 May 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

You may have heard of, or even tried, time blocking before. It can be a great way to take control of your to do list and get things done, but it can also get really overwhelming. Role-based time blocking is a streamlined version, designed specifically for roles (like academic jobs) that have lots of different components. Check it out, and discover why I'm committing to NOT making a bunch of tiny personalised hats....

32. How to seek the help you need

Mon, 22 May 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

It can be so hard to ask for help, especially if you believe that you don't deserve it or that you should be able to solve the problem yourself or that there's nothing anyone can do to help. In this episode, I talk through the thoughts that you can cultivate to make seeking help feel a little easier.

If you'd like a transcript, or to find out more about working with me, you can go to www.thephdlifecoach.com.

31. How to spot, and stop, all-or-nothing thinking

Mon, 15 May 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you find yourself thinking that everyone else has it together, or that you'll never finish your paper, or that you always procrastinate, this is the episode for you. These are examples of "all-or-nothing thinking" where we take a really black and white view on the world and forget to see all the shades of grey. The problem with all-or-nothing thinking is that it feels pretty rubbish, encourages us to focus on our "fails", and makes it harder to change our behaviour. In this episode, I help you figure out how to spot all-or-nothing thinking in yourself, and give you some tips to deal with it.

*Important note. People with anxiety or depression may experience a lot of all-or-nothing thinking. If you have mental health conditions like these, you may wish to work on your all-or-nothing thinking with your counsellor or other clinical practitioner, so that they can help you uncover some of the root causes and help you process any trauma safely. This episode is aimed at people who are finding that they're increasing their own stress a bit with some all-or-nothing thinking and who would like to learn some techniques to move their goals forward.

If you'd like a transcript, or to find out more about working with me, you can go to www.thephdlifecoach.com.

30. How to overcome imposter syndrome

Mon, 08 May 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Have you ever felt like an imposter? Worried that someone will find out that you're not good enough to be here after all? Unfortunately we know that imposter syndrome is really common in academia and can lead to reduced wellbeing and even people leaving programmes or jobs. In this episode, I share some simple tactics that everyone can use to help feel a little less like an imposter. Importantly, I also discuss how imposter syndrome is not an individual failing, but rather a result of structural issues in our environment. Because of that, we need to address it as a community, so I talk about how we can help others feel more included and competent too.

To find out more about working with me go to www.thephdlifecoach.com

29. How to get more confident about teaching

Mon, 01 May 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

By most people's definitions, we're experts. Whether you're a PhD student or a more senior academic, you have more expertise than most people in your subject. However, us "experts" often still lack confidence when it comes to teaching. In this episode, we think about how we can put things in perspective and develop more confidence in your teaching.

If you want to find out more about working with me, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me You can also find a transcript at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast.

28. How to stop beating yourself up and learn from past mistakes instead

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

We all make mistakes but some of us getting stuck in them, beating ourselves up and often repeating them. In this episode, we consider how you can instead approach past mistakes with compassion and curiousity, so that we can learn from them with less judgment. So, whatever your past mistakes, this is the episode for you!

In this episode I talk about a piece of work by Pragya Agarwal, the author of Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias. You can find the article here in The Conversation. I also talk about a film and it DID star Gwyneth Paltrow after all! Details here if you want to check it out!

If you want to find out more about working with me, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com where you can also find a transcript.

27. How to get into Science Communication (with The Struggling Scientists!)

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is a bumper episode because it is a crossover with The Struggling Scientist podcast! I am joined by Susanne and Jayron, founders of The Struggling Scientists to talk about all things science communication. Susanne and Jayron will give advice about getting started in science communication and I will offer coaching tips on some of the common barriers and worries that people have about engaging with the public. You can check them out at www.thestrugglingscientists.com.

You can find out more about working with me (and get a transcript) at www.thephdlifecoach.com

26. How to be kind to yourself

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode I talk about how I'm being kind to myself this week and how you can too! It's short but includes some important reflections on what we need to believe in order to take decisions that are right for us in the moment. Hope that you're kind to yourself this holiday period!

**Please note - for reasons that will become clear, this was recorded in a field so you can hear the wind! It's still audible but not quite as crystal clear as usual :) Thanks for understanding!

25. How to curate your PhD Life with Jamie Pei

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode we have another special guest! This time we're talking to Jamie Pei, the "messy" PhD coach about how to curate your PhD Life. We talk about what we mean by "curating" and why we mean your all elements of your life and not just your PhD. Jamie has a great perspective on how this approach puts you in the driver's seat, and enables you to guide and create the life you want. You also hear us demonstrating how little we actually know about fine art curation in an attempt to make useful analogies....

Links from this episode

Jamie's link tree: linktr.ee/jamiepei

Subscribe to my PhD mailing list: jamiepei.com/phdmail

Instagram: @verymessyjamie

Twitter: @verymessyjamie

We also reference some work on values from Caroline Kay. You can hear more about her here! https://carolinekay.co/

Her podcast is called Snippets of Genius. Listen via her website (https://carolinekay.co/podcast/) or any preferred podcast platform

24. How Winnie the Pooh can help you manage your mind

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

23. How to make decisions you love

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

There are so many big decisions to make in academia, from what to research, what conferences to go to, what admin roles to do, where to submit your work, and even how long to stay in academia. Everyone is keen to give us their opinion on what we "should" do or what will be "good for our CV", but no one seems to ever help us figure out how to make our own decisions. In this episode, I share some frameworks and reflective questions that will help you make the best decisions for you.

22. What to do when you're feeling a bit bleurgh

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

What do you do when you feel disappointed, stressed or overwhelmed? These are such common emotions in academia yet most of us don't really know how to respond to these emotions. In this episode, I'll guess what you probably do at the moment when you're experiencing an emotion you don't like, and suggest some things you do instead. Emotions are part of the human existence and we can learn how to look after ourselves a little more.

In this episode I mention the emotion wheel. There are loads if you search online but here's one I like - https://www.purewow.com/family/feelings-chart

For the transcript, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast. You can also find all the different ways of working with me on the same website.

21. Why I want to coach your supervisor (and what that means for you)

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, I consider the downside of always assuming that our seniors "have it together" (whatever level of academia you're at). Often we create a story where, if they haven't replied to our email or changed their mind about our study, it means that we're not important or our study is wrong. I'll be discussing why it's almost certainly not about you and what we should do differently as a sector.

If you'd like to find out more about working with me, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me. The transcript to this episode can be found at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast

20. What to do when you have too much to do

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, we accept a universal truth. We have too much to do. We'll explore what happens when you accept that as a fact and challenge instead the notion that we have to do it all (and especially the notion that we have to do it all this week). I teach you about boss mode and worker mode, introduce you to my plate spinning analogy, and explore how the project management triangle can be used when we're really up against it. We're also going to celebrate that this is my 20th episode! Yay! Thanks for your continuing support :)

You can find a transcript at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast and find out more about working with me at www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me

19. What to do (and think) if you have a toxic relationship with your supervisor

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode, we’ll think about how to look after yourself if you think you have a toxic relationship with your supervisor. We’ll consider what that means, what effect it could have on you, and most importantly, how to manage your thoughts so that you can make decisions about this difficult situation. I’ll talk about some of the most common thoughts that I see students having and help you find some other thoughts that might help you more. If you find yourself in this situation, please do reach out to the wellbeing services at your university and make sure that you are also getting the professional help that you need.

If you'd like to find out more about working with me, come to www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me.

You can find a transcript of this episode at www.thephdlifecoach.com/podcast

18. How to have a great relationship with your supervisor

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode I discuss five ways that you can improve your relationship with your PhD supervisor. This relationship is one of the most important aspects of your research experience yet we so often leave it to chance. The good news is that you can improve things so much without expecting them to change at all - find out how in this episode!
***NOTE - this is NOT talking about abusive, problematic and/or unacceptable supervision. I will talk about this more next week, but the strategies in this episode are mainly focused on enhancing supervisory relationships that just don't feel as good as they could right now.

Find the YouTube version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/gvCuQvAskMg

17. Why you should never cross things off your to do list and what you should do instead

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode I talk about the way PhD students and academics spend so much time looking what they need to do next that they forget to recognise what they've done. I introduce the "well done list" and show you how it can help you build confidence and productivity.

To find out more about working with me, check out www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me

16. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 3)

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In the final part of this theory, we think about the story you tell about yourself. What story do you really believe about yourself? Perhaps you believe you're slow at writing. Perhaps you believe that you always get distracted. We'll work through why these stories can lead to some really negative consequences and how you can challenge them and build different stories about yourself. This isn't about "positive thinking", it's about focusing on the stories that make you feel good and help you build the life you want.

You can find out more about working with me at www.thephdlifecoach.com/work-with-me

15. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 2)

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the second of a three part series (check out the first part here - https://www.thephdlifecoach.com/14-how-to-tell-your-story-and-get-the-recognition-you-deserve-part-1) about how to tell your academic story.

This time, I give you a step-by-step process to move from a busy, haphazard-feeling career to having a structured overview that you can use. From here, you can strategise and prioritise about what to focus on and use the document to apply for jobs, plan for promotion and apply for awards and recognitions.

14. How to tell your story and get the recognition you deserve (part 1)

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

This is the first of a three part series on how to tell your story. It's really common, at any career stage, to feel like you've lost track of where you're at and how to get where you want to be. If you're applying for jobs, trying to secure awards or recognitions, or going for promotion or tenure, then these episodes are for you! Even if you're not doing these things at the moment, figuring out "your story" can help reduce overwhelm, ease decision making and lower your cognitive, and actual, work. In this first episode I talk about what I mean by "telling your story" and the many ways it can make your life better.

13. What to do when you know you're behaving like a toddler

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Do you find yourself just not doing the thing you intended to do? No good reason but you just don't want to? In this episode, I talk about what to do if you find yourself just behaving a bit like a naughty toddler and saying "no" to all the things that are good for you. You'll get a five step plan to move from resisting starting to getting going on your tasks.

In the show I mention three past episodes - you can find them here:

How to review your year the strengths-based way

How to set new year's resolutions that stick

Ten lessons I learned about doing PhDs by playing Stardew Valley

I also mention the time management lecture by Randy Pausch

Definitely check them out!

12. How to set New Year's resolutions that stick with Dr Karin Nordin

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 03:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

n this episode, our guest Dr Karin Nordin shares with us evidence-based recommendations for how to set New Year's resolutions that stick. Instead of just talking about it though, she coaches me through my New Year's resolutions so you can see it in action. This is a great opportunity to hear some real life coaching and get tips for your own compassion-first behaviour change.

*please note this episode includes discussion of weight loss*

You can also find out more about my guest, Dr Karin Nordin in all these places:

https://www.youtube.com/@UCTn-HaKV8vju5G2j6wRTzwQ

https://bodybrainalliance.com/

https://www.instagram.com/karinnordinphd/

BONUS: Ten lessons I learned about doing PhDs by playing Stardew Valley

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

Even if you've never played Stardew Valley before, you will still love this episode! I will take you through ten important lessons to succeed in your PhD, using tenuous Stardew metaphors to explain them! Enjoy!

(Please note you may prefer to watch this on YouTube here https://youtu.be/WZU6dXoxhLg so you can see gameplay too)

11. How to rest over the holiday period

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

How many times have you intended to rest and ended up working over the festive period? Or intended to work and then not quite got around to it? In this episode I give you a framework to figure out how to make a plan that works for you. Let me help you have a happy holiday!

10. How to review your year the strengths-based way with Professor Jenn Cumming

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

So often, when we look back at our year, we think about the things we didn't achieve or the things that went wrong. This is especially true when we're looking back in order to plan new years resolutions. In this special extended episode, we are joined by expert psychologist Professor Jennifer Cumming who helps me review my year using her strengths-based prompts. You'll get to know more about me AND see the benefits of this more positive approach. You can then use these questions to review your year too.

You can find out more about my guest, Professor Jenn Cumming, in all these places:

@drjenncumming

https://www.sprintproject.org/

and the two tools she mentioned are here:

https://www.viacharacter.org/account/register

https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx (there is a charge for this product, but it may be available through your workplace too)

9. How to manage annoying comments at Christmas

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 03:00:00 +0000

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So many of my Twitter followers told me that they hate the annoying questions they get at Christmas, so I thought I would share some coping strategies! In this episode I give you the A, B, C, D, and E that you need to remember when someone asks you "so, when will you finish your PhD?"

8. How to build your own academic community

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 04:00:00 +0000

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So many people feel isolated in academic and like they "should" have more of a community than they do. In this episode, I talk about the benefits of having a community inside and outside of academia and the barriers there might be to building a community. I then go through some really simple tips to help you build an academic community, step by step.

7. How to avoid the end of year panic

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 03:00:00 +0000

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Has the pre-Christmas panic hit you yet? That feeling of having four thousand things that you simply have to do before you break up for the winter holiday? In this episode, I channel my inner Charles Dickens and help you figure out how to be kind to your past self, to your present self, and to your future self during this busy month. Let’s finish the year with more enthusiasm and less stress.

In this episode I mention A Christmas Carol - if you're not familiar, this is the book I mean!

6. Why you deserve (and can have) a life outside of academia

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 03:00:00 +0000

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It's so easy to believe that you don't have time for a life outside of academia. The pressure and the never-ending to-do lists mean that even having fun feels like one more thing you need to fit in. In this episode I talk about the benefits of having hobbies outside of academia, including how I found myself hanging by my ankles being rescued by people half my age. I also talk about how you can coach yourself to believe that you deserve that time to yourself.

5. How accepting where you are is the first step to getting where you want to be

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 01:00:00 +0000

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So many PhD students and academics struggle with perfectionism and imposter syndrome. By having such unrealistic standards, we make it much more painful and, ironically, much less likely that we'll actually meet our goals. In this episode we talk about how self-acceptance can help you be a lot kinder to yourself and find a gentle and effective route to success.

This is the blog I mention in this episode.

The grateful academic

If you are interested in the circus too, in Birmingham I trained with Circusmash and FPS Fitness!

4. How to write the thing when you're not writing the thing

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 02:00:00 +0000

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We all have times where we need to get on with writing our thesis/paper/promotion materials/grant, but we're not. We procrastinate, we tell ourselves we don't have time, we worry that we're not good enough, when really we want to write it! In this episode, I'll help you uncover the 7 thoughts that are stopping you getting on, and 7 thoughts that you might want to think instead!

Twitter accounts I mention in this episode are:

@writethatphd – for lots of links to writing resources

@drjenncumming– for lots of advice about writing and critiquing strategies

@verymessyjamie – who supports PhD students to find more balance, ease, joy and clarity.

3. How to swim when you're drowning in emails

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0100

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If you feel like your inbox is an endless swamp of thankless tasks, this is the episode for you! Today I talk about the problem with how we think about our emails and how we can make them much less painful. This is not your usual productivity hacks!

**Also, here is the "Part-time wellness" podcast with Chelsea Uithoven that I recommend in the podcast**

2. Why you don't need a new planner

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0100

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Do you find yourself searching for the perfect planner that will just help you get it together? In this episode, I discuss why we all want the perfect planner, why it won't solve our problems, and what we can do instead!

**Also, here is the "I'm Busy Being Awesome" podcast with Paula Engebretson that I recommend in the podcast**

1. How to be your own best supervisor

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0100

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!