Thank you for writing this. You started with precisely this observation, but I think it bears repeating: this is such a common phenomenon that it has a name and a relevant PhD comic. I don't know which percentage of PhD students go through it, but I'm guessing it's high. And even though many people quit their PhDs, many people don't. Even though this isn't a formal argument, I am pretty confident that going through the third year slump is not good evidence that finishing will be impossible, or even harder than average.
The thing about the middle years is that there is no clear path, the research you're doing could easily fail, and everything is uncharted territory. At least later on the tasks become clear again (mostly "write the thesis") and you start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
It helps me to manufacture intermediate and shorter-term goals, but ultimately I don't have a good solution to this problem, and sometimes wonder about the hermit plan as well.
As someone who works on their own schedule (broadly), I find keeping weekends sacred to be essential.
Also, quick reminder: There are companies out there that pay 6 figures to work with smart and adaptable people (that can signal this well), same applies to countries.
I know some people prefer academia's rails and I can't complain, but I think it's worth keeping in mind it's probably an option for you, and sunk cost fallacy is a bitch.
You're doing good work, and important one at that. I assume that biking is considerable, adds up to something equivalent to exercising? Otherwise, could you squeeze that in?
Can you decrease the number of hours worked somehow, even if it prolongs the overall duration? If this pace makes you miserable, it's worth making it a pace that doesn't and working longer but not being miserable during.
Do you meet a lot of other people? Not much socializing time in this schedule, and that might be what you're missing too?
Thank you for writing this. You started with precisely this observation, but I think it bears repeating: this is such a common phenomenon that it has a name and a relevant PhD comic. I don't know which percentage of PhD students go through it, but I'm guessing it's high. And even though many people quit their PhDs, many people don't. Even though this isn't a formal argument, I am pretty confident that going through the third year slump is not good evidence that finishing will be impossible, or even harder than average.
The thing about the middle years is that there is no clear path, the research you're doing could easily fail, and everything is uncharted territory. At least later on the tasks become clear again (mostly "write the thesis") and you start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
It helps me to manufacture intermediate and shorter-term goals, but ultimately I don't have a good solution to this problem, and sometimes wonder about the hermit plan as well.
As someone who works on their own schedule (broadly), I find keeping weekends sacred to be essential.
Also, quick reminder: There are companies out there that pay 6 figures to work with smart and adaptable people (that can signal this well), same applies to countries.
I know some people prefer academia's rails and I can't complain, but I think it's worth keeping in mind it's probably an option for you, and sunk cost fallacy is a bitch.
Unfortunately I can't skip work on weekends. If I don't feed my cells every day they will die.
Is it so hard to automate cell feeding? I do remember hearing other people working weekends for this reason, now that you bring it up.
You're doing good work, and important one at that. I assume that biking is considerable, adds up to something equivalent to exercising? Otherwise, could you squeeze that in?
Can you decrease the number of hours worked somehow, even if it prolongs the overall duration? If this pace makes you miserable, it's worth making it a pace that doesn't and working longer but not being miserable during.
Do you meet a lot of other people? Not much socializing time in this schedule, and that might be what you're missing too?
It's about a 12 minute bike ride from my apartment to the lab.
I could decrease hours but I'm worried about not making enough progress.
You're right that I need to meet more people.