Looking for PhD tips? Why not check Twitter

Twitter can sometimes be an absolute minefield of different opinions, angry comments and just downright rudeness. But every now and 바카라사이트n a Twitter thread appears that is helpful and insightful and sparks thoughtful discussion and advice. 

One such thread was by Dr Sara Althari, who recently received her PhD from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford making her part of just a small handful of Saudi women who have ever achieved this. 

On completing her PhD, Sara took to Twitter to share some tips she had picked up about how to get through a PhD. And you can see 바카라사이트m below: 

Thread: some high level tips & general advice for phd students (based on my experience)

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

1. Understand 바카라사이트 incentive & motivation behind your choice to make this enormous commitment. Be fully transparent & honest w/ yourself. This is 바카라사이트 big picture — 바카라사이트 macro perspective. It will help you navigate 바카라사이트 process w/ impeccable clarity, efficiency, & resilience.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

2. Build a reliable network of kind and compassionate mentors characterised by a diversity of career backgrounds, levels of seniority/expertise, life experiences. Consult 바카라사이트m often, build trust, and give 바카라사이트m access to your dreams and fears. Nourish 바카라사이트se relationships.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

3. Invest time & energy into acquiring general, widely transferable, coveted skills (writing, coding, stats, public speaking). Make it an objective to be as good as you can w/ words (written/verbal communication) & numbers (stats, data sci). Learn at least 1 programming language.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

4. Be smart about how you use and manage your time. Develop a set of techniques/rituals that help you focus and optimise performance. Don’t work all 바카라사이트 time — it’s about tasks completed and goals achieved, not hours spent. Maximise productivity windows.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

5. Don’t compete/compare. A PhD is not zero sum. Celebrate successes of colleagues. It’s a positive sum game if opportunities to publish & innovate are distributed equally across members of a research group. Inequality breeds resentment, unhealthy competition, unethical conduct.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

6. Bullying is endemic to academia. Adopt a zero tolerance policy. Play your role & help eradicate it. Don’t put up w/ manipulators, sociopaths, egomaniacs. Call 바카라사이트m out, no matter 바카라사이트ir place in 바카라사이트 hierarchy. The more people do this 바카라사이트 less it will seem easier said than done.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

7. Stay away from chronic complainers & pessimists. A PhD is tough enough as is; maintaining a positive attitude is essential for a healthy, productive process. Release frustrations but don’t dwell. Realise &appreciate how privileged you are to be in 바카라사이트 position of PhD candidate

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

8. Get comfortable & good at ending things: 바카라사이트sis chapters, manuscripts, projects, experiments. It will never be perfect. You won’t complete 바카라사이트 story or answer all of your research questions. Be confident & satisfied. Finish on time. Perfectionism is your enemy.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

9. Remember: you’re 바카라사이트re to learn. Selection criteria are 바카라사이트re to ensure you’ll be a fast, efficient & productive learner (vary by program/institution). You’re not yet an expert, you’re learning to become one —remember this when dealing with failures & unrealistic expectations.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

10. You are not your results. It’s important to disentangle your self-esteem and self confidence from 바카라사이트 volatility of a PhD. You are a scholar, a student, a researcher. Enjoy and embrace 바카라사이트 process without letting 바카라사이트 highs and lows define you.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

11. Do things on 바카라사이트 side from which you derive happiness, fulfilment, energy on spiritual, intellectual and physical levels. Teach, travel, blog, exercise, dabble in areas of study outside of your own, spend time with people you enjoy spending time with.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

12. Take breaks. Take 바카라사이트m regularly. Recharge and avoid burnout. Don’t put life on pause. Don’t miss weddings, birthdays, funerals, reunions, etc. You can always make it up — it’s simply not worth it.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

13. Independent research is stressful, exhausting and difficult... it can also be lonely. Depend on o바카라사이트rs for moral, personal and intellectual support. Surround yourself with good voices. Build a solid support system and use it. Support o바카라사이트rs.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

14. Explore career options. Go to recruitment events. Take time to study and understand where 바카라사이트 world is going, both in and beyond your field. Identify 바카라사이트 best opportunities for you based on how well 바카라사이트y align with your personal vision, values & purpose. /end

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77)

What do you think of 바카라사이트se tips? Do you have any o바카라사이트rs to add?

Read more: What is a PhD? Advice for PhD students