Thread by @TimCosmos

This is time of year when most new PhD students embark on their journey into academia and #PhDlife. I’m three-years into mine (eight-months left 😐), and here are ten things I wish I’d known before I started. (Disclaimer: this advice is dubious at best!) (1/12)

1. It’s okay not to know what the heck you’re doing when you first start. It took me a good six-twelve months to properly get my head around exactly what my project would involve. There will be lots of reading, and that’s okay. Your project will probably change a lot, too. (2/12)

2. Every PhD is very different, so don’t judge your progress by the amount of progress your peers are making. It’s okay to be aware of what other people are doing and take cues, but keep your eye on your own ball. (3/12)

3. Ask questions. You’re not doing a PhD because you know how to do something. You’re doing a PhD because you have the proven capacity and ability to be able to learn to do something. Ask postdocs, ask your supervisor, and ask other people in your group. (4/12)

4. It’s okay not to be having the time of your life 24/7. Doing a PhD is ace, but it's also often pretty rough — long days, can't switch off, under-paid, etc. It’s okay not to be okay. Don’t be brutal to yourself, and make sure you ask for extra help if you need it. (5/12)

5. This is a personal preference one — checklists are your friends. Make sure you end every day knowing what you have to do the day after. If you take a week-holiday, write a checklist of things to do when you get back. It helps maintain momentum. (6/12)

6. You’ll probably feel impostor syndrome. That feeling of expecting a tap on the shoulder any second and being told “we made the wrong choice, you’re not smart enough to do a PhD”. @LeKissick did a good video on it on her YouTube channel: (7/12)

7. That old cliché — it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’ve got 3-4 years to get the project done. Don’t kick yourself if you get to the end of your first year and don’t have enough data to write a paper. (8/12)

8. This is a good one in general — take opportunities when they come your way. Don’t say “yes” to everything, but take advantage of the unique and great opportunities that come with being a PhD student. In many ways it’s a unique time of your life, so make the most of it. (9/12)

9. Don’t forget why you started a PhD, & why you’re interested in your subject. It’s easy to forget when you’re working like crazy, neck-deep in papers to read. But don’t forget what drew you towards the pursuit of adding to the bank of human knowledge. (10/11)

10. Lower your expectations with how much you'll achieve and how quickly you'll achieve it. Aiming lower more often is better than aiming high at something long in the future. A PhD is lots of tiny steps, each one insignificant but together something amazing. (11/12)

Good luck, everyone. You’ll be ace. 😊 #PhDlife (12/12)