The PhD slump is not a myth

When I first started my PhD two years ago, I heard whispers about a so called “PhD slump.” About how in the middle of the PhD journey, people want to scream, and cry, and give it all up. I thought it was a myth, something that happens to a few people, something that would never happen to me, because I was so grateful to get the opportunity to research something I was passionate about as my job.

Fast forward to a little over two years in (and add in a lot of additional stress outside my PhD), and here I am, in the damn slump. Oh, and I’m not alone, most of my office is in the same slump. We joke that you can probably feel the stress when you walk in the door.

I can’t say exactly why we are all here, but I guess it has to do with the fact that a PhD is a marathon, and we’re exhausted. Everything takes longer than you think. You have a million and one setbacks. You are tired and living off caffeine and wine (or maybe that’s just me). You start to forget why you started in the first place. You cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, and that ‘Dr.’ title seems impossible.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love my job. I am still grateful to be able to research shark conservation which I love, and I am grateful to get the opportunity to teach, and I am grateful to get to work my own hours. But I am in the slump.

I however, feel like I am maybe, just slightly past the halfway point of the slump. When I am fully out (which I know will happen), I will write a post about the ways I managed to get through it.

But for now I want to say, if you too are in the slump, know that all us PhD students end up there so you are not alone. And start taking some time for yourself; after all, our health and wellbeing are the most important. Don’t work 24 hours a day, you won’t be as efficient. And most importantly, lean on the village you have around you.

Brianna Le Busque (@BriannaLeBusque) or Dr. of What is a PhD candidate in Conservation Psychology. This story was published on March 15, 2018, on Brianna's blog 'dr.ofwhat?' (available here), and has been republished here with her permission.