Author: Ayobami Esther Olanrewaju // Editor: Erin Pallott

Photo by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash Reading Time: 4 minutes

Does it look like your research is not taking shape or you have been reading for too long and still have nothing to write about? Do you think it only happens to you? You couldn’t be more wrong! You are not alone. Perhaps it is time to talk to one or more PGRs about working on a PhD. You will soon discover that the feeling is mutual.

Once we have identified the problem, which is the inability to move the project forward due to conflicting thoughts, how can we resolve it? It takes incremental work and the willingness to let go of inhibitors to advance your project. Here are five tips to boost confidence and get more done.

Leave the “What If?” Lane

A lot of people are trapped in several “what ifs” and negative thoughts of what might not work. Because of that restriction in your mind, it becomes difficult to move forward and you feel stuck. After accumulating days of inactivity, you soon see that numerous unfinished tasks have piled up and waters down your confidence. How can you address this? Mel Robbins’ 5 second rule can help. You simply count from 5 down to 0 and you start to work. Just write or scribble down your thoughts. It is from those ideas that your magnificent research will emerge. It is time to let go of the what ifs and live a life of freedom. If you remain experimental, curious, optimistic, and be willing to work with others, you will gradually gain confidence and see positive results.

Address and let go of your fears

What are you scared of? That you will not do the right thing, or that nothing you try will work? Or maybe afraid that you’re not who you claim to be, and you will be found out as an imposter? If it is fear of failure, know FAIL means “First Attempt In Learning”. No one usually gets it right the first time. We all learn from those failed attempts and then boom – we have the optimum solution. Fear is always going to be part of life and there are two solutions: you face it, or you flee from it. The more you run away from it, the more likely you are to lose your confidence over time. In the end, facing it head on builds you up and may form part of your success story. For each fear you overcome, it adds another feather to your cap of success. As Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing” and buttressing that, John A Shedd said “A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for“. Why don’t you let go of fear and sail the world fearlessly?

Track your progress and keep a gratitude journal

Some people don’t feel the need to track their activity and keep their ideas in their heads. However, suddenly you may feel that you have done nothing, and time is lost. Over time, you keep looking down at yourself for not achieving much. When you don’t look inward to see how you spend your time or celebrate your small wins, you miss many opportunities to build confidence, which exacerbates the problem. The solution is very easy. Monitor your progress and focus on activities that have the most positive impact and prioritise tasks using a priority matrix (also known as the Eisenhower matrix) and a priority quadrant. The two matrixes help you rank your activities based on urgent and important tasks. Tackling your high priority and urgent tasks will improve your confidence as well as reduce pressure that can cause further stress. Doing this consistently and keeping a journal of what you are grateful for will keep you happy and improve your confidence.

Stop dwelling on what others have

Comparison does not just hurt, it ruins confidence and can lead to exhaustion when we always try to keep up and maintain pace based on how others are working, leading to lack of peace, unhappiness and feeling dissatisfied. Instead of competing with others, you should seek peace, acknowledge that we are all unique, and be your most authentic self. In the end, nobody can be you. Based on our differences and circumstances, we cannot all be the same, which is actually a great thing. Instead of comparing yourself, you can reach out to people for help and learn from them. You can celebrate others’ successes and acquire more skills. As you get more information your mind starts to untangle, and you become happier, and may gain more clarity in where to take your project.

Let go of excuses

There are a million and more excuses to not do something. When you push things back far enough, you get to the point of urgency where you must do your task in a short period of time, which can lead to you not feeling proud of the result. One of the effective solutions is to keep reaffirming yourself that you will show up regardless and you will do your part to succeed. By recognising your excuses, and gradually turning them into an action, you will gain some momentum and boost your confidence.

In summary, you should strive to let go of thinking negatively, address your fears, track your progress, and always be grateful. Furthermore, instead of looking for an excuse, try to find a reason do it.  

A few additional tips: Humans are not designed to be alone, so find a support system, whether it is an advisor, a friend, or another PGR. Make sure you find time to rest, exercise, and maintain your faith if you are religious. You can also practice teaching others and you might discover you have a lot to teach. In the end, the journey will feel easier, and you will become confident in navigating it.