Loss of motivation is a common problem for doctoral students. Because Ph.D. programs require three years of continuous study for completion, many scholars find that their interest in their chosen area of study diminishes with time. Common ways of combatting this difficulty are to select a topic in which you have always held an interest as well as to ensure that your supervisor shares a similar curiosity. Having a supervisor who is able to motivate your course of study can be a helpful motivator.
Many students find that their personal lives need to take the back seat over the duration of their program of study. Setting time aside to connect with your friends, family and partner, or joining a group on campus, may make all the difference to your focus level while you research. Additionally, having a separate personal life will help prevent you from burning out.
Because researching a Ph.D. thesis requires the majority of a scholar's attentions at any given time, universities offer grants to fund projects and original research. However, when the money runs out, students often find it difficult to continue the research, leading them to postpone the project in order to earn the money to complete it. If this happens, keep in touch with your supervisor to ensure that your mind does not stray too far from the project. This will make it easier for you to complete the project when you are able to go back to it.
The main purpose of earning a Ph.D. is to provide the academic world with new knowledge, not only learning the research of others. For that reason, doctoral students are pioneers in their chosen field. Though this is prestigious and exciting, it also isolates the student in his or her learning. Researchers working alone can have trouble finding information as well as executing experiments. However, this is where mental flexibility becomes crucial. Modifying your thesis as your research project progresses may not provide you with the result you expected when you began the project, but it makes the process more exciting.