Preparing mentally for the doctorate
At orientation our program advisor and program director for the doctorate degree program, gave great advice: set aside time each week for studying, and for self-care.
In terms of time investment, studying, reading, listening, discussing, writing, and researching takes a minimum of 18 hours per week. There are some weeks that I spent almost 30 hours a week during heavy research projects where I had to read multiple articles and do lots of research, although that is not typical. On average, three classes in, I am currently investing about 20 hours weekly.
The point is, you have to take it seriously and treat it like your new profession. Essentially that is what being a doctoral student is: learning how to be a professional student, educator, researcher, and academic. It comes with a whole new language, multiple new skill sets, and ways of thinking.
It is an investment, which comes with tradeoffs. There may be times when I have to say ‘no’ to family, friends, coworkers, and colleagues due to the need to prioritize my studying and due dates. This would be true for any degree program, but it is especially true for learning leadership where it’s such a broad topic.
Developing a weekly schedule is non-negotiable. Because there are typically due dates in the middle of the week and at the end of the week, you must learn how to prioritize the weekly studying, research, and assignments to ensure you can meet the course requirements and submit discussion posts on time.
Can it be done? Of course! Currently, I am working a full-time professional job with many responsibilities in addition to doing the doctorate degree program requirements. Is it easy? Not always, but I tend to find ways to make it work. Nothing good comes without at least a little bit of tension, you just have to find ways to harmonize all the aspects of your life. There may be times when I have to take a long lunch break to finalize an assignment. There was one day when I gave myself the day off to focus on a research project, because it made me feel better and less stressed. You do what you have to do to get the work done. Commitment is required, and endurance.
It sometimes feels like what I think it must feel like to run a marathon. You just have to keep making progress towards the finish line. And remember, it is progress, not perfection, that gets you there.