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How do you stay motivated?


edbutson

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Hello all,

 

I am new to this forum and this will be my first post. The reason for the post is that I am having a huge issue with staying motivated. I am a computational chemist at the end of my second year in grad school and it is time for me to begin working on a proposal that must be outside of my immediate area of research ( Si(100) surface chemistry ). I am wondering if anyone has any input on how to stay motivated and also, how do you formulate ideas? 

 

As far as motivation goes, I'd rather watch Netflix than come to work most days. I used to love chemistry but now it feels like a chore. My fiance dropped out of college last year and has not been the best influence as all she wants to do after work is watch Netflix. She is trying to get into vocational school for computer repair and I hope this changes. But I can't blame it all on her. I should have the will power to just work, right? What helps you stay motivated?

 

Formulating ideas has never been my strong suit. Up until this point, my advisers have always given me a project. I can drive the research forward, but starting from square one is terrifying. I have been reading journal articles, but I just can't seem to find a suitable topic, or maybe it's right in front of my eyes and I just can't see it.

 

In general, I feel like I'm drowning. I wonder if I am even cut out for the Ph.D. program. I have no one to talk to about this so I have come to this forum. I know that many of you have had the same issues that I have and I would be grateful for any and all advice.

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Hi edbutson,

I am too a theoretical chemist, and I feel you. Doing theory and computational work is really different from experimental work, we all know that. Sitting in front of a computer 8-15 hours a day isn't the most fun/healthy thing, no matter how much you love your research. Sometimes it takes a toll on your mental and physical health if you don't establish a good balance. I suffered enough of this to feel obliged to give you my 2 cents:

1. Exercise! I gym/run at least an hour a day, 5,6 days a week. Everyone else in my lab, including my advisor, does exercises. It lifts your mind from the mental frustration theory work can do to you :P We sometimes do a group run. Our postdoc does yoga. Do what you like, but stay active!

2. Do more than one thing! A lot of theory work is very tedious, and bored me to tears (fixing someone else's code, for example). So I have been doing a theory project (main) and an application project (collab with experimentalists to explain their data...) at the same time, so when I get stuck on something, I switch to the other project and get something done. Achieving something everyday, small or large, is important to me because it helps boost my confidence and moves me forward. 

3. Have good friendships with other theorists. I'm very close with my lab mates. Theorists often feel more lonely! In my group, we help troubleshoot each other's code bugs/ calculation errors, exchange ideas... to be sure everyone feels motivated and get our work done at the same time.

 

Stay positive, that is the most important thing. I was once the mad grumpy scientist that worked non-stop and never happy. Now I work faster, better and happier (and I work less!) 

Hope it helps :)

Edited by Cookie
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Thanks Cookie. That is great advice. I need to get in shape anyway. It is difficult for me to make friends as I am a pretty shy person ( I really need to work on that too). It doesn't help that I am the only theorist in my group ( it is really a surface chem group but I do theoretical stuff ) and I don't have a seat in the lab. There isn't room for all the grad students so I am stuck in another part of the building. I talk to them from time to time when I see them at department seminars, but I haven't developed any real friendship with them. I just feel like I'm the odd man out and that every one is doing better than I am. I do have another project I am working on and it does help to break the monotony. Again, thanks for the great advice! I will have a tough time with number 3 but I am going to do my best.

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