Lack of Motivation

[ElectricBlueOcelot]

Anyone else here have this problem? 

 

Normally I have no problem getting things done. During my Master's my supervisor had very high expectations and while I didn't have trouble meeting them, it was motivating to get your work done in a timely fashion. 

 

I moved to a new school in September and seem to have completely lost my motivation, probably in most part because my Supervisor seems to have absolutely no expectations of me. At least not in the short term. We don't meet regularly and I believe he expects me to conduct my research completely autonomously.... which would be fine if I was a post-doc... 

 

Any suggestions on how to boost your motivation? 

[student12345]

I try to think about what drew me to my field in the first place. Maybe that'll help in your case as well.

[Eigen]

I've gone through a number of cycles where I have problems with motivation- as have every other PhD student I know. I usually try to focus on re-organizing and redirecting my research when I go through a time like that, something that doesn't require me to be as motivated. 

 

That said, I don't know why you think autonomy is something that is only OK for post-docs. 

 

Especially coming in with a masters, I would think it's great that your advisor is letting you work primarily on your own- it lets you be the driving force developing your project, and lets you prepare for coming out of your PhD as an independent researcher, which is the end goal. 

[ElectricBlueOcelot]

That said, I don't know why you think autonomy is something that is only OK for post-docs. 

 

Especially coming in with a masters, I would think it's great that your advisor is letting you work primarily on your own- it lets you be the driving force developing your project, and lets you prepare for coming out of your PhD as an independent researcher, which is the end goal. 

 

While I definitely think this is true, I just started and have to pick a research topic without little input it seems. I can see working on my own after the comps & etc once my topic has been picked and I can just run with it. That I can definitely do. Most students seem to start off with a particular topic that their supervisor suggests for them and molds it into their own over 3-4yrs. By the end of which they are working autonomously. 

[juilletmercredi]

I have ebbs and flows of motivation.  I kind of just go with it - I do easier tasks during that low period and more challenging ones during the highs.  Usually what renews my motivation is something that reminds me why I entered the field in the first place - reading an exciting new article, a conference, a visit to another institution, a research talk, etc.  So get involved in your department and go to talks and brown bags and seminars, and read articles every week.  That will keep your knowledge AND motivation up.

 

That I can definitely do. Most students seem to start off with a particular topic that their supervisor suggests for them and molds it into their own over 3-4yrs. By the end of which they are working autonomously.

 

That depends on your advisor.  My advisor definitely did not give me a topic to work on; I selected my own topics and worked on them more or less autonomously from the beginning of my program.  He gave me more guidance in the execution of those topics in the beginning of my program, but the data analysis and writing was up to me.  Now I am a fifth year and I usually just tell him what I am going to do and show him a timeline and the plan, and he nods and says he'll read my drafts, lol.  But don't assume that your advisor is going to suggest a topic for you; if you want him to suggest a topic for you (which I don't recommend), then ask him if there's any directions that the lab wants to go in that he hasn't yet been able to explore.  But it's far better for you to take a look at the data yourself and think about really interesting ways that you can take the lab; you'll get points for being proactive.

[boblet]

I don't have much advice on the advisor front, but as far as boosting motivation...

 

First, I take some time to myself. (Introvert, here - it's important for me to have quiet space to think.) Maybe a bath, or just some time curled up on a comfortable piece of furniture with a blanket and cup of tea and cat on my lap. Then I begin writing, in a journal or a research notebook depending on my mood, about the things I want to do and am going to do. Projects, accomplishments, things that excite my competitive drive and love of my work. Short term, long term, extra-long-term. Things that originally drew me in to research.

 

By the time I finish my narrative about all the things I am going to do and sketch out some ideas of how I'm going to do them, my resolve is made of steel (source can be angry, e.g. all you haters suck and I'm going to prove you wrong, or aspirational, e.g. I am so freaking excited to do this awesome work!) and I've got so much energy that I need to get up and do something productive for fear of exploding.

 

That said, I'm also a little weird. So you could try normal things like spending some reflective time in nature, talking to previous mentors who are more supportive, exercising, sitting down with your advisor to have a very goals-focused conversation where you two clarify your expectations of one another, etc.

Edited March 28, 2013 by boblet

[RxPhD]

I have 3 manuscripts and a poster I am supposed to be doing. I just keep staring at my computer screen. It's not difficult but I cannot seem to get myself moving. It doesn't help that I had to put my dog down today.

[Eigen]

While I definitely think this is true, I just started and have to pick a research topic without little input it seems. I can see working on my own after the comps & etc once my topic has been picked and I can just run with it. That I can definitely do. Most students seem to start off with a particular topic that their supervisor suggests for them and molds it into their own over 3-4yrs. By the end of which they are working autonomously. 

 

That's not how it was for me, either. 

 

My advisor showed me the grants, and advised me to look up past papers the group had published, and dig into the literature to come up with a project. And this was before the semester officially started. 

 

My first few projects ran into a lot of problems, but I learned a ton from the experience. 

 

My research is pretty similar in track now to Juillet's, in that I tell my advisor what I'm going to be doing next, and why, and where I see the project going. And when it comes time to publish, I write a draft of the paper and pick a journal that I think it will fit well in. 

[kmed]

Think about why you signed up for your program in the first place- what are you trying to achieve?
Also, make attainable short and long term goals for yourself!!!

If you have trouble motivating yourself you could simply ask your advisor what your weaknesses are or places where he thinks you need to improve. Take that advice/criticism as a challenge and do it.