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How do I rekindle my motivation for earning my PhD?
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I am writing about a problem that I suspect many PhD students face but rarely discuss openly.
I have always been very motivated by science and entered my PhD programme out of a genuine love for research. During my studies, I transitioned from wet-lab work to bioinformatics, driven by both the unsustainable work–life balance at the bench and a growing curiosity about computational approaches.
Since making the switch, something has shifted. Despite enjoying the flexibility of working from home, I find myself unable to go beyond the bare minimum. Evenings that I once would have spent reading papers or coding are now spent on the sofa.
A contributing factor could be that, after three years, I still cannot obtain the clinical metadata that my project depends on, which has been deeply discouraging.
I genuinely like my project, my principal investigator and my colleagues, which is why I feel so guilty. Should I consider leaving, or is this a phase that can be worked through? — A star-crossed science lover
It’s very common to hit a lull in the phase of a PhD programme that you are in. In fact, there’s even a term for it: the third-year slump. The freshness and excitement might have worn off, and you could be realizing the limits of your knowledge, explains Vikki Wright. Previously a higher-education researcher at the University of Birmingham, UK, Wright is now a life coach and podcaster focusing on PhD students.
It’s also noteworthy that you’re in a moment of change between working environments: you’ve left the laboratory and now spend more time in front of a screen. “It’s quite normal to find that a bit of a strange transition and work out what your new normal looks like,” Wright says.
She adds that, if you’ve had a sudden change in energy levels, it’s worth checking with your physician for a physical cause. But this could have more to do with discipline and motivation. To Nicole Barnes, who leads education work at the American Psychological Association in Washington DC, your letter suggests that “the issue is not motivation so much as agency. When effort no longer leads to progress, the system teaches you to conserve energy.”
“Before interpreting your current exhaustion as evidence that you no longer belong, it may be worth seeing what happens when the plan changes,” Barnes advises. “Often, when agency returns, energy follows.”