Even before starting my PhD, I read that it is normal to get demotivated, especially while studying abroad, which I have now experienced on my own. I have consulted many resources to try to prevent and to help overcome the bad times when they have come. I cannot say I have managed them very well but I have learned a lot on the way. So here I want to share my advice, and a list of resources to consult when struggling during a PhD (or in preparation for one).

My advice

This is a combination of the advice I have been given, the resources I have consulted, and my own experience.

Talk to your advisor regularly.
- Even if you feel you have no progress, you should talk to your advisor. Remember they are there to help and guide you, and your success depends on them, so there is no escape. Avoiding meeting your advisor is probably a bad decision.
Talk with other students about each other’s research (and sometimes about struggles too).
- You will see many other people are struggling too and you can help each other in creative ways (study groups, meetings, consulting, etc) or simply by sharing each other’s experiences in casual talks.
Theraphy.
- If you have a long period of demotivation do not hesitate to ask for help from a therapist. This also has the advantage that you are talking to a professional so you can be completely honest and figure out what is happening without fearing someone will know about it.
Don’t compare yourself with others. Believe in yourself.
- Each person has their strengths, so try to focus on yours, not on others. Also, remember you are learning new things, so it is normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes. The PhD aims to reach the limit of knowledge of a very specific area, so you should expect it to be hard sometimes, but this is just part of the process.

Resources

See additional resources in Research Methodology.

I highly recommend reading the book “How to get a PhD”, since it mentions a lot of common problems and their possible solutions as well as ways to prevent them.