The PhD Life Coach

Vikki Wright
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The PhD Life Coach

Whether you're a PhD student or an experienced academic, life in a university can be tough. If you're feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, or out of your depth, the PhD Life Coach can help. We talk about issues that affect all academics and how we can feel better now, without having to be perfect productivity machines. We usually do this career because we love it, so let's remember what that feels like! I'm your host, Dr Vikki Wright. Join my newsletter at www.thephdlifecoach.com.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    3.17 Overcoming Overwork and Overwhelm in the Final Months of Your PhD (a special coaching episode!)

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I coach Swagata, a PhD student navigating the intense overwhelm and exhaustion of her final months of writing up. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of looming deadlines, struggled to balance rest with productivity, or found yourself trapped in guilt for taking a break, this episode is for you.What’s inside this episode?✨ The challenges of finishing a PhD – Swagata shares her honest experience of overwork, guilt around re...

    1h 6m

  2. 12/23/2024

    3.16 Why I’m banning highlighters

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I make a feisty case for why we should ban highlighters! I’ll give you four reasons they’re not helping you and tell you what you should be doing instead. Forward this to all your favourite stationery-obsessed friends! ****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. My weekly podcast, The Ph...

    13 min

  3. 12/16/2024

    3.15 Creating Positive Academic Environments: Insights from Sports Psychology with Dr Andrew Dewar

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Andrew Dewar from Oxygen Conservation to explore how we can build more positive, motivational environments in academia using insights from sports psychology.We dive into strategies for fostering recovery, supporting each other, and creating climates that inspire students and supervisors alike. Learn how to:Create a supervisory relationship that cares for both the people involved AND academic performance...

    1h 2m

  4. 12/09/2024

    3.14 Why Word Count Goals Don't Work for PhD Writing – And What to Do Instead

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, we’re diving into a common trap many PhD students and academics fall into: setting word count goals like “500 words a day” or “6,000 words by next month.” While these goals sound productive, they often oversimplify the complex process of academic writing.I’ll explain why relying on word count as a measure of progress can hinder your motivation and overlook crucial aspects of writing, such as revising, outlining, and ref...

    14 min

  5. 12/02/2024

    3.13 Client Q&A - Motivating yourself in your final year, achieving post-PhD goals, and effective podcast listening

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I answer three thought-provoking questions from PhD students and graduates:Handling Final-Year DisappointmentA PhD student asks how to cope with the sense of disappointment that can arise in the final year when you realise your initial goals and ambitions have had to be scaled back. I explain why this is actually a good sign and how to use this understanding to motivate yourself to move forwards.Staying Motivated Post-P...

    26 min

  6. 11/25/2024

    3.12 Why perfect plans fail: Embracing imperfection in academic planning

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I share a fresh approach to planning for PhD students and academics that doesn’t rely on perfection. If you’ve ever felt like planning isn’t for you because you “never stick to it,” this episode is for you. We’ll explore imperfect planning: creating flexible time structures that make it easy to pick back up after things go off track.Tune in to learn:Why expecting perfection derails most plansHow to make plans that suppo...

    25 min

  7. 11/18/2024

    3.11 Navigating AI during your PhD: An Honest Conversation with Dr. Jessica Parker of MoxieLearn

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!Whether you’re a regular AI user or prefer to keep your distance, understanding AI’s role in academia is becoming essential. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jessica Parker, founder of the AI platform MoxieLearn, about the when, why, and how of using AI as a PhD student. We explore where AI can genuinely enhance your research—and where it might fall short. From the best benefits to the biggest pitfalls, and even some thought-provoking q...

    1h 6m

  8. 11/11/2024

    3.10 How to go from idea overload to clarity

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!I don’t know about you but my brain has so many ideas and thoughts of things I should do, shouldn’t do, mustn’t forget, want to change, or need to make a decision about. I needed a system to get them out of my head but where I knew I would come back to them. In this episode, I’m sharing a system I’ve been testing to help capture and crucially organise and act on ideas more effectively. This process is all about easing mental overload, h...

    21 min
See All (108)

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Whether you're a PhD student or an experienced academic, life in a university can be tough. If you're feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, or out of your depth, the PhD Life Coach can help. We talk about issues that affect all academics and how we can feel better now, without having to be perfect productivity machines. We usually do this career because we love it, so let's remember what that feels like! I'm your host, Dr Vikki Wright. Join my newsletter at www.thephdlifecoach.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Vikki Wright
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 The PhD Life Coach
  • Show Website
    The PhD Life Coach

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