Five Best Practices for Getting Started with Research

A little while ago, I got this question from a reader as a comment to the Silver Linings introduction.

Also, could you write about starting with a research? I am actually afraid to start with it, to just do it and ask for some tasks at the professor...while I want to. I think it's too difficult for me, and I don't know where to begin in proving myself wrong.

Before burying the idea in my ever-growing list of blog post ideas, I had already quickly chipped in:

As for your question - I'll make sure to write a post on that, but as for now, be sure to realize that research is a process that is built upon the lessons we learn from our failures. So, don't be afraid to jump into the playground - you'll get your knees chafed along the way, but that's all part of growing up to become a fully fledged researcher :)

But let's take a look at this question again. I wrote a post about getting started in a PhD course or in graduate school, but getting started with research is a different topic. You can start on a new research project as a post-doc as well, for exampled.

In my opinion, there are five essential pieces of knowledge to keep in mind when you get started on a research project:

1. Play with your papers

After reading a paper, don't just simply archive it, but apply your new insights. You can try to carry out some calculations with the method that is proposed in a paper, check experimental results from another paper with the proposed method, explore the boundaries of the formula and the validity of its assumptions - the list of options goes on and on.

2. Learn a new skill

The beginning of your research is the moment to assess which skills you will need during the process and which parts of your knowledge need deepening. The early research months are a good time to learn programming in a new language, or study a book in a new subject that will be of use to your research. Don't get too side-tracked by learning new things, try to implement them and connect them with your research question early on!

3. Become independent

Don't wait for your supervisor to give you "homework". Research does not work like that. You are expected to get your hands dirty and play around in the garden until you find your treasure. Whenever you find a glimmer of gold, you can go and show this to your supervisor, and he will give you some input and comments to that, and steer you when necessary.

4. Familiarize yourself with the campus and services

This point overlaps with my earlier post on starting a PhD - but once you are fully engrained in your research, you don't want to go and spend a day figuring out how your library system works. Just figure out what services are at your disposition and how you can benefit most from these.

5. Document your journey

Your early scribblings most likely won't make it into your final dissertation, but I'd encourage you to start writing early on. Explain why a certain paper is of particular interest to you, or outline the strategies you used to find the limits of a theory that you studied. These documents make discussions with your supervisor easier, and they help you practice writing.

What would you recommend for someone who is getting started on research?

Silver Linings: Gratitude in the shower

Silver Linings is a series of posts that aims at infusing your day with little moments of joy, gratitude and indulgence. These little nuggets can contribute to improve your happiness in the current moment, which - together with a vision of your future - result in your best performance and helps you to achieve "flow" (or getting in the "zone").

A post on taking a moment for gratitude in the shower? You might wonder what happened to this academic blog... But bear with me for a moment, and I'll show you how you can use your shower to start or end your day with a positive thought.

Most likely, you don't even pay a moment of attention to your actual shower. You let the water pour, lather on soap, and at the same time, your mind wanders and is either past-tripping (worrying about something you said or did, or didn't say or do yet) or future-tripping (planning ahead, thinking of everything you still need to do, worrying about future events,..).

But as an academic, you already spend 90% (or more) of your time with your brain. Your body gets much less attention.

So, what if you could spend some time to connect with your body, and think positive, grateful thoughts - while doing an activity you are doing anyway? Here's a few ways to do so:

1. Sensation

For a moment, mute your thinking and amplify your sensing. Sense the feeling of the hot water, sense the texture of the soap. Smell the fragrance of the product that you are using. Look at yourself, and understand the privilege of having a healthy body. Listen to the sound of the water pouring down.

2. Awareness 

Try to sync your mind with your actions. Instead of embarking on a trip to the past or future, simply observe what you are doing, and bring your awareness to the now.

3. Kindness to your body

As your brain is the major player in your life, it is important not to neglect your body. Too often we only notice our bodies when something isn't working well, which could impact our academic work then. You can compare this to a computer, a machine that we expect to perform its tasks, without needing any maintenance, and of which we only notice how much we depend on it when it malfunctions. 

So, while you are doing physical activity, take a moment to consciously connect to your body, treat it kindly and cherish your health.

4. Gratitude for products

Take a moment to pay attention to your soap:

- if it's the cheapest soap from the store: realize that buying cheap helps you to avoid (further) student debt. By not indulging in unnecessary luxury, you are taking control of your financial situation - one tiny bit at a time.

- if it's a fancy soap you splurged on: be fully aware that this expense was worth the extra money, provided that you genuinely enjoy the experience of using it.

- if it was a gift: take a moment to smile, and remember when you received it. As a bonus: write a short note during the day to the person from whom you got the gift to tell them you enjoy using it - and take a moment to catch up with him/her.

- if it's from a hotel: remember the good times you spent traveling for a conference - a privilege not all young professionals experience.

Have you tried applying these techniques? Share your experiences in the comments!

Introducing: Silver Linings

Another new series of posts! You will find Silver Linings to appear on this blog.

What is it about?

Silver Linings is about helping you to create the right mindset to carry out your research, and to come up with creative ideas.

 What is the concept of Silver Linings?

In the series of Silver Linings, you will find short, inspirational posts. The key point is one idea per lining, that will hopefully help you to cheer up for small things throughout the day.

By focusing your attention to small habits and short moments of joy, gratitude or indulgence, you will learn how to improve the resilience of your mind, and thus better cope with the stress of academia and the need to perform extremely well.

For who?

If you feel that you are wasting the best years of your life by trying to hold your breath, and just get through your studies, or get your PhD research finished, or get that academic position after your post-doc, or get tenure, or something else - then you are in a state of mind in which prevent yourself from operating at your best level.

You get your best results when you are happy in the now and have a vision for the future. With these ingredients, you can achieve mental flow.

Most of us tend to beat ourselves up in the now, thinking this behavior will lead to the great results you anticipate in the future. But, unfortunately, you might be like a dog chasing his own tail until he gets too tired. 

To learn how to improve the now, I've started to pay attention to small acts and thoughts throughout the day that help me to be at peace with my current state.

When can I expect Silver Linings?

Posts will air on Sundays, as a way to inspire you throughout the week.

You are invited to contribute!

Contributions are more than welcome. You are invited to share your experiences in the comments of a Silver Lining, and you can send guest contributions (just pitch me with your idea!).

Letting Go

Over the last few months, I have felt that I gradually started to slip my PhD down on my priority list.

While finishing is still one of my top priorities (don't get me wrong), I've finally managed to let more important things in my life be on top again.

Maybe I simply still am cherishing my honeymoon feeling, but somehow I have the impression that through the wedding preparations, the actual wedding and the honeymoon, I've gained a fresh perspective.


Maybe I am just getting older and finding it easier to put things into perspective.

Maybe it is a consequence of my actions to Simplify, and adopting a more minimalist view on the world.

Whatever caused this, I have recognized this newly gained ability of letting go of worries as one of the greatest tools in the final months of dissertation writing.

And while I cannot really pinpoint what caused this shift in mindset, I can recommend the following ways of letting go and getting a new and refreshed outlook on your PhD research:

1. Escape for a weekend

If your head starts to fill up and your thoughts can't move around anymore, you're already way beyond the point where you need a break. Grab your beloved, your parents, your friends or whoever is up for a little break and head out for a weekend.

2. Take a side project

Divert your thoughts by taking one of your hobbies (as part of forming your creative habit) to the next level. Turn it into an actual side project, and engage in this activity for a significant amount of time per week. Don't just run, but train for a race. Don't just play music, but sign up for an open podium and work towards a performance.

3. List your priorities

Time for a reality check. If you can't think of nothing else but your thesis, have nightmares of everything that can go wrong when printing, or all the possible negative feedback your committee could come up with, then it's time to see if you really wanted your thesis to be the most important thing in your life. No, right? So - grab a pen or open your Google Drive or Evernote, and make a list of what keeps you busy in life. Identify your priorities, and go and spend a little more time on your other interests.

4. Question your worries

For every panicky thought that crosses your mind, you can train yourself to actually question that thought. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What's the reason for this panicky thought?
- To avoid real panic, what should I do?
- If something really needs to be done, when can you do it?
- Schedule it, and tell yourself - see, we are going to do it, and all will be fine.

5. Use a guided meditation

If you can't sleep without the nightmares, try freeing some space in your mind by using a guided meditation,