The Mental Health Landscape of Dissertations
As a Ph.D. student, are you concerned about your mental health? The journey of a dissertation can often feel astonishingly solitary, a terrain where the weight of stress, anxiety and daily worries can create a profound sense of isolation. The modern world carries its...
The Myth of Constant Productivity
We live inside an exhausting mythology: that the most successful among us are always in the process of doing, creating, producing. Certainly, this mindset thrives in dissertation culture in most academic programs. “You’re so lucky to be here in this Ph.D. program,”...
5 Steps for Mature Scholars to Start (or Return to) a Dissertation
It’s the end of September, which means that unmistakable back to school vibe is definitely in the air. Perhaps you’re sending off your teens to high school. Or you’re secretly wondering if it’s your turn to take a step into the wild and wonderful world of academia. If...
Meditation and the Dissertation: Finding Focus in the Chaos
When I was finishing my dissertation, I didn’t use meditation to get through it — but I truly wish I had. Back then, I thought meditation was something reserved for yogis on mountaintops, not for an over-caffeinated, middle-aged grad student buried under stacks of...
Fall Reset: How to Restart Your Dissertation Momentum After a Summer Slump
A small confession: when I was writing my own dissertation, I lost one entire month of August to a heady combination of over-ripe peaches, second-rate mystery novels and a home-organization project that resulted in exactly zero new pages written. If you’ve just looked...
Hot Dissertation Topics for Fall 2025
Five Smart Ideas for Ph.D. Students Ready to Choose a Dissertation Topic By September, most doctoral students entering the dissertation phase have had the summer to think about possible topics for their research projects (as well as relax and unplug, I hope). Here are...
You Don’t Need to Rewrite Chapter One…Again
Let’s be honest: perfectionism is exhausting. Most graduate students believe the introductory chapter of their dissertation must be flawless before moving forward with their draft. They imagine that if Chapter One isn’t completely solid, the whole dissertation will...
Your Brain is a Saboteur: The Science Behind Why You Can’t Write at Home
When I was working on my dissertation years ago, one thing was certain: my home had never been cleaner. Every writing session was the perfect opportunity for distraction…and I took full advantage. Floors were scrubbed, bookshelves meticulously rearranged and dust...
ChatGPT vs. Human Dissertation Coaches: What AI Can’t Do for Your Ph.D.
Recently, I decided to put ChatGPT to the test. I asked it a question I often hear from many of the Ph.D. students I coach: "How can I strengthen my dissertation argument?" The AI response was technically correct and well-structured—it suggested reviewing literature,...
Spring Forward: How the Season of Renewal Can Reignite Your Dissertation Progress
I have a working theory: winter is the season when dissertations go into hibernation. The days are short, the nights are long and, understandably, your motivation to write disappears along with the sun at 4:30 PM. If your dissertation stalled out over the winter...