When you're in the middle of some writing you might have a great idea on another topic. It's easy to get distracted or drawn away by the great new idea. Keep a good ideas book beside you and note them there to be followed up later. #PhDchat #PhDForum #academicchatter #ECRchat

Saying to a new #PhD student "Find the gap in the literature" is a big ask. It's like saying look for something that isn't there. How can you ever be sure you've found a gap? Maybe you just haven't looked long enough. Some guidance from the supervisor could help a lot.

When you start a #PhD you will probably feel like Manuel. I know nooothing. I know nooothing. But that's OK. Everyone else feels the same way. And you will learn. Ask lots of questions. #PhD #PhDchat #PhDForum #PhDlife

Starting a PhD? You probably feel you know nothing. That's OK. Everyone else feels the same. Ask lots of questions. #PhDchat #PHDForum

Know your imposter moments: - Your first lecture - A new role - Writing - When you make a mistoke These might make you feel like an imposter but they don't mean you are one. #PhDForum #gradschool

Imposter Feelings: You occasionally feel like a fraud even though there is evidence that you are not. From: buff.ly/2m9RArr #PhDforum #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #impostersyndrome

Faking and meta-faking. #impostersyndrome poorlydrawnlines.com

I'm a failure v A failed attempt @lizandmollie

In the #impostersyndrome we doubt ourselves. But can be very adamant in our assessment of ourselves as imposters. Maybe we should doubt our self-judgement as an imposter.

The closest we ever get to perfection is writing our cv. We put in all the achievements and we leave out the yucky bits. This makes it look like nobody has ever failed. Just a series of successes. Yet in reality everyone has setbacks, rejections and failures. #PhDchat #PhDforum

#impostersyndrome Flip flopping between the best and the worst.

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people are so full of doubts. Bertrand Russell. #impostersyndrome #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc

Are you even good enough to have imposter syndrome?

You might feel like an imposter, but are you? Look at the evidence. Blog buff.ly/2GANHFv #impostersyndrome

Useful abbreviations for the time-pressed on-line reader. #PhDchat #ECRchat #PhDForum #academicchatter @tomgauld

Writer's supplies. @tomgauld

Time spent composing an email.

Speed reading.

It's National Postdoc Appreciation Week. You do a great job. We need your intelligence, insights and dedication. Keep it up. #ECRchat #EMCR

Longer hours. But why? #PhDchat #PhDforum #ECRchat #postdoc

You can't do it all. So you have to say NO to something. Look through the list and see if there is anything you can: - delete - defer - delegate You can't do it all. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #PhDforum

The illusion is that if you just worked a bit harder you could get everything done. But the reality often is that you can't do it all. Sometimes you have to say NO.

Maybe it's not always Yes or No. Maybe you have more choices. Explore the options. Maybe you don't have to do it right now? Maybe you don't have to do it all? Maybe you could negotiate? #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #PhDForum

There are different types of NO. Sometimes you need the big NO. No negotiation - just NO. Sometimes you might use a medium or a little no.

People pleasing Say Yes Feel resentful Promise myself I'll say NO next time Feel guilty Say Yes ... @lizandmollie

Interesting article about authorship. www.science.org/content/arti... Have a discussion about authorship at the beginning. And write it down. If this feels uncomfortable - there's a red flag there somewhere.

Perfectionists tend to use binary logic: Success - failure Brilliant - rubbish 100% - 0% But there's a whole range in between. Perhaps good enough is ... good enough.

Perfectionism: The best is the enemy of the good. Stop waiting for perfect - make a start and improve from there. #PhDForum #EMCRForum #gradschool #acwri

#Perfectionism stop you from sending that draft? Set a deadline. It's not "I'll send it when I happy with it". or "I'll send it when I think its ready". Instead it's: I'm sending it at 5pm today. And tell the other person that it's coming.

Perfectionists: Not everything has to be perfect. Selective perfectionism. Some things 100%. Some thigns 80%. Soem thngs 50}.

#Perfectionism: The perfectionist scale. |Bev Webb In research or writing there is no perfect. There's always a different way you could do something. Always different assumptions. There will always be criticisms. Done is better than perfect.

All human knowledge is uncertain, inexact and partial. Bertrand Russell, English philosopher. This is particularly relevant for researchers. There isn't going to be one certain, exact and complete answer. You need to get comfortable with: uncertainty approximation incompleteness

#Perfectionism: Strive for progress - not perfection. Stop trying to make that paragraph perfect. Make it better and get it in. Stop waiting for the perfect idea - work with what you've got and get on with it. Stop waiting for the perfect time - make a start now.

#Perfectionism: “Better to do something imperfectly than do nothing perfectly.” Robert H. Schuller. Stop waiting for the perfect sentence, the perfect analysis, the perfect time to start. Jump in now, get it wrong, improve it and repeat. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc

#Perfectionism Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. From Anthem by Leonard Cohen Stop aiming for perfection. Do you best and move on.

#Perfectionism: Have no fear of perfection - you'll never achieve it. Just do your best. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc

Use what talents you possess The woods would be very silent If no birds sang Except those that sang best. Just because someone else can sing well doesn't mean you shouldn't Sing your own song Write your own #PhD, Do your research. Use what talents you possess.

Maybe good enough is ... good enough.

Perfectionism can be a creativity-killer.

A bit like AI.

Atelophobia: The fear of being imperfect or not good enough. Common amongst high achievers. And a problem in research where things are rarely perfect. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #acwri

A good thesis is a finished thesis. A great thesis is a published thesis. A perfect thesis is neither. Stop going round in perfectionistic circles and get it done. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #PhDforum

I'll do it after THIS. But after THIS there is another THIS. THIS never seems to end. Start now! #procrastination #ECRchat #PhDchat #postdoc

Wondering where to start? All seem a bit overwhelming? Start with the first step. Once you do that you've started and it doesn't feel so bad. Open the document. Make the first change. Analyse that first bit of data. Make a start.

Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in, the step you don’t want to take. Forget about finishing the chapter or paper. Start with the first sentence. Start close in. Don't worry about the second step. Start close in.