Thread by @verymessyjamie

Unpopular opinion: There isn't actually anything you HAVE TO DO in your #PhD or #research>>>

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#phdlife #phdchat #phdtip #academictwitter #academicchatter

Yeah, yeah, I know all the agency vs structure people are going to crawl up my arsehole now and get very angry.

But what about privilege?!
But what about systemic oppressions?

Okay but hear me out first...

Apart from things like, say, breathing, there are few things that we inherently HAVE TO DO

Whenever we say we *have* to do something, it is actually a choice we are making about what we prioritise + value more

I'm not saying this is easy
or that the choices are equally weighted

But here's an example:

You could say:

"I can't go to that conference because I HAVE TO focus on writing this chapter this week"

Or you could say:

"I won't be able to progress on writing this chapter this week because I HAVE TO go to that conference"

As I said, choices aren't weighted equally

And the consequences of those choices aren't equal either

But when we say we HAVE TO do something, it isn't really because we HAVE TO. It's because we've given more weight to one option over another

So when we're faced with making a decision between 2 or more options, we're not (just) deciding between the options;

we're also deciding between the MEANINGS + possible CONSEQUENCES/RESULTS of those options

In many, many instances, our train of thought doesn't fully follow a decision through while we're making that decision

We say yes to things, say no to other things, stay wielded to our desks for several extra painful hours as a knee jerk reaction that believes we "HAVE TO" do it

So let's say you have committed to preparing a journal article for submission by this year

You believe you HAVE TO because your supervisor is telling you to
or you HAVE TO build your portfolio
or it's just what everyone HAS TO DO

Pause for a moment to ask WHY you have to:

- Are you doing a PhD by publication?
- Do you intend to pursue an academic career where publications will be a boost?
- Is publishing a requirement on your PhD programme?

And then go even deeper into those 'have tos':

- Why is journal publication the ONLY WAY for you to achieve your academic, career and personal goals? Why or why not?
- What happens if you DON'T publish?
- Does focusing on publication block you off from other opportunities?

I've worked with people who feel tremendous pressure over 'HAVING TO' publish
or go to conferences
or do extra experiments
or work 12-hour days every day

But when we dig down into those 'have tos', they realise that

they don't even want an academic career
or they actually don't find conferences that helpful
or they've already got enough experimental data
or anything longer than 4-hour days isn't actually productive for them

I know that in some cases, the consequences of making a choice (or not) ARE SERIOUS

It could mean breaking a contract
or landing you in further debt
or angering someone

But this still doesn't mean that you HAVE TO do something.

It could also mean that you make that choice fully aware of and willing to accept the consequences of breaking that contract, accepting more debt or angering someone

More importantly, it could mean that you have enough trust in yourself enough to be able to handle those consequences

or that the trade-off is worth more to you than having to deal with those consequences

A big example of this is when someone is deciding to quit the PhD

Two scenarios:

1. They may believe they HAVE TO stick it out + finish the thesis, if not they'll be indebted to their funders + they risk damaging their professional/career trajectory

Or...

2. They may believe that they HAVE TO quit for the sake of the freedom they'll gain and the opportunity to pursue another opportunity that is better aligned to their values

AND

that the 'consequence' of 'having to' pay back their funders + cause a potential rift in their career trajectory is something they are willing to accept + work around for the greater gain of their freedom/other opportunities

I also acknowledge that the choices that are possible for some people are going to be more/easier than others.

Unequally balanced social, economic, cultural privileges will mean that the availability + consequences choices are never going to be equal

But also: the reality is that we're not going to be able to change this overnight

And in the meantime, we still have to make progress in our work, live our lives, do things, aspire to our goals and try to reach them

And while there may indeed be very real, practical constraints/commitments that may not make it possible for you to do everything you want to right now

you can still begin that process of untangling all your 'have tos' + seeing how to make them an intentional choice instead

What could happen when you do this:

1. You might realise that you don't really have to do something;
or that there's another choice you could make that feels better aligned to what you want;
or that the consequences of NOT doing that thing aren't that actually bad

2. Even if decide that you still 'have to' do something that you don't absolutely love right now, at least you get super clear as to: - why you are doing it
- what it means for you
- when or what it will take for you to stop doing it

Ultimately, this is about making things easier for yourself

Giving yourself a bit more levity + space to make decisions with more clarity, self-trust and understanding of what is fuelling that decision

instead of feeling coerced, corralled and acting without any agency

That's all for today :)

If you like this sorta content - where I encourage you to willfully chuck external expectations aside and follow your own damn wild weird wonderful heart - then maybe gimme a follow

Boop xxx