Dr. Max Lempriere

Breakthroughs rarely come from pushing harder.
They come when you step back.
Rest is part of the process. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

A #phdstudent told me yesterday that she emailed a draft chapter to her supervisor 5 weeks ago and she still hasn't heard back. I find that completely unacceptable - and I hear similar stories A LOT. Can anyone beat five weeks?

When the work feels hard, remember the three versions of you: past you, present you, and future you. That tough task today? It’s a gift to future you. It won’t make the work easy, but it might make starting just a bit easier. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Be kind to yourself when you have a bad day. Remind yourself that not every day can be good and that what won’t help things is letting your internal critic get the better of you. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Don’t be too harsh on yourself if you haven’t made the progress you aimed for, or you still have a lot of writing to do. Instead, congratulate yourself on the writing you have done, not the writing you haven’t. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

PhDs never, ever, ever go to plan. But don’t be so harsh on yourself. You’re human, and humans make mistakes. Show yourself loving-kindness, and see the mistakes as part of your ongoing development as a scholar and PhD student. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Have you ever heard of a done list? To-do lists can overwhelm, whereas done lists inspire. That’s because the only things that matter are the things you actually do. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Momentum often starts with the smallest possible step.
Take that step today. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Trust your process, even when it feels slow. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Momentum often starts with the smallest possible step.
Take that step today. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Don’t underestimate how far you’ve already come.
Your past self would be proud. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Confusion is not a setback.
It’s a sign you’re thinking deeply. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

You’re not alone — every researcher faces doubt. 
Talk about it when you need to. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

It’s fine to slow down.
 Slowness doesn’t erase your progress. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Sometimes, clarity arrives after you start writing — not before. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

This morning’s #PhDDailyThought: Celebrate the days you keep trying.
 They count the most. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

You’re becoming the kind of person who can finish hard things.
 That’s a skill you’ll keep for life. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

The fear of not being good enough is common.
 Don’t let it decide your next move. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Imperfect drafts are how perfect arguments begin.
 Write first, refine later. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

You’re not behind — you’re on your timeline. 
Trust that. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

This morning’s #PhDDailyThought: Some days, courage looks like opening the document.
That’s enough. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Your low-motivation days will pass, making room for calmer, more focused moments. Be patient with yourself. Always remind yourself: you’re doing better than you think. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Don’t speak to yourself in a tone you’d never use with a friend. You have strengths, gifts, and a trajectory worth noticing. Look for them—they’re there. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

In a PhD it’s easy to stare only at what’s ahead and forget how far you’ve already come. Perfectionism blinds you to what’s already working. Take a moment to look back—you’ve made more progress than you think. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Don’t compare your PhD to others—especially online. People post wins, not struggles. Behind the bragging is often failure you never see. Focus on your pace, your process, your progress. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

In your PhD, you can’t really be too repetitive. Here's what I mean: examiners read your thesis out of order and over weeks, so keep reminding them of your core questions, contribution, and theory. Clear signposting stops confusion. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Some PhD days fall out of tune, and that’s ok. You won’t know everything or nail the first draft. What you can control is how you treat yourself. Be kind to yourself. You’re still learning the craft. That’s the process. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

If you’re finding your PhD difficult, remember—there’s a reason. It is difficult. For most students, this is the first time doing nearly every component at this scale. Keep going. It will start to make sense. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

“Your PhD must make an original contribution to knowledge.” Sounds huge, right? But here’s the truth: your contribution won’t be grand. It’ll be tiny and very niche, as it should be. You’re working at the research edge, not filling some mythical gap. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Asking PhD students “Do you feel like an impostor?” is wild—every hand goes up. But they can’t all be impostors. You’re doing things for the first time, stretching your limits… of course it feels strange. Keep going. You belong more than you think. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

You don’t have to do this alone. Reach out to others who understand what you’re going through — in your program, your field, or online. The more you talk, the more you’ll see: no one has it all figured out. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

It’s normal to feel lost, confused, or unsure about your direction during your PhD. Every researcher hits that point where nothing makes sense. Take a breath. Keep going. Eventually it all starts to become clearer. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Emotional rollercoaster. Self-doubt. The 2am thoughts of, “I can’t do this.” You’re not alone in that. Everyone who’s been through a PhD knows how hard it can be ( and that you will get through it too). #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away and breathe. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

You’re allowed to say no.
 Boundaries protect your work and your sanity. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

This morning’s #PhDDailyThought: Your PhD isn’t a solo climb.
There are others holding ropes with you. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

The pressure to be productive can be the biggest barrier to productivity. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Your well-being is part of your research process — not separate from it. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Comparison is the thief of joy.
Focus on your own research, your own pace. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

You’re not just producing knowledge.
You’re growing as a scholar and a person. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky #PhDDailyThought

This morning’s #PhDDailyThought: No one expects you to have all the answers.
That’s what research is for. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

It’s okay to celebrate small victories — even if they seem insignificant. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

#PhDDailyThought: You’re more resilient than you think.
 Keep reminding yourself—you got this! #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Everyone’s PhD timeline looks different.
Comparison steals your focus. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

You’re allowed to have bad days.
They don’t define your journey. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re lazy.
It means you’re human. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

This morning's #PhDDailyThought: The quiet moments count just as much as the breakthroughs. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

It’s normal to question your choice to do a PhD.
That doesn’t mean you should quit. Today's #PhDDailyThought. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

Today's #PhDDailyThought: Writing is thinking.
If you’re stuck, try writing your confusion out. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

You don’t need to “figure it out” all at once.
 Slow progress is still progress. #PhDDailyThought #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky

This morning’s #PhDDailyThought: There’s no single “right” way to do a PhD.
 There’s only your way. #AcademicChatter #phdchat #academicsky #phdsky