Recently, I had the chance to speak at the 2025 BCS SIGiST conference, where the theme was “Finding Calm in the Chaos.” It really resonated with me, because so much of the PhD experience is exactly that: balancing freedom and flexibility with the uncertainty and disarray that often come with it. The conference made me reflect on how I’ve been trying to find my own sense of calm amidst the whirlwind of doctoral research.

One of the things I genuinely enjoy about being a PhD student is the sheer variety – no two days ever look quite the same. Unlike the more structured worlds of undergraduate studies or working in industry, a PhD is largely what you make of it. You set your own pace, shape your weeks, and define your goals (with guidance from your supervisors, of course). There’s a real sense of ownership that comes with that, and with it: endless opportunities.

One week I might be off abroad, presenting at a conference or taking part in a workshop. The next, I’m buried in reading, trying to untangle academic journal papers or polishing a piece of writing. Right now, as I write this, I’m deep in a coding block, trying to breathe life into some engineering concepts I’ve been mulling over. It’s intense, exciting, and at times, deeply satisfying.

But with all that freedom comes a noticeable lack of structure and, for me at least, that was quite the adjustment. After years of rigid deadlines, set hours, and clearly defined deliverables, stepping into the unstructured world of doctoral research felt unbelievably disorienting, and is something I am still getting used to. Without fixed milestones like exams or product releases to anchor you, it can be hard to gauge your progress. Momentum can falter. It’s all too easy to spiral into thoughts like, Am I doing enough? Am I moving fast enough? Am I building anything solid here?

Over time, I’ve found a few strategies that have helped me stay grounded and keep moving forward, even when things feel a bit chaotic:

1. Keep an Accomplishment Log

It’s easy to forget how much you’ve done when everything feels like it’s in progress. Logging small wins, like finishing a tricky paper, resolving a coding bug, or having a productive meeting, has helped me reflect on my progress and maintain a sense of achievement. I feel like this is a piece of advice I rattle on about a lot, but it is such an important part of my journey and is a tool I genuinely use weekly that keeps me grounded and motivated. My own accomplishment log is a simple spreadsheet that has the date and description of an achievement, even something as small as reading a paper. It takes me 2 minutes to fill in with a new achievement, and over time it has built up into a huge source of self-confidence.

2. Prioritise Consistency Over Big Wins

Some days won’t be ground-breaking, and that’s okay. It’s the steady effort, the small daily steps, that build momentum. I try to show up consistently rather than chasing constant productivity highs, and this is much easier to say than do. Wanting to hit your goals can feel daunting. Goals are huge ideas that take a lot of time and effort, so instead of thinking too far into the future, I try to focus on what I can do today or maybe tomorrow. What little task can I do to work towards that larger goal?

3. Get Direction from Others

Meetings or informal chats with my supervisors and research group (even when I don’t feel ‘ready’) have been invaluable. Feedback, however nerve-wracking, offers direction. Sharing your work, even in its messy, draft form, keeps things moving and reminds you you’re not doing this alone. If you feel like you’re starting to fall into an imposter-syndrome-style pit of not feeling good enough, reach out to those you trust and share your feelings. let them encourage and support you.

4. Find Anchors Outside of Academia

Having routines beyond research can make a huge difference. Whether it’s exercising regularly, reading before bed, or just taking a proper lunch break – these small rituals help create a sense of normality and rhythm. This can be really hard to do if you travel a lot, so you may need to plan ahead. You could: take you exercise gear with you, download some audiobooks, call your friends regularly, and/or put time aside in your schedule to go for a walk.

5. Let Go of Perfectionism

PhDs are messy. They’re meant to be. Letting go of the idea that everything needs to be polished before it’s shared (or even started) has helped me keep up momentum and stay kinder to myself.

Doing a PhD is an amazing, challenging, slightly mad journey, but finding ways to create your own structure amidst the freedom can make it all the more fulfilling. If you’re in the thick of it, just know that feeling a bit lost from time to time is part of the process. You’re doing better than you think.