Scrolling through Xiaohongshu, I can adopt these as my behavioral guidelines during my PhD, cultivating good habits to graduate sooner. Typing and writing blogs instead of handwritten notes.
Pursuing a PhD is not a short sprint won by bursts of talent, but a long-distance run completed with endurance and rhythm. On this journey, what truly helps one progress steadily are often not grand actions, but some seemingly ordinary small habits.
1. Write a page of [Weekly Research Summary] each week#
Every Friday night, simply record three points:
- What tasks did I complete this week?
- Where did I encounter bottlenecks?
- What should I prioritize for next week?
This habit can help you break free from the anxiety of [not seeing progress], adjust your pace at any time, and avoid stagnation.
2. Write 100 words of research notes daily#
No need for eloquence, no format restrictions; even a sentence like "Today I organized data" is worth recording.
After writing for a while, you'll find that writing papers becomes easier, and your research ideas will quietly take shape.
3. Batch read literature + make structured notes#
Each time, download 10-15 papers around a theme, and after reading, record key information in a table: methods, results, innovations, unresolved issues.
Scattered reading cannot build a system; structuring is the starting point of research vision.
4. Self-check on one A4 page before group meetings#
Before each group meeting, write on an A4 sheet:
- What did I do this week?
- Where am I stuck?
- What feedback do I hope to receive from my advisor?
Group meetings transform from "being questioned" to "active dialogue," greatly improving communication efficiency.
5. 30 minutes of research start in the morning, no phone scrolling#
The first thing to do after waking up: read a page of literature, draw a diagram, write a paragraph.
It doesn’t take long, but it helps you quickly get into the right mindset, making your day more disciplined and reassuring.
Controlling the morning may just mean controlling the entire day.
In conclusion:#
These small habits may not yield immediate results, but it is these tiny persistences that build the most stable relationship between you and research.
Do not underestimate each record and each summary; they will quietly become your confidence to keep moving forward.
The underlying logic of research is not about bursts of inspiration, but accumulation.
May we all remain calm in the valleys, persist in the chaos, and slowly turn those unseen small efforts into our "trump cards."