Year’s end: a time for reflection and resolutions.
Why not use these final days of the year to assess your progress on your thesis?
To know where you’re going, you need to know where you are
Conducting an annual review is crucial when you’re working on a thesis. Throughout your research journey, you absorb vast amounts of information, read countless articles, and add more to your reading lists and to-do lists.
However, as a doctoral student, you often focus on what remains undone, rarely pausing to acknowledge how much you’ve already achieved. This is why an annual review is so beneficial.
Taking a step back allows you to assess what you’ve learned and accomplished, and to identify what still needs to be explored.
Gertrude: a doctoral student overwhelmed by her own work
Gertrude was deeply passionate about her thesis topic. Over four years, she accumulated a wealth of experience, read extensively, took notes, and gathered an abundance of material. But she never paused to evaluate her progress.
When it came time to write her thesis, Gertrude was horrified to discover that, despite her substantial resources, she couldn’t weave them into a coherent narrative. Her work felt disorganised and unrelated to her initial research question.
Some crucial material was missing, while other parts were irrelevant. As a result, Gertrude had to undertake additional research at the same time as beginning her writing—a situation fraught with stress and chaos.
The looming submission deadline only exacerbated the pressure. Her rushed research left no room for critical reflection, and the writing process became a source of intense anxiety and sleepless nights.
On top of this, Gertrude was consumed by self-recrimination. She chastised herself relentlessly (“Serves you right! You’re useless! If only you’d…”).
This self-doubt, combined with an endless cycle of guilt and despair, eroded the confidence and resilience she needed to complete her thesis.
Preparing a thesis efficiently requires strategy
Many theses are prepared with little forethought, without clear objectives or strategies. The result? Scattered efforts and wasted time and energy.
Take the time to develop a research strategy—or refine the one you already have.
Use the end of the year to review 2021 and reflect on your progress. It’s vital to pause at least once a year, step back, and assess both what you’ve done and what remains to be accomplished.
Has your research evolved?
Throughout the year, your reading, discussions, and experiences inevitably influence your thesis. Perhaps your focus has shifted, broadened, or narrowed to a more specific question. Maybe your research problem has been redefined, or your objectives adjusted.
These changes need to be clearly articulated:
- If your thesis goal has changed, reframe it to guide the necessary research.
- If your initial question has evolved, redefine it to minimise unnecessary research.
- Note any new questions that have arisen to ensure they’re not forgotten.
- Eliminate outdated questions to maintain a clearer overview of your tasks.
Revisiting and reformulating these elements will help you stay on course.
Six reasons to conduct an annual review while working on your thesis
By conducting an annual review, you’ll take a moment to reflect and gain perspective on your work. Doing so will help you:
- Define clear objectives for your research.
- Set aside what doesn’t align with those objectives.
- Focus on what drives progress toward your goals.
- Reduce distractions and wasted effort.
- Organise your work more effectively.
- Clearly understand your direction.
In short, an annual review is a form of self-assessment—a candid and personal evaluation of your progress.
A self-assessment in 12 questions
This review isn’t an exam; it’s for you alone. Accept imperfection—your notes and answers are simply a snapshot of where you stand.
Three Tips Before Starting
- Write it down. Writing clarifies ideas, helps you draw connections, and deepens understanding. If you don’t already keep a research journal, this is a great way to start one!
- Eliminate distractions.
- Dedicate 45 minutes solely to this task. Try using timeboxing to stay focused.
DOWNLOAD YOUR REVIEW AND LET’S START!
What to do with your review
Date it and keep it safe. It will help you structure your research and keep track of your progress.
Revisit your goal every six months. If it’s no longer relevant, update it. Continue to add intermediate goals and set deadlines, focusing on three at a time.
Once you’ve achieved those three, move on to the next set. Avoid overloading yourself by planning too much at once.
Remember, these goals are flexible—they guide your research but can be adjusted as necessary.
Wishing you happy holydays and a successful 2025!