What I Wish I Had Known Before Starting My PhD

What do you wish you had known when you started your PhD?
That’s the question Nature recently asked PhD candidates and supervisors worldwide. The result: 27 honest, relatable and sometimes painful lessons.

They confirm something I’ve seen for years: being smart or working hard isn’t enough. What matters is your process. When that’s in place, the content follows naturally.
(Read also: Why being smart isn’t enough to finish your PhD)

1. Don’t just choose a topic — choose the people

Most PhD candidates later say: I should have paid more attention to the match with my supervisor.
Supervision shapes your experience far more than the topic or institution.
Have early conversations about communication, feedback, and expectations — it prevents a lot of frustration later.

Helpful reads:
– Practical tips for meetings with your supervisor(s)
– Four questions for better meetings with your supervisor 
– What does your supervisor need?

Also relevant for Dutch PhDs:

• Four-year contract, five years of work

2. Take care of your mental health

A PhD isn’t a straight path. Doubt, stress, procrastination, and standstills are part of it.
The difference between getting stuck and moving forward often lies in self-care: rest, nature, sleep, food, and rhythm.
As one respondent said: “My thesis got better when I started working less.”

Recommended reading:
– No rush PhD
– What they don’t tell you about doing a PhD
– Be aware of what you are doing 
– Why it is a great idea to have a buddy and more ideas to avoid struggling on your own 

3. Build your community

Many underestimate how lonely a PhD can be.
Writing groups, PhD circles and online communities bring relief. You’ll realize others face the same struggles.
If your university doesn’t provide that, create your own. A simple weekly check-in can already help.

Useful articles:
– Networking? Yuck…

4. Manage your time with rhythm, not pressure

Most people overestimate what they can do in a week and underestimate what they can do in a year.
Good planning is not about ticking boxes but about rhythm: what needs attention now, what can wait?
Falling, adjusting, starting again — it’s all part of the process.
A PhD is a journey, not a sprint — exactly what we practice in the Meters Maken program.

Related posts:
– Why time management for PhD candidates is nonsense
– Tips from PhDs to PhDs (8) on planning
– What cooking and writing have in common

5. Look beyond academia

Many PhD candidates stay too long in the belief they should remain in academia.
The truth: your skills are valuable everywhere.
Writing, presenting, collaborating, making decisions — all of these make you employable beyond the university walls.
Finishing your PhD isn’t an end point; it’s a starting point.

Good reads:
– Get started with Really Write 
– What AI can (and can’t) do for you during your PhD
– What do you need to pay attention to with a poster presentation?

What this all shows

The 27 lessons from Nature aren’t a checklist — they’re a mirror. They show that success is not about doing more, but about choosing consciously, aligning well, and ensuring your process works.

It’s worth exploring the Knowledge Base, where you’ll find a lot of insights, tips and practical guidance for every stage of the PhD — including how to handle the obstacles you’ll inevitably encounter.

Would you like to strengthen your own process? Start with the book Travel Guide to Your PhD — your step-by-step guide to finishing your PhD with calm, focus and joy.

If this blog made you pause and reflect on your own PhD journey, you’re not alone. Many candidates reach this point when they start looking for more intentional ways to work and write.

I’d love to hear how it’s showing up in your PhD journey. Feel free to drop me a message at arjenne@louterpromoveren.nl.

For more PhD tips and information, visit https://thedutchphdcoach.com/