6 Secrets of Highly Performing PhD Students (That No One Talks About)
Hey everyone,
As a current PhD student deeply immersed in research and academia, I’ve had the opportunity to observe and live through the rollercoaster of doctoral life. What I’ve come to realize is this: being successful in a PhD program doesn't mean you need to be overwhelmed, burnt out, or miserable. In fact, the most high-performing PhD students I’ve met share six key habits that actually make the journey not just manageable but enjoyable.
Let’s dive in.
1. Ruthless Prioritization
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is the art of saying no. In academia, it's easy to become a yes person agreeing to every request from your supervisor, department, or lab mates. But the truth is, you can’t do it all and you shouldn’t try to.
Instead, I focus on the few tasks that actually move the needle. Like designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing it, and communicating the results. That’s it. It reminds me of Olympic weightlifters not because they do many different lifts but because they perfect the same movement a thousand times over.
We, as PhD students, should do the same: perfect the few essential research tasks that lead to thesis-worthy results.
2. Consistent Habits (Your Routine = Your Progress)
I can now predict how successful a PhD student will be just by looking at their daily and weekly routines. High performers don’t rely on random bursts of motivation but they rely on consistent habits.
For instance:
- Early PhD? Spend time reading and developing research questions.
- Mid-stage? Prioritize lab work, testing, and data collection.
- Final stage? Focus on writing, visualizing data, and preparing presentations or publications.
Even doing something small daily like writing a paragraph or organizing a figure adds up significantly over time. I like to think of it as compounding interest, but for your PhD.
3. Protect Your Mental Health
This one is so often ignored, but it’s essential.
You are your research. If you're exhausted, anxious, or burned out, your research quality suffers. The most successful students I've met prioritize joy and mental balance. They continue hobbies, make time for friends and family, and regularly disconnect from academia.
One of the best ideas I came across was the concept of "zero days"—days where you do nothing related to your PhD. These days are critical. Whether it's sleeping in, playing music , or catching up with non-academic friends like playing football and talk nothing about research or academia—this refreshes the mind like nothing else.
And remember, you are not your publication count.
4. Mastering the Supervisor Relationship
Many students feel like they must follow their supervisor blindly but in reality, the most successful PhDs collaborate with their supervisors. They communicate clearly and frequently, especially about two things:
- Where they’ve been (progress so far)
- Where they’re going (next steps)
I make it a point to treat my supervisor meetings like checkpoints. Even when I hit a roadblock, I try to build bridges, not walls. And here’s the truth: your supervisor isn’t always right. It’s okay to respectfully disagree or take initiative.
One quote that stuck with me during my journey: “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.” Take calculated risks. Own your project.
5. Reconnect With Your Why
If you’re doing a PhD just because it looked good on paper or someone pushed you into it, you’ll burn out fast.
But if you know why you're doing it whether it’s personal motivation, a deep interest in solving a problem, or a vision for the future—you’ll have an inner compass that keeps you going.
For me, I’ve always felt drawn to sustainability ,recyclable and economical friendly materials. Knowing that my research could one day contribute to cleaner energy keeps me grounded, even on the tough days.
So ask yourself regularly:
Why does this research matter to me?
Keep that answer visible—on a sticky note, a vision board, or just in your journal.
6. Have a Sense of Fun
This might sound strange, but top-performing PhD students are fun people. They find joy even in the chaos of research. They laugh, they bring humor to presentations, and they find a way to enjoy the ride.
I used to be overly serious about everything. But once I let go a bit added a joke in a talk, had light-hearted meetings, celebrated small wins, I felt lighter, more creative, and more productive.
PhD doesn’t have to be doom and gloom. Injecting fun is not a distraction—it’s a strategy.
Final Thoughts
Being a successful PhD student isn’t about grinding 24/7 or constantly stressing out. It’s about working smart, staying consistent, protecting your mental health, and reconnecting with what matters.
If you apply these six principles:
- Ruthless prioritization
- Consistent daily/weekly habits
- Prioritizing mental health
- Strong supervisor communication
- Reconnecting with your “why”
- Having a sense of fun
...you’ll not only finish your PhD—you’ll thrive while doing it.
Stay focused, stay human, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride. 🚀