“At the beginning of my PhD, a colleague recommended the book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. I started reading it in my free time, and it completely shifted my perspective on work routines, taking breaks, and the importance of allowing your mind to both to focus and to wander!

Reading the book made everything sound so logical and doable, but let’s be honest, putting it into practice daily was a different challenge. Later, I joined Miriam’s Time Management course, in which she talked about deep focus sessions and how they could be a game-changer for a PhD. That really stuck with me.

I work in an open space office, so in the beginning, deep work was not easy. My brain wasn’t trained to focus for long periods. The first 45-minute sessions felt endless! But now, a year later, it’s amazing how much has changed. My brain has adapted; it knows how to find that focus for 45 minutes, and I’m no longer seeking distractions or looking at the window. And guess what? Time flies now! 😊

One thing that helped me is writing down what I wanted to accomplish before each unit. Once I write it down, I get more clarity on what I want to accomplish in each session, and checking things off afterwards feels so satisfying.

However, I still struggle with taking breaks. When you’re in the flow and everything is clicking, like Excel results, paper sections, and ideas, it is hard to stop. But trust me, breaks are crucial. Your brain needs them and without them, focus fades quickly. I’ve learned that the hard way.

In my opinion, the best thing about deep work sessions is that you can do them with friends, colleagues, or even family. It is great to share the experience and know someone else is also focused on their tasks at the same time. Then, after the break, you can all relax and chat.

This is my personal experience; just give it a try! It doesn’t hurt, and your PhD (and future career) will thank you for it!”

Francisca, PhD at Technical University Denmark