How do you help someone with a PhD?

Ask rather than advise. If you want to help, it makes sense to offer solutions. But sometimes its better to ask questions rather than advise. Even as someone who has spent several years giving PhD advice for a living, when Im talking to friends doing PhDs I try to resist the temptation to go straight into advice mode

Why PhD is so difficult?

Stress. With looming deadlines, large scale projects, and a huge amount of personal investment, a PhD can be extremely stressful. This is compounded by the fact that everything is always riding on you and you alone, making the highs higher and the lows, well, lets not go there.

How do you encourage PhD students?

7 Ways To Not Lose Your Motivation As A PhD Or Postdoc. Losing motivation is normal, particularly when youre facing real challenges. See the big picture. Celebrate successes. Focus on another passion. Eat and eat well. Drink water. Change your perspective. Invest in yourself.