Any PhD thesis or Master’s dissertation will involve a lot of research, leading to sleepless nights cast adrift on a stormy sea of data reviews, experimental studies and theoretical suppositions. As such, it’s important to keep your thoughts organised.
There are lots of things this might encompass. What should be included in your work? How do key ideas relate to your main research question? How do different theories connect to one another? Herein we provide a few tips for keeping on top of your thoughts.
1. Have a System!
Unsurprisingly, the most important thing you can do to organise your thoughts is to literally organise your research. Specifically, having a logical filing system (digital and/or physical) will make sure you can always find documents and sources when you need them. Organising by theme or topic (e.g., grouping similar studies or all material relevant to a particular chapter together) may even help you make connections you might not have otherwise.
2. Summarise/Talk It Through
Research can be a lonely activity, with days lost in the library as you slowly absorb new ideas and information. The problem is knowing what’s most pertinent to your research. Writing a brief summary of your argument can thus help remind you of the significant points; even better, try explaining your argument to someone else, as they can then provide feedback on how clearly you’re expressing your ideas.
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3. Visualise It
Visual methods of representing your ideas can also give you a fresh perspective on your work. A mind map, for example, presents complex relationships in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. This makes them perfect for visualising work schedules, thesis plans and theoretical frameworks, especially if you struggle with overly-dense blocks of text.
4. Manage Your Time/Environment
The aphorism “tidy desk, tidy mind” might not work for everyone, but generally speaking an organised environment is conducive to organised thought, so make sure your working environment is free from clutter and unnecessary distraction. Likewise, managing your time so that you have a regular working routine can boost productivity.
5. If All Else Fails…
Take a break! Honestly, it’s fine. Some days just won’t lend themselves to thinking, so you should factor this into your scheduling. Use this time to do boring-but-necessary tasks (admin, tidying, etc.) or simply to relax and unwind. You’d be surprised how a little downtime can refresh your brain!