Wellbeing and Postgraduate Research

Pursuing postgraduate research is an intellectually enriching journey, but it also presents unique challenges. The demands of self-directed work, the pressure to meet academic goals, and balancing personal and professional responsibilities can sometimes lead to stress, isolation, or burnout. Prioritising your wellbeing is not just beneficial for personal health, it is essential for academic success and long-term research sustainability.

Wellbeing plays a crucial role in every aspect of your life and work. A healthy mind enhances productivity and creativity, enabling you to solve problems effectively and engage deeply with your research. It also strengthens relationships with supervisors, peers, and collaborators, fostering a supportive network that helps navigate challenges. Resilience is key to handling setbacks, and maintaining your mental and physical health provides the foundation for this resilience. By striving for balance, you can sustain steady progress and prevent burnout, ensuring a fulfilling research experience.

Many postgraduate researchers face challenges such as isolation, especially when working independently in niche areas. Impostor syndrome, doubting your abilities despite clear evidence of competence, is also common. Managing multiple responsibilities, including academic work, personal life, and financial commitments, can feel overwhelming. These difficulties, combined with the long timelines and uncertainties of research, make the journey particularly demanding.

To support your wellbeing, we identify four key areas that significantly impact your experience:

Personal wellbeing and life circumstances

Middlesex University provides a range of resources to help you manage the challenges of postgraduate research and maintain a healthy, resilient lifestyle. Generally, sleep, physical exercise and balanced nutrition are considered key to wellbeing and productivity while coping with the possible stress of doctoral studies. Incorporating physical activity into daily routines; prioritizing healthy nutrition; going to bed and waking up at consistent times will do the trick. From guidance on work-life balance to mental health support, these resources are designed to help you navigate the pressures of long-term research. You can find these resources here. External support is also available, including NHS Live Well, The Wellbeing Thesis, and Student Minds, a national charity supporting student mental health.

Your Relationship with Your Supervisory Team

A strong and supportive relationship with your supervisors is essential for both academic success and personal wellbeing. Regular and open communication is key. Scheduling consistent meetings, discussing progress and challenges honestly, and setting clear expectations can help establish a productive partnership. Equally important is maintaining healthy boundaries to ensure that academic demands do not excessively infringe on personal time.

Supervisors also play a crucial role in fostering an environment that prioritises PGRs’ wellbeing. By offering constructive feedback, being approachable, and providing encouragement during setbacks, they can make a significant difference. They should also be attentive to signs of stress or burnout and be proactive in recommending institutional or external support when needed.

At Middlesex University, we emphasise PGR wellbeing in our Supervisor Development Series, and supervisor engagement in training and development is a requirement. If you have concerns about your supervisory relationship, you can seek support from your Faculty PGR Lead, the Research Degrees Administration Team, or the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies.

Your Connection to the Postgraduate Research Community

Doctoral research can sometimes feel isolating, as it requires a high level of self-motivation and independence. Engaging with the PGR community can help counteract this by fostering a sense of belonging and providing opportunities to share experiences, exchange ideas, and seek guidance from peers who understand the unique challenges of research.

Beyond academic collaboration, the PGR community offers emotional support to help with research pressures, impostor syndrome, and work-life balance. Interaction with peers provides encouragement and reassurance, reducing stress and promoting mental wellbeing. At Middlesex University, our PGR community comes together through various events, including the monthly Doctoral Journeys Café, where researchers discuss both practical research issues and personal experiences. Dedicated spaces also exist within specific programmes for their PGRs, and online writing retreats provide structured support for writing habits. PGRs also organise and participate in departmental and faculty events, including research seminars, book launches, and informal social gatherings.

Accessing support services and resources

Your wellbeing is fundamental to your success as a researcher. Recognising its importance and using the available resources can help you create a healthy, supportive environment that fosters both academic excellence and personal growth. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness, it is a proactive step toward achieving your goals while maintaining balance in your life. You can access a range of wellbeing resources and services on the student portal (you must be logged in to access the URL).