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Year: 2025

Nathan

Considering Prep

Daily Post

If you’re trying to explore any problem or project then remember SWOT:

  • What strengths do you have that could help?
  • Do you have any weaknesses that could make this more difficult?
  • What opportunities might you take advantage of in this situation?
  • Are there any threats to your success?

In particular, when it comes to viva prep, you could apply the questions to consider the following:

  • What could you consider as strengths for getting ready? (resources, knowledge, skills)
  • What weaknesses do you need to address? (resources, circumstances, perspectives)
  • Are there opportunities you could use to help you get ready? (people, events, resources)
  • Are there any threats to getting the work done? (events, risks, situations)

Exploring each of these could help you plan your viva preparation.

Remember that while your plans might not go exactly as you want, given the momentum you have from your PhD journey so far and the talent you have built up there are no real threats that could stop you being prepared for your viva.

Nathan

What To Do

Daily Post

A to do list could be a good way to tackle viva prep or start framing what you need to do. How about:

  1. Read the regulations for your institution.
  2. Ask for help from others.
  3. Sketch out a viva prep plan at submission.
  4. Do the work.
  5. Have your viva.

The third and fourth items are, of course, simplified – but that doesn’t mean that doing them has to be very complicated.

Nathan

A Resolution…

Daily Post

…is just a choice.

It doesn’t have to be done at a special time on a special day in a special way.

The first day of a new year has a nice symbolism though.

If your viva is some time in the next twelve months, you don’t have to make a heroic stand today. You don’t have to declare that you’re going to do all the things, read all the papers and think all the thoughts to get ready. You can simply make a choice:

  • You can choose to prepare well when the time comes.
  • You can choose to work hard to get your thesis as good as it can be.
  • You can choose to reflect on your PhD journey so you build up your confidence.

These are just simple choices, not big deals. Little steps to help you get where you need to be.

Whether your viva is in the next twelve months or not, I hope your choices take you somewhere good in 2025!

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