Remember your first day as a PhD student? That feeling of excitement mixed with total confusion about where to even begin? That's exactly where Patrik found himself. But instead of keeping his journey to himself, he decided to document everything he learned along the way in his blog "Path to PhD" (P2P).

Since 2022, Patrik has been sharing his growth story, both personal and professional. In our new episode, we talk with Patrik about how he manages his time and the practices that helped him along the way. He shares an honest truth with us: success isn't a solo journey. The real secret? Teamwork.

Still, Patrik clearly knows a thing or two about navigating the PhD experience. From breathing exercises for mental health to useful apps for staying organized, Patrik offers genuine solutions for common PhD struggles. He also talks openly about dealing with unhealthy attachment to your research and what helped him bounce back from his lowest moments.

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Start

(00:01:00) How do you organize your time?

(00:05:10) What drives you as a scientist

(00:06:34) Why did you study electrical engineering?

(00:09:07) How does a typical day look like for you?

(00:11:13) Starting the day before 6 am

(00:14:06) Breathing exercises

(00:18:29) The importance of teamwork in science

(00:20:41) What do you do if you hit rock-bottom?

(00:23:28) What can you expect working with me?

(00:25:14) How did you start the blog and the PhD newsletter?

(00:31:47) How do you extract the most knowledge from reading?

(00:35:11) Three books that had the biggest influence on your life?

(00:39:12) Apps and software that help you stay organized?

(00:46:05) When introverts turn into extroverts because science is team effort

(00:52:00) Don't attach your self-worth to your work only

(00:54:09) Don't attach your self to one single idea - have many!

(00:55:50) What does the future hold for you?

(00:56:25) Over-rated, under-rated, or just about right

Further info:

• Patriks website and blog: https://path2phd.substack.com/
• Breathing exercises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6RbW2LtdFs
• The three books that had the biggest impact on Patriks life:
• "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig
• "Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success" by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
• "The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles" by Steven Pressfield
• Follow Patrik on social media: X: @rpatrik96; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrik-reizinger/

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast yourself or know someone who should be a guest, please contact us!

• E-Mail: iamscientistpodcast@gmail.com
• X/Twitter: @i_am_scientist_
• Instagram: i_am_scientist_podcast

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