Am I even doing this right? What to do when your PhD feels all over the place

If you’ve ever found yourself mid-lit review or deep in data analysis thinking, “Is this even how you’re supposed to do it?”, hi. You’re in very good company.

Maybe you’re coding your transcripts and wondering whether you’re genuinely identifying themes or just making stuff up. Maybe you’re staring at your literature review thinking, “Have I been critical enough? Should I be saying more about this author?”

That nagging fear that you’re getting it all wrong, even when you’re doing your best, is one of the most common struggles PhD students face.

So, let’s talk about it. Where it comes from, what it does to us, and how to stop it from hijacking your progress.

And let’s just say this up front: There is no single “right” way to do a PhD.

Where the “I’m doing it wrong” fear comes from

Here’s the honest truth: academia is not always a kind or clear space.

There’s pressure to get it “right”, but no one tells you what “right” even is.

You're told to be original… but follow disciplinary traditions.

Be critical… but respectful.

Be detailed… but adaptable.

PhDs live in grey areas. And that’s what makes them so hard.

Plus, many of us are carrying habits from earlier education. We’re used to marks. Percentages. Ticks. Clear feedback like “Excellent work!” or “Needs improvement.”

But when you start a PhD? That clear feedback vanishes. And your brain doesn’t know what to do without it. So it fills the silence with doubt.

What this fear does to you

It’s not just a mild worry. It seeps in. It changes how you work.

1. You overthink

You rewrite the same paragraph twelve times, agonise over word choices, spend hours rearranging one table.

2. You procrastinate

Your brain whispers “You might mess this up,” and your nervous system replies, “Cool, let’s clean the kitchen instead.”

3. You compare

You scroll through LinkedIn or Instagram and think everyone else has it together. (Spoiler: they don’t. They’re just good at curating.)

4. You lose the joy

Your project used to excite you, but now it just makes you feel anxious and stuck. You’re so focused on doing it “right” that you forget to explore, to follow your curiosity.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

The truth (and what to aim for instead)

Let’s reframe this.

There is no universal checklist for a “correct” PhD. What you can aim for is:

1. Clarity of purpose

What are you actually trying to do right now? Be specific:

• “Draft 1000 words for the methods chapter”

• “Summarise 3 key readings and type up notes”

• “Explain why I chose interviews, and how they link to my research questions”

The clearer your goal, the easier it is to measure your progress without spiralling.

2. Consistency of logic

Even if someone else would do it differently, can they follow your thinking?

PhDs aren’t about ticking the right boxes. They’re about making a case and defending it. That means explaining your choices clearly.

Your examiner doesn’t care whether you used NVivo or Word or the kitchen table. They care that you made thoughtful, justified decisions.

3. Openness to feedback

Don’t sit on your worry in silence. Ask for feedback, from your supervisor, a fellow student, someone you trust.

The “What’s Working” list

When the doubt creeps in, try this: Write the heading “What’s Working” in your notebook. Then list 3 things that moved your PhD forward recently. Examples:

“I actually understood that article on the second read.”

“I finally booked that supervision meeting.”

“I cleaned up that messy paragraph and it’s clearer now.”

That list is your proof that you are moving forward, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

But what if I am doing something wrong?

Sometimes? You are. And that’s okay.

PhDs are full of wrong turns. You need to hit the dead ends to find the better route. That’s not failure, that’s progress.

You learn. You adjust. You get better.

You are not doing your PhD wrong. You are doing it imperfectly, emotionally, and messily - because that’s what research is. That’s what learning looks like.

The voice in your head saying “you’re failing”? That’s fear talking. But you’re not failing. You’re showing up, thinking hard, and doing brave work.

If this post hit home, you’ll love this one - it’s all about perfectionism and how to stop letting it run your research. Go check it out.