How to stay motivated during your dissertation journey

Let me introduce myself

Hi, my name is Maria, and I’m a marketing and digital experience intern here at YSJ. During my time at YSJ, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Korean, TESOL, and Linguistics, and I recently handed in my dissertation for my master’s in Corporate Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations. I know firsthand how challenging the dissertation journey can be, so I wanted to share some tips on how to make the process a little more manageable. Today’s blog focuses on staying motivated throughout the dissertation journey.

How to Stay Motivated During Your Dissertation Journey

Writing a dissertation is like running a marathon—challenging, exhausting, and ultimately rewarding. During my journey, I often struggled to keep my enthusiasm, especially when faced with setbacks or looming deadlines. If you’re finding it tough to stay motivated, know that you’re not alone. Many students feel the same way, but there are strategies that can help you stay focused through the ups and downs.

1. Set Achievable Goals

One of the things that helped me the most was setting small, achievable goals. Breaking down the dissertation into smaller, manageable tasks makes the whole project feel less daunting. Instead of thinking about “writing the dissertation,” I’d set myself something specific like “write 500 words of the literature review today” or “gather articles for the next section.” Hitting those small milestones always gave me a boost of motivation.

I recommend creating daily and weekly goals. Writing them down and crossing them off as you complete them can be really satisfying—it makes progress visible, even if it’s just a little bit each day.

Remember to make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). For example, “I will write 300 words of the methodology section on Tuesday afternoon.” This keeps your progress clear and holds you accountable.

2. Reward Your Progress

Rewarding myself for reaching my milestones was a game-changer. It doesn’t have to be a big reward—even something as simple as treating myself to my favorite snack or watching an episode of a show after finishing a section helped me stay motivated.

For daily progress, give yourself a small reward. Take a break to relax, go for a walk, or do something you enjoy. For larger milestones, plan a bigger reward—a night out with friends, buying a book you’ve been wanting, or taking a day off to do something fun. Having these rewards to look forward to made the journey a lot more enjoyable for me.

3. Find a Routine That Works for You

Finding a routine that fit my schedule and sticking to it was another key part of my dissertation process. I realized pretty quickly that I’m more productive in the mornings, so I carved out time each morning to focus solely on writing or researching. If you’re a night owl, find that time of day when you’re at your best and try to be consistent.

It also helps to create a workspace that feels comfortable and free of distractions. It doesn’t need to be perfect—just a space where you can focus and get in the zone. Showing up consistently for myself, even on days I didn’t feel like it, helped me build the habit of working on the dissertation little by little.

4. Break Up the Work with Frequent Breaks

Taking breaks is so important. At first, I thought long, uninterrupted study sessions would be the most productive, but they often left me feeling drained and burnt out. Instead, I started using the Pomodoro Technique—working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. It helped me stay fresh and focused without feeling overwhelmed.

During your breaks, try to step away from your screen. Take a short walk, stretch, or make a cup of tea. Giving yourself these small pauses will help you recharge and make your study time more effective.

5. Seek Support and Stay Connected

Dissertation writing can feel pretty isolating, but reaching out for support really makes a difference. I scheduled regular check-ins with my supervisor, which helped keep me accountable and gave me the feedback I needed to move forward. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or even your peers.

I also found it helpful to connect with classmates who were in the same boat. Whether it’s an online study group or just a group chat where we could share struggles and small victories, having people around who understood the journey made it feel a lot less lonely.

There are also online communities where students share their dissertation challenges and advice—these can be a great source of support and inspiration too.

6. Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Health

This is a big one. I learned the hard way that pushing myself too hard without taking care of my health led to burnout. Exercise, even if it was just a quick walk, helped me reduce stress and improve my focus. I also tried to eat well and keep a regular sleep schedule—it’s amazing how much these things affect your motivation and energy levels.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, mindfulness and relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing can really help. Taking care of yourself is crucial to staying motivated in the long run.

7. Keep the Big Picture in Mind

There were times when I felt completely overwhelmed, and in those moments, reminding myself of the bigger picture helped me push through. Whether it’s for your future career, your passion for the topic, or the sense of accomplishment, keep that end goal in mind.

I also found it motivating to visualise success—like the feeling of handing in my completed dissertation or celebrating afterward. Reflecting on how far I had come, looking back at earlier drafts, and seeing the progress I had made helped me realize that every bit of effort was adding up to something significant.

8. Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

Finally, remember that it’s okay to have unproductive days or fall behind sometimes. I definitely did. Instead of beating myself up over it, I focused on what I could do that day to get back on track. The dissertation journey is full of highs and lows, and that’s normal.

Celebrate every step of progress, no matter how small. You’ve got this, and when you finally reach the end, all the effort will be worth it.

Here you can find the second and the third episode of my dissertation blog series.

In case you need guidance for your dissertation or research project, you can find more information here.