I talked to a friend who recently started their PhD. I was so baffled (and mostly jealous of) their interest in seeking out how to do things better. Like how to read papers and how to structure the day. When I started my PhD, I implicitly assumed that doing things the same way would be fine—and it did not work.
One of my advice was to focus on the process, not the outcome, and make small steps every day. As I have even simulated, consistency is key:
what matters in the long term is what you do on your bad days.
Then, the conversation ceded into the abyss of forgetfulness. Not for long, though: in a few days, after a good start, I lost my motivation midday while reading actually interesting papers. Then, I recalled the conversation and decided to take a quick break and just spend five more minutes reading.
Unsurprisingly, I got motivated after I started1. The point is not the advice itself but the concept:
The advice I would have given (and actually gave) to a friend was what I needed to do.
This thought experiment enables us to detach from the situation to see it clearer and make better decisions.
Think about
What would you suggest to a friend stuck in the same situation as yours?
If you are a (recovering) perfectionist, then also consider whether you would be as harsh with your friend as you tend to be with yourself.
Dig deeper
This is what psychologists call behavioural activation. Read more in this review.