Sign up to the Magnetic Ideals Academy Back on Track 2 Day Workshop.

I noticed how much the coaching has helped me to revalue how I want to want to relate to my project, thank you so much for that sense of perspective.” – Back on Track Coaching Participant

In a world that is critically difficult and damaging to PhD researchers and research culture in, both in terms of workplace stress, mental health and pandemic related isolation and disruption, these two-day long sessions aim to allow researchers to develop and maintain a positive and nourishing relationship with their thesis research and their working practice. The course is run by experienced facilitators who have lived through their experiences of completing PhDs during the pandemic.

Read more about the ethos of Magnetic Ideals Academy and our approach on our website.

The course is made up of two single day workshops, with two weeks structured practice and reflection time between the two dates. We offer lower rates for unfunded and independent researchers, and also run a limited bursary scheme to support those who would otherwise be unable to attend – please see the booking page for more details.

The group activities are designed to build a positive relationship between researchers and their research work. The activities are based on the activities that have yielded the most positive results for those students on the Back on Track one-to-one coaching sessions that have been running since March 2021 with Magnetic Ideals. The two-week intervals and final check-in give a chance to address what has and hasn’t worked in the sessions.

Day 1 of Group Coaching – 19th October 2022

• Getting to Know You (and your research) – share concerns and difficulties, hopes and fears and connect with other researchers
• Ordering Your Time and Space – here we will look at the basics of our working practices, how we plan our time (if at all) and focus on ways to prioritise rest/time-off to address exhaustion and prevent burn-out, as well as organising collectively.
• Building Confidence and Reconnecting with Research Purpose – building self-worth, tackling imposter syndrome.There will be a chance to share and reconnect with the driving purpose of individual research projects in order to find self-worth and motivation.
• Reflections and Goal Setting – Participants will use this session to look at their self-discoveries from the earlier sessions and set goals for the next session in two weeks.

Interim Structured Reflective Practice – Optional space for check-ins on your goals and coaching tips.

Day 2 of Group Coaching (two weeks later)- 2nd November 2022

• In Depth Check-in and Reflections on the Last Two Weeks – reflect on what you have managed to change and what they have struggled with. Strategies for overcoming our personal resistance to change.
• Self-Care 101: Sleeping, Eating, Communicating and Moving – we look at the often overlooked basics of self-care, discussing sleep patterns, different, healthy approaches to eating and how to plan movement, exercise, and connecting with others into your working week.
• Reducing Procrastination and Managing Stress – redressing workloads in a manageable way & negotiating with supervisors. The session will look at techniques for containing distractions and staying focused. We will work against the tendency to compare with other researchers, and instead work in solidarity, and how to ‘get into the flow’ of working.
• Reflections and Goal Setting – Participants will use this session to look at their self-discoveries from the earlier sessions and set goals for coming months.

For further details contact: academy@magneticideals.org

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Please note – CHASE DTP Funded PhD students can arrange to have their course fees paid/refunded through CHASE, other funded PhD students please contact your funding body for details on whether they will cover your course fees.

Course costs:

£100 – Funded students – who receive stipend from their institution or another funding body (we can supply invoice in advance if required)

£60 – Unfunded students – who are self-funding their research

If you are a funded student but can not get assistance through your funding scheme please contact us to discuss this. Equally if you are unfunded and find this price a barrier, please get in touch – we have limited bursaries you can apply for. As these places are very limited for bursaries, if you are unsuccessful this time we will put you on the waitlist for the next course.

academy@magneticideals.org