For many postgraduate students, writing is the most daunting part of the research process. The writing phase can stretch endlessly, not always because of the difficulty of ideas, but because of inefficiencies, procrastination, and unclear strategies. The challenge isn’t just the complexity of ideas but it is often the way students manage their time, motivation, and writing skills.
Based on recent research, here are the most common time-wasting traps postgraduate students fall into during the writing phase and how you can avoid them.
Procrastination: The Silent Productivity Killer
Procrastination is one of the biggest reasons students fall behind. Research shows it’s especially common with:
- Writing assignments
- Reading academic texts
- Preparing long-form thesis drafts
Researchers have identified high procrastination levels, often caused by:
- Overwhelm from complex tasks
- Poor time management
- Perfectionism and career anxiety
- Lack of mentorship and support
Try breaking your writing into small, scheduled chunks, even when you’re not “in the mood.” Students should aim to write at least one page a day to maintain momentum.
Perfectionism = Paralysis
Many students delay writing because they fear producing subpar work. This perfectionism often undermines confidence and leads to more procrastination.
Allow yourself to write a “bad first draft.” Edit later with fresh eyes and fresh ideas.
Weak Writing Foundations
Students often waste hours trying to fix unclear arguments or poor structure.
Common struggles include:
- Poor thesis structure (intros, conclusions, logic)
- Weak grammar and vocabulary
- Confusion around academic tone and formatting
Use writing templates to stay organized. Join writing support groups or attend academic workshops offered by your institution. You can also visit the M&G Research YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@mgresearch_ for helpful research workshops designed to support you throughout your academic journey.
Poor Time Management
Many students fail to plan and end up writing in a panic. Postgraduate work requires long-term planning, but most students aren’t taught how.
Use tools such as Trello, Google Calendar, or Notion to set clear deadlines for each section of your thesis.
Lack of Writing Norms & Mentorship
Many postgraduates don’t fully understand academic expectations. This leads to wasted time redoing sections due to vague feedback or uncertainty.
Students often lack:
- Knowledge of academic integrity
- Writing standards or formatting requirements
- Regular feedback from advisors
Request writing samples from your supervisor and schedule regular feedback sessions.
Writing a thesis doesn’t have to be painful. Students need to learn how to tackle procrastination, manage perfectionism, and develop stronger writing habits so that they can save time and produce higher-quality research.
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