The GPS Theory of Doing a PhD (and Why Detours Matter)

When I started my PhD, I thought it would be a (pretty) straight road: define the question, gather the data, publish the results.

In reality, it’s more like driving through an unfamiliar landscape with a GPS that keeps saying “recalculating.”

I’ve come to think of it as The GPS Theory of Doing a PhD, and it applies far beyond academia:

1. Set the destination, but don’t assume there’s only one route. Your research will evolve, sometimes through better questions, not faster answers.

2. Recalculate without shame. Every delay, rejected draft, or failed experiment is the system rerouting you toward a more accurate map.

3. Zoom out. When you’re buried in details, remember your north star: the impact your work can have on people, policy, and place.

4. Stay connected. Like satellites triangulating your position, mentors, peers, and collaborators keep you oriented when you lose signal.

PhD work isn’t about perfect navigation; it’s about adaptive navigation. You’ll lose signal, double back, and discover better paths than the one you planned.

If you’re somewhere between “fieldwork chaos” and “final chapter fatigue,” remember: detours aren’t failure. They’re feedback. Keep recalculating. The system still knows the way.