• Question: what do you do when you struggle for ideas?

    Asked by 455spcn39 to Xu, Leah-Nani, Kathryn, Ian, Hina on 20 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Kathryn Burrows

      Kathryn Burrows answered on 20 Jun 2018:

      Great question! Getting stuck happens a lot in research because you are battling with the unknown! That is when you need to be either systematic or creative! There are certain things you learn over time that you can always try and when you get stuck you need to take a step back and try to look at the problem in a new way. Trying to pull out information usually helps, remind yourself what you are trying to do and why. What do you know already. What have you tried already. What haven’t you tried already. Testing things you think you know. Asking other people for advice. Sometimes just sleeping and coming back to it the next day help. Not every problem has a solution but you will be surprised how many do!

    • Photo: Leah-Nani Alconcel

      Leah-Nani Alconcel answered on 20 Jun 2018:

      If I’m struggling, I find stepping away from the computer often helps. I go for a run or a walk, or make a cup of tea, or talk to a colleague about the problem.

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