Navigating your dissertation mindset: Overcoming perfectionism and self-doubt

Writing a dissertation is more than just research and analysis—it’s a mental challenge as much as an academic one. Your mental approach impacts motivation, productivity, and the ability to navigate challenges - all of which influence the final quality of your work. In other words, the way you approach your work, the mindset you adopt, and the way you respond to setbacks will shape your experience. The goal isn’t just to produce a great dissertation, but to develop resilience and confidence along the way. These are transformations that you can take with you when tackling any other challenging project.

Many students experience psychological barriers during the dissertation process, and two common mindsets can significantly shape their experience: perfectionism and the "not good enough" mindset. If either of these sounds familiar, know that you’re not alone. The good news? Both can be managed (to some extent), and learning how to do so will make the dissertation process far more enjoyable and rewarding.

The perfectionist mindset: Chasing the rainbow

If you tend to believe that everything you produce must be flawless, you might struggle with perfectionism. As a dissertation supervisor, I’ve seen this mindset affect about half of the students I’ve worked with. It comes from deep-seated beliefs like “I must do this perfectly” or “Everything I create must be flawless”. The issue, however, is that perfection doesn’t exist—and chasing it will only leave you frustrated.

How perfectionism slows you down

If perfectionism is influencing you, you may find yourself:

🌈Restarting your work multiple times – changing your dissertation topic, rewriting your introduction over and over, or constantly revising your methodology.

🌈Losing motivation – the excitement at the beginning fades once you realise perfection is out of reach.

🌈Feeling anxious and frustrated – because perfection is unattainable, the pressure you put on yourself creates emotional turmoil.

Breaking Free from Perfectionism

There are some strategies that you can adopt to reduce the impact of perfectionism on dissertation experience. Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on progress:

👍Recognise the pattern – acknowledge that perfectionism is affecting your work. Once you’re aware of it, you can start addressing it.

👍Shift expectations – rather than seeking perfection, aim for “good enough”. A dissertation is meant to be a learning process, not a perfect masterpiece.

👍Celebrate milestones – every completed section, every refined argument, and every submission is progress. Recognising that progress keeps you moving forward.

The "Not good enough" mindset: Battling self-doubt

Many students struggle with self-confidence in their dissertation work. If you often think, “I’m not smart enough to do this well” or “Others are better at research than me”, this mindset might be holding you back. It’s linked to self-esteem and imposter syndrome - the fear that you’re not as capable as others believe you are. It’s also one of the biggest causes of procrastination.

How self-doubt affects your dissertation

Students who doubt their abilities often:

❓Procrastinate, avoiding dissertation work because they fear their writing won’t be good enough.

❓Avoid feedback, worrying that critique will confirm their worst fears about their abilities.

❓Feel anxious and overwhelmed, believing that they lack the skills to complete the project successfully.

How to overcome the “Not good enough” mindset

Like the perfectionism mindset, there are ways of controlling the effects of this mindset on your dissertation progress. Your dissertation isn’t a test of your innate abilities; rather, it’s a skill-building exercise. Here’s how you can move forward with confidence:

👍Challenge negative self-talk – when you catch yourself thinking, “I’m not capable”, ask yourself, “Is this really true?” You’re learning, and growth takes time.

👍Focus on learning, not just results – every draft, every discussion with your supervisor, every moment spent refining your argument is valuable.

👍Recognise your progress – look back at where you started. You’ve already learned so much (even if sometimes it may not feel like that), and that’s worth acknowledging.

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Final Thoughts

Perfectionism and self-doubt can hold you back, but shifting your mindset allows you to move forward with clarity and confidence. If you want to know more about these two mindsets, check the YouTube video on the topic.

https://youtu.be/iGC_Kbi9UkM

Alternatively, get hold of the Mindsets resource on its own, or by subscribing to the Virtual tutor Resource. I have addressed these mindsets much more extensively there, including a more comprehensive list of signs and a wider variety of strategies you can employ to manage them. And if you feel you need more tailored advice about managing your dissertation mindset, consider reaching out for direct support!