Everyone at some point in their lives will experience significant life changes that impact on their daily work and personal lives, whether that is the loss of a relative, friend or colleague, a break-up of a relationship, relocation, parenthood, or a change in health to name a few. 

Those undertaking a PhD may find it hard to pause their research, for a variety of reasons, in order to deal with and come to terms with such a change. 

This article by Anna Katharina Schaffner, Ph.D  in Positive Psychology on ‘Understanding the Circles of Control, Influence & Concern’ may provide a framework to help you deal with a significant change.

Other sites that may be helpful include:

• PhDLife: When everything goes wrong, how to deal with the unexpected during your research
• Voices of Academia: Returning to your PhD Studies Following a Bereavement
• PhD in a Hundred Steps: Working, writing, PhD-ing through grief and loss
• Coping with Bereavement as a PhD Student