Hi KeenBean,

You're completely right and I will definately be giving this a go. It's silly really, there's a beautiful park just at the end of my road which I absolutely love strolling around and I haven't done it in weeks. It wouldn't be too much of a push to run round it either although I feel a bit wierd about exercising in public- that is a sign of a true anxious person right?! lol. I've made up my mind to join my uni gym at the end of the month when I get paid, hopefully I won't feel as self-conscious there. If not I will keep trying other stuff.
I've been thinking about this a lot recently and about how few of us use our bodies for what they are actually designed for- moving about! I don't put on weight easily so its easy to be incredibly sedentary for a long time and not realise. Sorry to go a bit O/T.

xx

Hi Miniplum,

Being told you have One Last Chance and that your work has to be 'mind-blowing' might spur on some people but if you're already finding things difficult it is only going to make you more scared and increase the inertia. It sounds to me like they have attempted the former result, but maybe if you arranged another meeting and explained very clearly everything which has been going on and gave them a realistic timetable of what you can achieve, they might be understanding? That would give you the chance to start working on your chapter bit by bit, building up information instead of execting it to be perfect first time which is just impossible, especially in your first year.

Thanks everyone for your replies and sorry its taken me so long to get back to this thread.

I'm not sure where to begin! For those who have suggested medical help, or counselling, it is something I'll bear in mind. Like many PhD students (I imagine!) I've always been a 'worrier' but it is perhaps getting worse as I go through the PhD process. Although I don't think I've ever had a panic attack I have started to have problems breathing when I get very anxious which is not a good sign.
I think before I go down this route, however, I will try some of the things you have mentioned and make a real effort to get this in hand. My diet is pretty good Angie, I eat a lot of fresh meat and vegetables and drink a lot of water, but I do next to no exercise and I'm starting to think this could be really beneficial so I will try that. Also, like sarah and others have mentioned, realising that it's not the end of the world if the worst happens and I fail the whole thing. The world will carry on turning, I'll still be alive and I'll have gained a lot of experience along the way.
I've actually been feeling a lot better recently, and despite the fact the conference is on Thursday I feel very calm about it. I did a practice read through in front of my supervisor the other day and it went really well, I felt bizarrely confident and he gave me good feedback. This has helped enormously! I think its easy to get wrapped up in your own little bubble thinking 'what on earth am I doing?' although I realise I can't rely too much on him. I do have the best supervisor in the world though- he left me a good luck card for the conference
:-)
Coming on here for a moan helps most of all though- don't expect that this is the last of me LOL

xx

Well done 'Bug' ;-):-) xx

Yeah, it can indeed :-( I'll be fine...only problem is the temptation to cower away from work and hope it will go away/hit the bottle lol.

Thanks Stressed. I see where you're coming from but I wouldn't say they are panic attacks, not yet at least. It's less like sporadic 'attacks' and more just a general, constant feeling of unease.

Ha ha...need to follow my own advice it seems.

Hey everyone.

Not looking for any solutions really just need to offload. Anybody else feel constantly anxious? I'm pretty much on top of my work at this stage (not completely but I'm ok) yet I feel like a bag of nerves 24/7. I can understand it in some ways. I have my first conference presentation coming up, which I'm nervous about as it is, and this involves flying on my own for the first time, sorting out hotels etc. But even when I'm not specifically nervous about that I just feel 'nervous' in general. I have a constant knot in my stomach. Yesterday I met a friend for coffee and suddenly my stomach started churning (the coffee was fine lol) and I felt incredibly anxious but I couldn't pin down why.
Anybody else get this?

======= Date Modified 07 Jun 2009 16:18:52 =======
Interesting question. I've been reading a very good book (which I've also recommended on the Tips thread)- 'Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace'. The author warns against using the passive voice because it is so easy for your sentences to become unnecessarily complicated and wooly. 'It is argued' for example; what does this mean? Argued by whom? I've noticed that when my supervisor edits my work he tries to stamp out these kind of complications too, and he recommended the book to me (I'm in the humanities by the way).

Thanks everyone, good to get some perspectives.

I think counting these types of things as 'work' will actually help because right now I don't have much of an idea of how many hours of 'real work' I will actually be able to do, and so my work plans are unrealistic. And Megara, I agree that it will help structure my day. At the moment I often count the menial tasks as something to do 'in my spare time' but that means the irregular hours start creeping in. Although, as you all say, flexibility is needed too.

Thanks all (up)

Pretty much everyone suffers with this so I think it's great that you're already trying to work out some techniques to get over it. If you can, I would set yourself a set number of hours a day to work before you start your PhD, so that when you do you will be used to having a routine. Also: ban internet! No internet browsing at all until you've finished your work. This was recommended to me and it helps enormously.

Hope this helps.

Hi all, a nosy thread from me.

Do you include the menial tasks- taking back/getting out library books, filling out forms, organizing folders etc. in your daily work hours?

Today for example, I had to chase up my second supervisor about a form I needed him to send. He asked me to wait for an hour so I went to the office and, having no work with me, sat and read a book on thesis writing (useful but again, not essential). I went through the forms with him and then went to the library and sorted out some books. By the time I got home I'd spent a good few hours doing PhD-related things but had done no actual written work or proper reading.
Would you then sit down for a full 8 hours of proper work or would you say you'd 'worked' for 3 hours already?

I'm trying to do the regular working hours thing and am curious to see what other think.

Just have to recommend a fantastic book: 'Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace' by Joseph M.Williams. It's invaluable for honing your writing skills. As my supervisor advised me: 'buy, beg, steal or borrow this book'! Its not particularly easy-going but it is very thorough.

Well, I don't know anything about Law but to me you sound very, very well prepared. Missing out on the distinction (which I assume is a first?) doesn't matter, as to do a PhD in UK you only technically need a 2: 1 at undergraduate or a 2:2 plus master's degree at any level- I'm not saying all universities would accept you with this but it is the benchmark at least. Added to that, you have published work, teaching experience, have been working on your propsal for a year and most importantly sound very enthusiastic and pro-active.
If it makes you feel any better I am 21, don't have a masters or any teaching experience, wrote my proposal in a month and managed to get a full PhD scholarship!
I don't know much about the funding process however, so this is just my two pence worth.

======= Date Modified 02 00 2009 17:00:52 =======
Hi all,

My supervisor has recommended using the 'Document Map' in Word to see if it 'accurately reflects the process of my argument'. I got Document Map up, but I can't understand what he wants me to do! It just seems like a list of my sections and subsections. Anybody use this/know what it is meant to be used for?

Thanks!