I love mytomatoes.com. As I said in another post somewhere, it helps me to realise that every minute counts, which is expecially important to me as I need to write so much to be done in 6 mths. I like the idea of structured breaks, and this helps stop me procrastinating and skiving off for longer than I should be. It also means that when I concentrate, I really cencentrate and know that the work I've done is solid.

I fluctuate - I find I'm really productive one day, then then take it a bit easier the next day. I average about 12 during week days, but every second day or so I have a big day and do 16 or 18. I do less on week-ends when I have some other commitments. I also use a chat room with other people who use tomatoes, and about 10 sounds like their average too. I'm going into overdrive at the moment, writing up, so don't think I'm typical.

Button, work at your own pace, feel good about what you achieve, and don't compare yourself to other students, too easy to feel others are doing better.

Hi Louisa

I think it's chronological - or that's how I think I'll do it eg B. Arts, M. Arts, PhD etc (altho that's not me!). So, yes, your 2nd option.

Cheers

Hi Natassia

You'll be fine! You sound like you know what you're doing. There's a few threads on here about presenting at conferences, so do a search and you should pick up all sorts of tips. Best thing that helps me is, as Bilbo says, practice, especially to get the timing right. Having to rush, or finish early is not good. I practice in front of the mirror at home. Make sure you're prepared, anticipate possible questions, and just before you go on, go somewhere quiet and do some breathing exercises (and a wee!). Then when you're talking, pace yourself, relax, and try to enjoy it. It can be quite fun! Good luck!

Hi Tsipat, welcome to the thread! Yes, this will indeed be the year of finishing, hopefully graduation (I may not graduate till next year, due to the archaic way PhDs are examined in Australia).

And well done Bilbo! Keep going! Hope you get lots done in your one hour blocks - you're an inspiration.

DrSeeker, I'm hoping to have a full draft done by end April, and most of these chapters will be in their second draft, except for the hard analysis chapter and conclusion which I've left to the end by necessity. So it sounds like we're on the same time frame. You might need to think however, about the need for a second and third draft too. My supervisor is making me rewrite everything extensively - and fair enough too, as the first draft got the ideas down, the second really develops the themes and is making them all hang together. Then I'm going to do a third draft which I hope will just be proofing and tweaking to strengthen arguments a bit more.

You might work differently to me and be in a different discipline where you don't need to do so many drafts - or be a better writer and not need to rewrite as extensively as me! But maybe something you should consider.

OK, my turn. I knew this thread would come in handy Walminski. It's 5.15am here, and I've been lying awake in bed since 3.30am - the dreaded 3am insomnia. I'm currently working for a few weeks in the civil service, and a really good job has just come up - but I can't apply as I'm writing up till end June. So have been lying there, working out that if I did apply, and they were really slow in recruiting, then I might not have to start till end March - which is still 3 mths earlier than I can manage. I was supposed to finish my PhD by end Mar, and this would've been perfect!

Oh well, no point torturing myself. And I was going to get up at 6am anyway, as I need to finish off something that's due to my sup today, so here I am, tired (went to bed late too) and about to start writing, then off to my office job for the day.

It's going to be a looooong day......

Morning AL!

Well, sounds like you've had a productive nite, that's fantastic, well done!! Especially good meeting your goals, and in the first week back. I've also been working hard this week, my sup and I are writing an article which is due in 10 days and we haven't even got the first draft done yet, but she's fab and the article isn't long, so we'll get there.

Yeh, thought about moving. This neighbourhood is physically nice, with parks and trees and close to things, it's just some of the people here...we own this house (well the bank does!) and so if we moved we'd have to get this fixed up a bit before we sold it or rented it out. So that'd be lots more admin and organising...and I have so much uni work to do I can't spare the time...so am going to stay till I finish.

Well, must start the evening shift of studying. Have a good day!

Hi Jinio

Yes, I agree with the others - it's best to do it yourself if youcan, as you'll get to know your material very well and see themes developing. In the long run this will help to cut down your analysis time, as you'll be really familiar with your material and know where relevant bits of data are. While transcribing is an awful process, because it is so mechanical it allows your mind to quietly tick away, thinking about your material, which is really useful. And your sup is wrong - this most definitely is work!

Hi there

I agree with the others, stick with your supervisor. That said, I would have a serious and tactful conversation with her - while her making you rewrite and redo work is pretty normal (altho she does sound really heavy handed), I would discuss with her your outside obligations. You said you've done this - maybe you need to do it again. Telling you not to talk a class which you think would be beneficial seems to be stepping over the line to me. I'd very politely thank her for all her help and her interest, but also point out that you would like to plan your workload and other activities. Be tactful tho - but then, it sounds like you might need to be really assertive to get your message across. Good luck!

Hi Dr Seeker, welcome to the thread! Nice to have you along for the ride! And Hi Poppy!

AL, you'll get back into it, don't be too hard on yourself, Sounds lovely, snowing outside and you all warm and snuggly. I use http://mytomatoes.com/ too - it does help. It keeps me focused and shows me that every minute is important. Unlike you Poppy, I don't feel calm but have an underlying sense of urgency, which is also good I think. I've also been studying before work too - am going to achieve my January goals!

Am tired today - the neighbourhood where I live is getting to me - robberies, car theft, last nite someone dumped a washing machine in the creek across the road, which just incensed me. There's a council rubbish tip 10 minutes away they could take it to!! So am thinking about moving, but really don't think that's a good idea at this stage...

Well done Bilbo! Must be lovely being so close to the end! Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well - hope you recover and get back into it.

Have a good day everyone!

Hi Helen

I'm another Aussie, and am around a lot - so can keep you company too, altho am not doing my thesis during the day for the next few weeks as am working elsewhere. It's harder when everyone else is asleep and it's just us!

Haven't posted with advice earlier as everyone has made really good suggestions. If you're doing 2000-3000 words a day, that's fantastic. You'll get there. Don't worry if you can't keep up that pace. I find I can do one day like that, then am quite zonked the next day and much less productive. I'm also in the writing up stage and know how hard it is.

Glad to hear you're feeling better. Good luck with it!

Hi AL and CG

CG - it's an office job that requires brain power, but it's OK as it pays quite well, will fund my studies for a bit longer. And I want a t-shirt like that! You're lucky lecturing tho, would love to do that sometime, but can't see it happening - my field is too niche.

AL - yeh, it's tough doing both - am lucky am only working for a mth then it's back to the thesis. But not long to go now! You'll get into a rhythm. Yes, re MB person, this forum doesn't need the s**t they talk, kick them off I reckon.

Hope you both have a productive day! Will be here working this evening.

Hi AL, yes, started back in office job today - was such a long day!!!! Would much rather be working on my thesis, but the money will keep me going tho...

Well done for starting studying again!!(up) You'll get the hang of it and be fine.

MODS: Can we kick this stupid Manboobs person off the forum? I don't need to read inane posts from this troll. Ta.

Hello AL!!

Nice to have you back on the forum!! So you've had a couple of months to settle in to your new job and are ready to start writing again? Excellent, we'll all be here too. I'm working full-time this month in a 'real' job, so will also be coming home and studying after work too. The info will still be in your head, you'll be fine.

Technically I also have till Sep, but need to get this done by 1 July as I need to go back to my office job then. So, we're both on the same time frame. We'll get there!

Well I'm back into it. Spent the week-end doing some work, and got back into it and the brain's started functioning again. And am just about to go and get ready to start a month's work in a 'real' job in an office - bleah!! So all of you who are working on your thesis are lucky - could be worse!

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Talking about my journey to a PhD seems so self-indulgent...but if others are doing it, I will too.

Until I was about 14 I wanted to be a paleontologist, as I loved dinosaurs. Discovered I had no aptitude for science at all, but could write, so then wanted to be a journalist. Started off doing journalism and economics at uni, failed both in my first year. Ironically my PhD is now in Economics, altho I don't study trad economics at all. Found Women's Studies and this became my absolute passion, which I still have. Studied this for a long time, and discovered industrial relations, and this has been my life for a really long time. And now have no idea what's next, altho know it will still be in these areas. Has been a very windy route!