LAWN

SLEW

FLOW

Looks like you have been visited by the lab fairy.. she is such a cow at times lol :p

======= Date Modified 20 Aug 2008 11:02:06 =======
HOWLS

PLOD

FLEE

I have suffered with this before and it's not nice. One thing to do is to make a list of things you have to do and things that are worrying you, that way you can visualise everything that is spinning round your head and start to focus on what you need to get done. Then on a daily basis you can say 'I'm going to do X' today, and then you can focus on that single task/issue, complete it and then cross it off your list. I read somewhere that being able to visualise and cross off tasks is a good way to clear your mind rather than having it all swimming in your head.

As for the insomnia, this is something that i have suffered with since my undergrad degree. I have a real problem switching off in the evening. Hot milky drinks are good to induce sleep, so you could try hot chocolate, horlicks or ovaltine before you go to bed. Having a soak in the bath before bed is also a good way to relax, avoid showers before bed as they tend to wake you up rather than relax you. Another thing to try is lavender oil, rub it on your temples when you are in bed.. i find this really makes me drowsy and helps me sleep.. even though it does make me smell like an old lady's handbag! Also do you do work in bed? If you do then this is a bad idea as it can stop your brain from switching off, its a good idea to keep your bedroom and workspace separate if you can so that your body doesn't associate your bed with work.

To start with it might be a good idea to take a bit of time off and get a change of scene to just chill out. Sometimes when I am in a rut I find it best to just ignore the work for a few days and either go home or visit friends somewhere to give me change to switch off and take my mind off things.

Hope this helps to some degree!

BRED

BLEW

Probably around 4 for me too.. some weeks i work really well on every day and get a good 6-8 hours in.. then on other weeks i get bugger all done and end up just faffing all day. I find this PhD malarky is full of peaks and troughs for work productivity.

BLOW

The annoying thing with people like that is.. as soon as they need a piece of equipment for a couple of weeks a booking system will seem like a wonderful idea!!

Stew

yeah northern accents are the best (not that I am bias in any way) :p