umm...I've not actually made this as my goal but I think given that I've spent most of today trying to do work and I've only written 1 sentence, it's impressive! That's a new low for me! On the plus side, I have emailed my paper to a few family members and totally baffled them with a mass spec methods section and finally got round to cleaning my oven trays with that Oven Pride racks-in-a-bag thing!
Soooo, best get back to my sentence then, see if I can't just go on and make it a whole paragraph!

lol, what a good point sneaks! I actually get so fired up reading some troll-type posting that after I've read and/or replied I storm off back to work and get lots done! Obviously I'm a sad individual! However, I do try to avoid posting myself when I'm in foul form, or I could be names and shamed as a troll myself! ;-)

======= Date Modified 07 Apr 2010 12:10:23 =======
Thanks Sue, it is kinda just what I needed, I was at the doctors this morning and have been diagnosed with stress, lovely! As if I didn't realise I was stressed! :D Good luck with your revisions, comments can be harsh to deal with. And you are so right, it takes as long as it takes. Just so long as we get it done and finished with in the end! I've got to get my Chapter 2 done asap, I'm way behind already, so todays mission is to get digging through all my old experimental notes and try and figure out what I did and write that up! Fun!! :-)

MatildaL, what I find helps is starting from scratch with ideas for the chapter/paper, go through again what you are trying to say and how you might say it and the important points that you need to include. Then I start writing a bit, and reading over old stuff and eventually I get back into the train of though where everything I have clicks back into place! Or I can see where I've been going wring with what I've been doing and I can fix it! :-)

you will get there chrisrolinski!!! remember that! it's better to go through all the crappy drafts and revisions now than getting major revisions, can you imagine having to go back to it AGAIN after your viva and rehaul everything?! Just keep thinking that this is the last push, and once you get through this next week and a half, that's it! it's done! never mind about the title, think about all the lovely sleep you can catch up on, and all the fun things you can do once you're handed in! and we are all here for you whenever you need a pep talk! (up)

whoo! after a few days of not being able to do any work, totally lost interest, I found out today my paper is finally published! now I feel all energised and ready to get stuck into the next whack of writing! I think! fingers crossed!
How's everyone else holding up over Easter?

I shall join you on this quest sneaks! Today, apart from just about managing to drag my sorry ass out of bed, I shall be writing up results from the first set of experiments i did for my chapter. Tally ho!

======= Date Modified 06 Apr 2010 20:30:26 =======
omg I totally do that Tribble! I have literally finished moving my desk around to help me find a way of being able to work at home as there is no heat in the uni this week as it's closed for Easter! It's a great way for clearing the mind and getting back on track, like a fresh start! (up)

(sorry I diverged off topic there a bit...)

lady!
and you're quite bang on there Teek! if our original poster can't take a bit of healthy criticism and debate from us poor folk I truly think we've nothing to worry about...except the state of affairs if this is the current type of up and coming candidate....oops, maybe I'm being mean! I'll step out now!

hi elendis
satchi hit the nail on the head there, the supervisors give an outline of the project as this is primarily what they want to work on, but you need to show them that you can take an idea and run with it. i.e. you can build a project around those parameters and include some of your own stuff to show initiative, original ideas etc and also to show that you understand where they are coming from and how this project fits into the grander scheme of things, for the supervisors, the uni and the field as a whole! It can be actually really difficult to do this, so good luck!

======= Date Modified 06 Apr 2010 16:11:21 =======
Hi Maria, I know exactly how you feel, it's just misery when you break up with someone who has been such a huge part of your life.  You say you agree that it's for the best, and I'd imagine it's something that you have both discussed and agreed was the best thing so the important thing now is to start getting used to not having him around. I've been in situations before where I've lost entire days at a time thinking about an ex, checking my phone every 5 seconds, emails etc.  The only thing is, it doesn't make any difference. I agree with Teek, that perhaps you should remove him from your facebook so you can't check his page and remove his number from your phone so you don't just call him on the spur of the moment.  I've found the only way I can properly get over a guy is to go cold turkey, and it's hard but effective.

Keep yourself as busy as possible, if you can't concentrate on work then go walking or shopping or to the cinema, anything that gets you away from your phone and computer so you get out of the habit of checking for him.  I've also found it's a good idea to give my phone to a friend if we are out for the evening, especially if there is drink involved! Do whatever you have to do for now to keep yourself going, get out dancing, have fun and remind yourself that you can still have fun and do things without him.  If there is anything that you enjoy doing that he didn't or that you couldn't do much of before, then get stuck into it now! Learn to enjoy the time you have now and try some new things.  And above all, remember that if the relationship ended for a good reason, then that's a good reason not to go back there, you deserve the best from the person you're with and the relationship you have, which will come in time.

Massive huge bear hugs, I'll have some chocolate for you too :-)

hi there :)
I have been to a few conferences, and I've actually been really lucky to get to overseas ones. I presented at all of them, but the first few conferences were just poster presentations (im in the sciences) and it was mostly about the work I will be doing etc. The first conference was 4 months into my phd, my supervisor suggested it and it was great, although it's only when actually doing a talk at a conference that I've got the full benefit from the experience. For selecting conferences, I've looked at the societies related to my field and tried to join the most relevant ones, often conferences are run by a society and it's possible to apply for funding to attend, without dipping in to your studentship. I think all the conferences I've attended actually I obtained outside funding to attend, unless they were at my uni. And as a rule of thumb, to decide which conferences are best to attend, see what the themes for the talks are, if there is funding available and where they are - if you can get a nice trip into the bargin, go for it! :-)

Hi Teek
I just wanted to say hi and I hope things pick up soon for you. I don't have much in the way of advice to give either, but I have felt similar to this a few times in the past although not as strongly as you seem to be today. Just don't feel bad or guilty or anything like that, you have to accept how you are yourself, and that includes all the days when you don't understand why you are feeling low, it's like a vicious circle when you don't allow yourself to accept how are feeling as it just gets worse. And logically knowing or believing something doesn't always translate into emotionally or mentally believing something. I'm really glad you've got a GP who seems to pay attention, I hope you can get over this hump and get back to enjoying your work, however long it takes - don't rush it, the phd will always be there when you are ready. massive hugs, algaequeen xx

======= Date Modified 03 Apr 2010 11:04:38 =======
oh god my stomach just turned over reading this....

oooh AL creme eggs....I've tried so hard to stay away from this year but now you've put it in my head, I may just have to succumb... :-) Just had a very very scary moment there where I though I'd lost lots of data but I've found it, well, some of it anyway, it's rather strange! I've got what I need though so I refuse to panic any longer! Also realised I'm getting very behind with my little schedule I set for myself, I'm supposed to have written another chapter and a paper by now...neither of which I've started....God. I can feel panic building!
Good work on submitting your chapter AL, I hate sending stuff to my supervisor when he's been mean previously, but better to be rid of it and on to the next thing! And keep smiling Joyce, it's going to be soo strange not being a student any longer but it will be great having the phd sorted! You can always come into your uni to job hunt so it's like you're weaning yourself off and not going cold turkey! :-)
Happy Easter, and happy writing everyone!