Hi Sue, thanks for the words of wisdom, you've helped as usual :)
Go you for setting your date, that's the same as mine roughly, 15th Sept! Although I've still go my lab work and several chapters to start!! So you're well on your way!! 6 weeks to the final draft, here we come! I hope the new job goes ok for you too, you are so right, starting new things in the middle of trying to wrap up a PhD is madness.
I'm trying to see what I can cut out for the last stretch, not the dance show, but that's only a few weeks and then it's over. My parents are great, they understand that I can't come home that much, my mum even offered to send my dad up to my flat every night with freshly cooked dinners so I'm still eating right and not having to go shopping! It's is an hour drive each way though so I said not to worry about it! It's just nice knowing they are so supportive, so I guess it's not all bad!
My boyf isn't helping so much though, still fighting with me about just about everything so I've decided to just ignore it. I've tried everything to see what's going on with him, but he's not talking, so I have to do what's best for myself this time. I actually feel a physical heaviness when we argue, it even takes longer to walk to work and I'm tired all the time. I've told him this and he said it's my fault for taking everything to heart, so I don't see what else I can do. I am who I am after all!
So, the plan is to ignore the moods, and concentrate on work. My counsellor has given me some visualisation techniques to help me separate the two and focus on work which I'm working on, hopefully I get the hang of it soon! One thing at a time and we'll get there!!

OK, I've ramped up the studying. I'm generally really productive and am well used to putting in long hours, but now I really have to get into it. I need to have a full draft done in just over 5 weeks, otherwise I won't graduate until November next year, and I can't bear that thought. I've stayed up till midnight the last 2 nites (late for me!!) and been back at my desk working by 7am. Already I feel exhausted, brain dead, a bit fluey, and my eyes and back hurt. I think my writing is getting worse instead of getting better. Any tips on how to get thru this not-quite-last push would be welcome.

I've rewritten 17,000 words in the last 4 days and have another 80,000 to go and then read and edit the whole thing again. Erk, I shouldn't think in terms of words counts...my turn to go crazy here!!

Sleep Sue, sleep!! There is no way you can keep up the midnight working when you are already starting to feel like crap, I'm the same. The more work I do, the more sleep I need. Even if you feel bad for not being at the desk long enough, you need your rest to make sure the quality of your writing is good, no point doing a rewrite if it's worse than the original! Have a think about how you are working now, if you are generally productive then that's a good starting point, just see if you can change things around in your day to make you more productive without eating into your down time. Like going for a walk in the morning instead of lunch time or something, or getting rid of the distracting things at the start of the day so you can spend the rest of the time on the proper stuff. If you feel you must work longer hours, someone told me that the hours you sleep before midnight are worth more than the hours you sleep after, so how about trying to go to bed at 10 or 11, and get up at 6 to do work? Working in the early hours of the morning are just as productive and peaceful as late night I think sometimes, plus it's at the start of the day and not at the end when you are already shattered. All depends on if you think you can get up early though! I've also been told that 'The Fear' is enough to keep us going in these times! (up)

Ok the universe is out of kilt here, something has happened and I'm sure exactly what it is!

I met with my evil sup today, to discuss the last stats results I've done for my chapter/paper. He was nice to me the whole way through the meeting; he usually gives digs etc, but this time not a peep! He was chatty, interested in my work (usually he acts like he's SO bored and it's all crap...) and he said I have good data. And then he said something that I've never ever heard him say. He told me that I was a hard worker, and I've obviously done a lot of work. I was a little speechless at that bit I have to admit. It seems I have won him over, if only for a little while at least! :-)
Also lab stuff I've ordered should be here byt he end of the week, so next week I can get stuck into my lab work like a demon, and hopefully get the last ball rolling! It's been such a great day so far, I'm waiting for something terrible to happen! 8-)

I hope everyone else is going ok, and if not, it will pass and you'll get a good time again!! Just keep on keeping on!

That's excellent AQ - he's finally recognised your hard work and brilliance!! Wow - great that you've had a good day! These make it worthwhile. Enjoy it while it lasts, god knows they're few and far between...

I've been still working like a demon, altho on the week-end I pulled a muscle in my neck while I was asleep (what a loser thing to do!). Had to spend a day in bed doped up on pain killers, while my sweet partner ran around for me...am ok now, and off to see a physio. Am sure looking the studying is to blame...and have been having nightmares about uni too, but oh well, part of the territory...

Am plodding through rewriting many chapters, and very, very slowly getting there. I have concerns that my sups are going to think it's still crap - they're still writing all over my work, even at the third draft stage, and am now living in fear that they're going to make me rewrite it all again, which would mean I'd miss my September deadline. But am trying to not think about that, and am just plodding away...4 weeks, 3 days to a full draft!

And looks like it's just you and me on this thread AQ! Where's everyone else???

Hi everyone.
Its been a while since I have been on the forum as I had my head down to complete my first full draft. ( Finally done and sent to supervisors 1 and 2 !) But my question now is what should I do until I get the feedback....which due to various holidays is going to be in a months time?
I am having a fortnights holiday ( first one in 4 years!) but I can't justify wasting the other two weeks. But then again I cannot go through my draft again because I might waste time changing bits that don't need it.

Humph! I am stuck....although with this weather I am tempted to just sit in the garden eating ice-cream all day!
Any ideas of what I can do that is productive?
Thanks everyone.

Hi Matilda,

Personally I'd recommend the full break, but if you don't want to go for that do you maybe have some relevant academic reading material (books, journal papers etc.) that you haven't got to yet, and could relaxedly look through?

I definitely wouldn't recommend tweaking your draft until you get your feedback back.

Enjoy your fortnight off!

Well done Matilda!! That's excellent!! You must feel fabulous! Almost done!!! Have you done all your referencing? And all the other bits and pieces - the table of contents, the appendices etc? If you have, you could always do another proof read. And maybe think about writing an article? But then, who wants to start something like that, this close to the end...?

And enjoy some time off!

Hi all!

Haven't been here for a while. Just read the latest posts - well done everyone! Looks like you are all making good progress. And MatildaL well done on getting the full draft done!

I've got some good news and bad news. Good news is that I had a successful job interview and now have a research job lined up!

Bad news is that I've had a shamefully completely unproductive week and am now on verge of tears :( I worked really hard on the thesis and on preparing for the job interview. After I was offered the job I allowed myself a few days off as I really needed it. But since then I've had troubles getting back in gear. Doesn't help that my supervisor is not supportive. He wasn't happy when he found out I was applying for the job anyway (despite the fact that my funding has run out last Oct and I have to submit in Sept at the very latest), and now I have this job lined up (which starts on 1 Sept) he basically doubts that I can finish in time. Despite previously feeling that I would be able to submit by mid Aug, I am now having lots of self doubts and starting to freak out. In a strange way this made me procrastinate rather than working harder. Which I am now hating myself for. I still haven't got a complete draft done. I have written about 6 of the 8 chapters (all on 2nd or 3rd draft), but they still need lots of editing and I will need to re-do a lot of analyses. :(

I'm sorry to sound so pathetic but I'm feeling v down but stressed out at the same time. I don't want to face the work and yet I know that I can't afford to procrastinate.

Any advice on getting my emotions under control and getting back into work gear?

Sorry this isn't a happy post. Hope everyone else is doing ok!

Have a total break this weekend. You need it. Then on Monday draw up a list of what you need to get done, including a timetable likely deadlines for redrafting specific chapters, completing the full draft etc. Then draw up a to-do list of what you can be getting on with right away, look through it to decide which is the easiest option (or least unappealing!) and start with that.

Hope that helps. I always found deadlines and to-do lists motivated me :) But so did a good break.

And congrats on the research job.

Montezuma, Congratulations on the job that's brill!
Sups can be so annoying, mine was exact same when I went for a job, my money ran out in Sept after 3rd year, and I couldn't fund myself to finish! He always makes digs etc, but at the end of the day I just keep thinking, when i'm done I never have to deal wtih him again! :)

you will get there, take Bilbo's good advice, get some rest, chill out and catch up with friends or get some Montezuma Time! Then make some lists and start on the easy stuff! I had a big reunion party last weekend and I was on verge of not going until my partner talked me into it. I crawled out of my work cave, had some fun, let my hair down, caught up with friends, and then sat down the next night and did two full days of productive work.
Sometimes you need to take a step back to go forward again, so I recommend finding some space from study and have a much needed break!

Good luck, and hello and well done to everyone else on the thread too.

"Just keep swimming, swimming swimming, just keep swimming......"! :p

Thank you so much for the quick replies. Meant a lot to me (as you can tell I am in a bad state) :$

I will take your advice to take some proper time off this weekend. Not sure if I can afford to have the whole weekend off (says the person who just spent a whole week procrastinating... :p) but will definitely get away from my laptop for at least half a day for sure. It's time to zzzzzzzz now. My shoulder and neck are killing me from sitting at the computer all day and night (even though I wasn't actually being productive...). Hopefully will go back to my happier and more positive self soon!

Have a good weekend everyone!!

xx

Hey Monte, glad you're feeling a bit better now. Enjoy your time off! I know how hard it is to take time off without feeling guilty, but we all need to do this sometimes. And congratulations on the job - that's brilliant!!

I had an evening off last nite and am also having a morning off now, after I had a melt down yesterday. Working 15 hour days finally got to me and I cracked up, so went and had some fun and am relaxing a bit now. But jeez I hate the thesis, I think it's really badly written, and the work just seems never ending. Anyway, will keep plodding along...

Hope everyone else is going ok too.

Hi all,
Mont, I hope you're feeling better and got some guilt-free break time away from the laptop?

Sue, sorry to hear you had a bit of a meltdown, but glad you took sometime away to chill out. I'm not too happy with how my thesis is either, i'm sure each chapter has gotten lower quality as i've gone on. But I just keep telling myself it needs to be good enough to pass, and if it wasn't then sup would throw it all back (not that he's even opened his email wtih Chapter 4 yet!). I just don't care anymore, I want it gone!
I think also, when you're staring at it so closely it always seems worse, once you've done it, taken a break and gone back with fresh eyes, although there'll will be parts to change and edit etc, on the whole I bet you'll feel not so bad about it. You're doing so well Sue so just keep going for that final draft!

I'm hoping that once I have it all done and written, I can then go back and make it all nice, flowy, tidy and improve parts I hate, but right now I just want to see one full draft.

We'll get there, keep swimming, and smiling :p AL x

Hi AL

Yes, like you, I want to see a full draft. And I have a week left to get it done! I start work back in the civil service next Friday, and I want to have the whole thing written by then, so I can then read it all again in one go, and go over it again and do another edit, before sending it to my supervisors in mid-July. In the last 3 weeks I've rewritten 8 chapters, and have 3 to go.

It's killing me - am up at 6:30am, working solidly through till 10:30 or sometimes later most days, although there's always life admin needing to be done too, plus a sick dog needing attention. I'm tired, I'm soooo sick of sitting here every day, but I'm getting there. Only another 3 weeks of this, and the complete draft will be done. I'm afraid my sups are going to write all over it again, and I won't get it all finished by September, but I guess I just have to wait and see.

Have also been fantasising about rewards after I submit, and going to a really fancy restaurant. Am wondering if spending the equivalent of a week's scholarship on a meal in one of the world's best restaurants is obscene, or if it's a justified reward...? Frivolities to take my mind off the thesis!!

Hope everyone else is travelling ok too.