Final year support thread on PostgraduateForum.com

Hugh
8 years ago

Quote From Zutterfly:

I am arriving two days before the conference starts so I can spend some time exploring :) How has work been today?

Oooh exciting! Enjoy :-)))

Its not been too bad, I've edited a chapter by hand, and need to make the changes on the electronic file tomorrow. I want to get it submitted asap so I can move on to the next chapter. As we are getting closer to the end of year, I just keep telling myself, it will happen, you will make it! :-)

How's your day been?

Z

Zutterfly
8 years ago

Quote From Hugh:

Quote From Zutterfly:

I am arriving two days before the conference starts so I can spend some time exploring :) How has work been today?

Oooh exciting! Enjoy :-)))

Its not been too bad, I've edited a chapter by hand, and need to make the changes on the electronic file tomorrow. I want to get it submitted asap so I can move on to the next chapter. As we are getting closer to the end of year, I just keep telling myself, it will happen, you will make it! :-)

How's your day been?

Yes YOU WILL MAKE IT ! We all will :) We need to remember this.

It has been ok, I finished my marking pile and I have nearly completed a section of my conclusion with two more sections to go. Though, I think once I have done this section I will dedicate the rest of the week to journal article edits/conference papers etc. to try and get those tied up so I have a few less things to think about. Been feeling really tired and lethargic over the past week and I think it is because I am not sleeping well, but I do not know why I am not sleeping well...ah frustrating!

H

Hugh
8 years ago

Zutterfly You are making brilliant progress, well done! It's motivating for me too to hear about yours and others progress!

Sorry to hear about your sleep. I found placing devices away 1 hour before time to sleep and reading something non-academic but not too pleasurable helps. Otherwise you could try listening soothing sounds or try day dreaming, the latter always works for me :-/ I hope you manage to get good quality sleep.

Z

Zutterfly
8 years ago

Thank you Hugh, I think I need to try the non-academic book technique- I forgot non-academic books existed!

I find this thread very motivating too and it certainly makes me feel less isolated in the process.

C

chickpea
8 years ago

Non-academic books are what's keeping me sane! If I don't have a few hours with a non-academic book at the weekend, I feel I've had no time off!

H

Hugh
8 years ago

Quote From chickpea:
Non-academic books are what's keeping me sane! If I don't have a few hours with a non-academic book at the weekend, I feel I've had no time off!

Sounds lovely :) Any specific recommendations?

C

chickpea
8 years ago

Quote From Hugh:

Quote From chickpea:
Non-academic books are what's keeping me sane! If I don't have a few hours with a non-academic book at the weekend, I feel I've had no time off!

Sounds lovely :) Any specific recommendations?

I'm a bit of a literary fiction nut, so lots of my choices fall into that category. I recently loved Jeanette Winterson's The Gap of Time (modern re-telling of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale - next on my list is from the same series, Howard Jacobson's Shylock is my Name). The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton is a great yarn and very cleverly written. Maggie O'Farrell's a great writer and I recommend Instructions for a Heatwave. For something really light and entertaining, Love Nina by Nina Stibbe........ basically I just need to find a job as a book reviewer to be happy :-)

S

swagpenguins
8 years ago

Hi everyone!

I'm a final year PhD student and am new to this forum. Just finishing off the analysis for my final study while writing up thesis chapters. I have found that I can't do more than about 2-3 days of (qualitative) analysis in a row without breaking it up with something else. I find I am quite productive when I'm writing but can easily procrastinate when it comes to my analysis. Think it's a bit of boredom (after reading through my transcripts a billion times, they tend to lose their appeal) and, compared to writing, it is a bit harder to feel a sense of progress with analysis.

I've also been trying the pomodoro technique (25 mins of focused work and 5 min break doing something different) but I just end up procrastinating on the breaks and going well over the 5 minutes.

Any ideas on how to keep your motivation up for work that is more prone to boredom/slow progress would be much appreciated! :)

Hope you are all having a productive week!

H

Hugh
8 years ago

Quote From chickpea:

For something really light and entertaining, Love Nina by Nina Stibbe........ basically I just need to find a job as a book reviewer to be happy :-)

Ooh is the the new BBC drama based on that book? I'm really enjoying that! :)

Thanks Chickpea for all the recommendations! :)

H

Hugh
8 years ago

Quote From swagpenguins:
Hi everyone!

I'm a final year PhD student and am new to this forum. Just finishing off the analysis for my final study while writing up thesis chapters. I have found that I can't do more than about 2-3 days of (qualitative) analysis in a row without breaking it up with something else. I find I am quite productive when I'm writing but can easily procrastinate when it comes to my analysis. Think it's a bit of boredom (after reading through my transcripts a billion times, they tend to lose their appeal) and, compared to writing, it is a bit harder to feel a sense of progress with analysis.

I've also been trying the pomodoro technique (25 mins of focused work and 5 min break doing something different) but I just end up procrastinating on the breaks and going well over the 5 minutes.

Any ideas on how to keep your motivation up for work that is more prone to boredom/slow progress would be much appreciated! :)

Hope you are all having a productive week!

Hi Swag, welcome! :)

Do you have a finishing plan in place and deadlines in place? I'm final year too and have set deadlines of which chapter needs to be finished by when etc, and that keeps me focused. The finishing plan has also been seen by my supervisor, so I suspect he could pick me up on that too! Maybe you could try that if you haven't already done so. Also, blocking off the internet is also a good idea. I know you can get apps/add-ons that do that, and only allow say 30 min a day on Facebook.

C

chickpea
8 years ago

Quote From Hugh:

Quote From chickpea:

For something really light and entertaining, Love Nina by Nina Stibbe........ basically I just need to find a job as a book reviewer to be happy :-)

Ooh is the the new BBC drama based on that book? I'm really enjoying that! :)

Thanks Chickpea for all the recommendations! :)

Yes, that's the one. I am enjoying the series too - it's working out quite well even though they changed/re-named some of the people in it (eg it was really Alan Bennett who came round for tea every night, but apparently he was quite grumpy about how he came across in the book!).

H

Hugh
8 years ago

@ Alan Bennett - really? That's quite funny :D

C

chickpea
8 years ago

Quote From swagpenguins:
Hi everyone!

I've also been trying the pomodoro technique (25 mins of focused work and 5 min break doing something different) but I just end up procrastinating on the breaks and going well over the 5 minutes.

Any ideas on how to keep your motivation up for work that is more prone to boredom/slow progress would be much appreciated! :)

Hope you are all having a productive week!

Hi Swagpenguins!

I have this problem too - when I use pomodoros and take a break, I end up drifting and taking far too long. I also find that I 'compete with myself' too, and focus on the number of pomodoros and then get annoyed with myself if it's heading for a low one! Other people have told me they use pomodoros to get themselves started, and if the work is flowing they ignore the break time when it comes round, which I think is a far more sensible approach then mine.

I think it's also worth remembering that it is genuinely hard to keep going and doing focused work like this day after day, especially when it's only really you who can give you a hard time if you don't do it. I struggle with motivation/procrastination a lot of the time and I haven't found a 'magic bullet', I just keep picking myself up and trying again.

S

swagpenguins
8 years ago

Hi Hugh and Chickpea! Thanks for the helpful advice.

Hugh - I have submitted a thesis plan with deadlines to my supervisors as I know that I am useless without deadline to give me THE FEAR! I think blocking off the internet/phones apps is a good way to go. Keep me away from any temptations. I'll have a look into those block off apps/add-ons...

Chickpea - Yeah I agree that is a much better way to use it. I do find it helpful for getting started but don't tend to stick to it after a couple of pomodoros! Thanks for the encouragement. I always forget that a bit of self-kindness/forgiveness can also go a long way!

H

Hugh
8 years ago

I don't use pomodoro. I do three hours in a block with no breaks. It might be worth trying?