I did my marking, hooray! I am now going to go and be sociable and prepare for more people arriving tonight.

Good for you Star-Shaped (although I'm pretty sure you're not!). I got my interview transcribed as well so am feeling very virtuous and can now turn my attention to more important matters such as my new crime book and riffling through the last of the selection boxes.

Happy New Year to all

A :-)

New Year, new start. I was up early and at it this morning, and am feeling confident about making good progress this week. I need to - I'm way behind where I'd like to be!

Goals for today:
1.) Plan out loose structure of journal article based on Masters research - DONE
2.) Go back to Masters data and run a few more statistical tests
3.) Identify areas of literature to discuss in journal article
4.) Go food shopping
5.) Start revising draft questionnaire for PhD data collection

Morning!

I am still in holiday mode as my other half is now back from his trip to America and I find it much more difficult to work on bank holidays, weekends etc when he is here and is not working and reminding me that its a public holiday!

I am going to ease myself in with marking today. I'll be really pleased if I get 10 papers done.

8 papers done. I went out for a huge lunch and had a glass of wine so the last few were a struggle so that is really going to have to do! Now I am going to relax and make sure I'm ready to work hard tomorrow because I have so much to do over the next few weeks.

my goal for today was to get back online after my internet disappeared from my laptop but mysteriously remained on the home pc. After speaking to very nice technican guy am now back online.

I achieved my goal of getting my tutorial class' reports marked and ahead of time. However have now been asked via email to mark some 1st year papers (probably c150). At the moment, I am (very immaturely) pretending I didn't see the email. Just at the moment I think I would prefer to transcribe some interviews than mark more papers - am I very unreasonable??

150 papers? Oh dear... will you get paid for it?

I will get paid but from experience when you work it out, it comes to a tiny amount per paper, less than the minimum wage in effect. Plus students have to do two questions from a choice of six and some of the questions I will have to 'gen' up on as it is a long time since I studied some areas myself. Also some of them do more than two questions and you mark all that they do and their mark is their best two questions. I think their exam is next week so I'll lie low and say nothing until I get another email - and I will :-(

Lately I feel I am becomming something of a marking machine - can you get a PhD in marking?!?

Sounds like its not worth the effort, especially if you've been doing a lot of marking recently. Are you able to email back and say that you can't do it? As I'm doing my PhD full time and am wary of taking too much extra stuff on, that is definately what I'd be doing.

Oh, I agree - saying no is a powerful skill to learn! (Though I ended up doing some marking in October that I didn't want to do, or really have time for, just because I didn't like to say no. Not 150 though!)

Today, I've only achieved half my goals. I've done a rough plan of my journal article, run some more statistical tests, and been to the supermarket for a big shop. Also scrubbed out the inside of the fridge (including taking out and scrubbing the shelves) and done two huge loads of washing which are now draped damply all over the flat. Hmm, displacement activities there I think! But I suppose that's not too bad for my first day 'back to it' after slobbing around all Christmas...

you're right of course - just that's it's extra tough as request to mark comes from my HoD who just happens to be my supv as well!!

That's my goal for January then, i.e. to say 'No'

No / No thank you / No thank you very much / No but am flattered to be asked / On reflection No / Apologies but No...

I no I should but I no that I won't manage it if I am asked again.

NO*100

Morning all, and Happy New Year!

I haven't been on here for what seems like weeks, because I have been ill, followed by enjoying myself far too much over Christmas and New Year. So today is the start of two things- getting back into work and starting my diet! What a tough day!

Anyway, my first goal of the day is to get stuck into writing- it is very likely going to be rubbish writing, but at least I'll have something down on paper, however awful it is!

I'm aiming for 10 tomatoes today!

Good luck to those who are attempting to get back into the swing of things today!

Hi All I hope you all had good Christmasses and New Years (up)

I haven't done ANY work on my PhD since about mid-december. I have A LOT to catch up on, but also other work, a lecture to plan, writing up some related, but non-PhD work and a tax return to do :-(

So my first goal today is in two parts

a) don't get overly panicked by the amount of work
b) make a list of all I've got to do for today, the week and then the month

and I have a soar throat and feeling a bit urgh

Good luck, Button and Sneaks, hope you find a way back into it all okay!

I didn't achieve all my goals yesterday (I think I was over-ambitious) so today is partly carried over. I'm going to spend this morning planning out the journal article I'm writing. This afternoon I'll start revising my draft questionnaire. That should keep me busy!

Button- I'm also starting a diet of sorts today. I am feeling so plump after Christmas :(
Sneaks- I hear you on trying not to get panicked about the amount of work to do. But we will both get there!

I am feeling so worn out today. Why do I always come back from holidays feeling more tired than when I started?

Anyway, my first goal today is to start on my grant application. Argh.