Today has not been a complete waste because:

*I have written 500 words of results, and tidied up all my graphs and pictures etc
*I went to dry cleaners and picked up my dress for wedding in 2 weeks
*I cooked a very tasty chilli for my partner coming home

That's it :( But, i've done more than nothing, and have another day off work tomorrow to hopefully finish my results (or close to) and start compiling some papers for intro and discussion.

Well, it's not been the best of days today. I've been chided by my supervisors for being sidetracked with my data analyses. It does not a written thesis make. And then I've been trying to set a new laptop up, since my old one is dying, which takes ages since I've got to sort out all my software for it and transfer the files. And some of the software doesn't work with a later version of Windows and all that. I've written a methodology chapter, but it's really very bad and needs a lot more work. I've also got a lot of other chapters to write. So today has not been a waste in one sense. I have to work, I have to get it done and I can't really hang about. So no more playing out at the weekends, and far, far fewer posts from me on here. Something Chrisrolinski said in a previous recent post about having to write an awful lot to achieve a doctoral standard of work has really struck me and brought things home: trial and error, refinement of technique and composition takes time. I shall begin in earnest tomorrow.

======= Date Modified 24 Jun 2010 16:47:33 =======
Although I didn't achieve all of my goals as planned, today has not been a waste because at least...

1. I managed to get up on time to attend a class
2. Attended the japanese class
3. Delivered 1 min speech at the japanese class
4. Revised something that I learned during undergraduate but had totally forgotten
5. Read a paper and emailed the author to ask some questions
6. Emailed the conference secretariat to ask about the nearest train station to the conference venue for next month's conference.

I sorted out a load of undergraduate exam results mistakes (not mine) so my head of Department is happy with me.
I rang a really top academic in our field (Top 3) about being an external examiner and suggested meeting up when he said he was attending a conference I am going to in September (this was the biggest achievement as I HATE calling people)
I wrote another 250 words of a paper so am now at 1700.
I went for a swim.
I did some food shopping and got some good bargains for the freezer.

Today, I...

-simulated something, but didn't include one condition - have to include that condition later
-started to write a paper to be submitted to a summer workshop, which is due next week
-received a gift from a moving company :-) -just got a new neighbour today
-had ice cream for supper & good laughs watching 4 episodes of 'How I met your mother'

Today has not been a complete waste!

I had my performance review with my boss and everyting is great (better than I thought) and he has given me a new angle on a bit of research which will improve the paper
I've had a swim
I'm going out tonight with my husband

and best of all I don't feel guilty about not doing ANY PhD stuff today

Today's not been a waste 'cos I've handed in chapters 1 and 2 to my supervisor, and I'm feeling pretty good about them :)

Today has not been a waste because I...
- needed to re-organise my thoughts and figure out a plan from the work meeting we had last week
- sorted out all my luggage and things from the overseas work meeting last week
- have my thoughts together on one little section of the introduction which i should be able to write this evening
- decided that this thesis writing MUST END SOON!!!!

Today has not been a waste because:

I sat down and thought through exactly what I need to do next and worked out a loose plan for the next couple of months.
I worked through a lot of data inputting - still loads to go but I'm getting there
I feel that I'm actually starting to get somewhere which is always helpful!

Having a very, very sluggish one today, thought some positive reflection might help:

*took the morning off and did some exercise
*sorted some travel arrangments for a conference in two weeks time
*writing this post (scrape that barrel Sim...)

Nope, that didn't help, suppose i should do some work really.

P.S. I do enjoy reading everyone's posts on this thread.

Today has not been a waste for me, in fact it has been a very productive day.
I managed to write about 2000 words of my analysis (1st draft). Probably, when I edit it, most of it will be gone, but I am really happy with myself.......

Today has not been a waste because....
- i bought presents for my sisters birthday which is tomorrow (it would just be rude if i hadn't!)
- i met my supervisor and got some more feedback (although mostly formatting still)
- i can now plan the rest of my time towards a finish date of next tuesday / wednesday
- i can make the final list of things to do!
- most importantly, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel

Good going everyone! And Emmaki - 2000 words is awesome (I dream of such daily word counts!).

To follow my own advice.... today I have:

* Ordered presents for two family birthdays
* Finished and analysed the additional work my supervisor sprang on me
* Erm.... ok that's about it but hey, short and sweet ;)

Its sounds as though its been a great day :-)

I've completed the data collection for the current section I'm doing
Inputted roughly half of the data
can begin data analysis hopefully tomorrow - woohooo :-)

*ok, so in the final thesis this section will probably be about 3 pages in total.. but hey, its several weeks less work left to do*

It was my day off anyway doing gardening and using laptop in the shade..