Hi everyone

Matilda, yeh, hope you ended up taking time off - we need to, after a chapter is done. AQ, that's not good about your examiner - let's hope he'll be professional and not an arse in your viva. Try not to worry too much, and concentrate on getting your work done and preparing for the viva. Focus, don't worry, if you can.

And Montezuma, welcome!! I think we're at about the same stage - I have everything written, apart from conclusion, with a half done to 2nd draft, half only done to first draft. I'm planning to give my sup a complete draft (everything will be done to second draft) by 17 July, and then when she gives it back to me, will do the 3rd draft, which I hope won't be too major and expect to submit end Aug. This is my 3rd revised deadline...ah well, takes as long as it takes...

And I've had a few days off!! Took work with me and didn't touch it. Had a think about things, and also had to do some family stuff. Once again realised that I just have to get this thesis done and over with, so I can start life again, move cities, onto new things. So, am determined, another push, need to get the first half done again by end of May.

Onwards!!! We'll all get there eventually!! We can do this, together!!!

Whoo Sue you sound more energised now that you've had a break! Just what you needed I suspect! Good luck with the rest of your 2nd draft, you'll get there!! I had a word with my supervisor about the examiner, he said it's fine, if the internal is the evil guys sup then he'll see what he's really like soon enough, and besides he's a very nice guy, very professional. So I'm happy enough with that, I knew he was a nice guy, which is partly why we selected him, but I just needed to hear it from my own supervisor! So back to the task at hand!!I have decided I'm going to be happy and try and enjoy the last few months as a student, it's going to be potentially the last time I'll be able to structure my own days and now have to answer to anybody, cos after this it's time for a 'real' job! So my head is firmly stuck in the sand and I'm determined to be ok!

:)

======= Date Modified 10 May 2010 10:24:48 =======
Hey AQ, glad it's working out for you - and you also sound determined!! You're right, this will probably be the last time I'll also be a student (oops - did I say 'probably'???), so we should try and enjoy it. I have to start back in the civil service in 6 weeks anyway, so my full-time student days are fast drawing to a close, then it's back to juggling work and thesis.

So yeh, let's try and be optimistic, work hard, and get this done!

Hello! Thanks for the welcome :)

algaequeen: I can understand why you felt like that. I'd totally freak out too if I were you. But try not to worry about it. It's not as if you can do anything. Just focus on the thesis. In any case, as examiner he should base his judegement entirely on your thesis and not influenced by gossips about you as a person/colleague.

Sue: glad you had some time off! It's important to have a substantial break from time to time. I felt like I was heading towards burn out, but after spending some time socialising with friends yesterday (after weeks of working away in my little world...) I felt much better. Good luck with getting a complete draft done too! I plan to get a complete draft done by the end of this month or early June, so I can get some feedbacks on the structure of the thesis. It's a really tight deadline, and it doesn't help that I'm in the middle of preparing a job app (which is taking more time than I expected...), but has to be done!

Good luck everyone!

======= Date Modified 18 May 2010 06:37:46 =======
Like Montezuma I'm also a late comer, although I've been lurking in the forum for a few months now.

I've just handed in my 'intention to submit form' listing 31 July as my submission date. Very scary!!! I've completed three drafts of the first six chapters of my thesis so they're basically final now and I'm half-way through the first draft of my last chapter, with an introduction and conclusion still to do, plus the final revision of the whole thing.

I find it so hard to keep motivated, even though the end is in sight. Sometimes I just can't seem to get my brain working no matter how hard I try, which, with just a few months to go, makes my anxiety run rampant, which, in turn, stops my brain from functioning even longer. Vicious cycle ... The last week has been much better though. I keep telling myself that come August this will all be over so I just have to find the reserves to get through till then. Of course, then I get overwhelmed at the thought of what life post-PhD might look like - typical ...

Anyway, back to work. Hope you're all going well out there!

Hi HerdingCats

Welcome!! It's sounds as if you're well on the way to finishing!! Well done! On the third draft of most chapters - fantastic - I sooo wish I was at that stage!! You'll get there!! Don't think about how much you have to do, just do it. Little steps, and you'll get there in the end. You're so close - keep going!!

How's everyone else going? I'm doing OK - have almost finished the 2nd draft of a chapter which I wrote 4 years ago, and has been an effort essentially rewriting the whole thing, but it's coming together. By the end of the month I hope to have done 2nd drafts of most chapters - getting there. And am also giving a guest lecture in a couple of weeks, which is exciting, but more work.

Been distracted by job stuff - need to find a position in the civil service I don't hate going back to, in 6 weeks. Went for an interview for a job I wouldn't mind, 7 weeks ago, was told informally that I had the job - then nothing! Have phoned, emailed, seems like the contact person is avoiding me. What a jerk. So, that's on my mind too, and some family stuff going on...lots happening...Anyway, things are OK. How's everyone else?

Thanks for the encouragement Sue2604! Sounds like your writing is coming along very nicely too. Sorry to hear about the job situation though. Hopefully you'll hear something positive really soon. And also hope the family stuff resolves quickly too. It's so hard to work when there's lots of other stuff occupying valuable mind space. The guest lecture sounds very exciting indeed! It's got to feel awfully nice to have your work valued enough that you're the expert person they bring in! Woohoo!

HerdingCats: Sounds like you're well on your way. Well done! I also wish I am on 3rd draft for most of the thesis!

Sue: sounds like you've made very good progress! Well done to you too!

As for me, unfortunately I've made little progress on my writing since I last posted, because I had to re-do some data analyses and I spent ages and AGES preparing a job application (good luck to me! I really want this job!!). However I got both of these out of the way now so tomorrow I shall return to writing. I have to say I don't look forward to it at all...

Right then, how're we all going?

I've had one of those times lately - life getting in the way of the PhD and it's been a bit rough. But have still been working. In the last few weeks I've rewritten my lit review, and also my background chapter, both chapters which I hadn't touched for 4 years, so these were big jobs. Now they're out of the way.

I'm working towards getting a complete draft done by mid July - which is very ambitious, and means I have approximately (geez, I shouldn't think of it in terms of word count!!) 70,000 words to rewrite, but some of the chapters won't need an extensive rewrite, so that's something. I have a new folder on my desk, called 'Complete Draft - Mid-July' and it has 5 rewritten pages in it. I'm on the way.

Also think I've sorted out going back to a not-so-horrible job in the civil service from 1 July, so that will take me away from the thesis too, but have to go back.

So - slow progress, but am hoping to speed up in the next few weeks. Onwards!!

Hi everyone! I've been away for ages and not had much time to come on this, so it's good to see things are still plodding along! And welcome to Herdingcats too!

It sounds like things are picking up Sue, at least you've got a not-so-bad job in the pipeline, try and use it as a real deadline for your complete draft, so you only have to tweak stuff once you are working. I've still got tons of work to do, I'm falling bahind a bit but trying not to panic. I've got almost the first draft of my 4th chapter done, but there is still a lot of data work to do for the next chapter/paper, still some lab work (fingers crossed I get it started this week) and I have yet to properly start another chapter, But I'm getting there. I was at a workshop last week which was brilliant and have managed to convince my supervisor to run our own workshop in the uni, which he seems really keen on! I'm not entirely sure where or how I'll fit it in with the writing up but I would so love to do it, I'll find a way!

So onwards and upwards, we'll trudge through the rewrites and the seemingly endless data analysis, and fly through the viva, to emerge like butterflies from the PhD chrysilis! (I think I'm losing my mind...) :-)

Hi all,

Been about 2 weeks since I was last on here. How's everyone been? I've had a pretty rubbish two weeks. 3/4 months after thinking I'd got all data I needed, and after all empirical chapters were written up, I've recently been told by my supervisor that I need more data. So the last 2 weeks had just been working on collecting more data, and didn't spend anytime at all on my writing. So that Intro chapter I started weeks ago is still unfinished... In this coming week I still need to work on data collection, and to enter and analyse the data, so doesn't look like I can go back to writing the Intro anytime soon. I'm feeling so frustrated and also demotivated by this. The deadlines I set previously have to be revised, and I just feel as if the PhD is never going to end... :-(

Sorry this is a negative post - just reflects my current mood.

On a positive note, I have been invited for a job interview! This may be my only hope because research positions in my (v narrow) field is very hard to come by. I really hope it goes okay. Note to self - must start preparing for it asap!

How's everyone getting on? Sue - how are you feeling about returning to your job on 1 July? It's not long to go now. Do you think you may be able to get most of the thesis work done by then? Algaequeen - good to hear you had a good workshop, and well done on convincing your supervisor to run the workshop too! Will you help organise and run it? If so you must remember to put this on your CV/resume! (I forgot to put a nice-sounding admin experience on my CV and been kicking myself for it!)

Have a good week everyone!

Hi Montezuma

I can understand you feeling frustrated - my sups also made me go and collect more data, when I thought I was well and truly done. I still haven't done it all and need to chase up a few more interviews, which I've been putting off...but keep going, you'll get there, and your thesis will be more robust for it. It does seem neverending, but we just have to keep going, day by day, and we'll get there eventually.

I'm in 2 minds about the job - it's not in academia, so doesn't thrill me, but it does pay OK. I'm quite looking forward to being in a 'real' work environment tho, not being isolated and stuck in my study every day going mad. Will be doing 4 days a week, so I'll still have a decent amount of time to study. And yep, am workling hard at the moment to get as much done as I can...do had better get back to it.

Keep going everyone!

hello everyone (old and new :))!

Wow, its been a month since I posted on here - think i've been avoiding it due to lack of anything to report!

I'm glad to see you're all doing well.

I've had a pretty tough month as my day job is in its busiest time of the year with schools finishing for holidays soon, and i'm running quite a few extra projects which are all coming to a head in the next 3 weeks! I'm actually going out to schools the next two days running microbiology workshops, which is a project I started when I arrived (as a microbiologist who believes that a better understanding of their GOODNESS is required :))! i'm pretty nervous about it but really excited too as can't wait to speak to the kids about the project they've been doing on it.

thesis wise - i'm eventually getting through chapter 4, into the discussion which is a bit of a struggle due to the nature of this study, but gettign there slowly. my boss has very nicely given me a couple of afternoons and a day off to get some work done as I think she's noticed my stress'o'meter go off the rails! :-s
Therefore, I'm hoping to get this first draft of it finished in next week or two, and then off to sup (which as usual I will dread). The chapter was meant to be quite small however, it is turning out bigger than my first chapter, which is quite annoying but good i guess (just have to make sure it's not fluff)!
I also really need to get my intention to submit form in, so I plan to do this in the next two weeks also, proposing a submission date of beginning of august (preferably just before as I have a two week holiday and it would be lovely to get a bit of a break and some viva prep for then!)

Anyway, I hope you're all doing well, sorry not much time, but will get back on here soon for a proper catch up with everyone!

Bestest as always, AL xx

ok warning - this will be a grumpy post!!

I'm really really starting to freak out about everything, I've spent all week stressing, I'm constantly tired even though I've been making myself go to bed early, and I keep randomly crying for no reason.  The PhD is no fun at the moment.
My lab work finally got started this week, but I'm not sure now if my samples are enough so I have to try loads of different optimisations, which I was doing ok until I remembered I had to prepare a talk.  Spent a day doing stats, realised the next day they were done wrong and had to redo them. Have to spend today finishing them off and writing up the talk, so that's 3 days of lab work lost so I'm even more behind that I anticipated.  I'm moving out of my flat at the end of the month so I really need to get everything done by then, I'm meant to be moving to France but I can't sort out the moving people with a date because I don't know if I'll be finished! My boyf is getting antsy cos I keep having to change the date of when I might be able to arrive and coupled with my general stress we keep arguing!  I'm totally exhausted!

A friend of mine has become almost like a personal secretary, I keep forgetting things that she has to remind me of, I'm double and triple booking myself for things and have to help organise, and rehearse for, a dance show with my dance class at the end of the month!  Not to mention my parents asking when I'm coming home and sounding really disappointed when I say not this weekend...:-(   But I'll get there, right?!

AL, sounds like things are picking up which is great, I hope your chapter 4 goes ok! That's the one I'm trying to work on at the moment, I've had to abandon it for a while though!  Good luck with your supervisor, if he gets all crap with you just remember he's an idiot!

Hope everyone else is doing ok!!

======= Date Modified 05 Jun 2010 09:07:28 =======
Hey AQ

Sorry to hear you're feeling so rubbish - it's not surprising, you have a lot on your plate. Are there things you can not do? Just say no too? What can you strip away, so you can just finish your thesis? Or how else can you get help? Can friends cook some meals for you, get groceries in for you, or something like that? Can your bf do anything to help (rather than argue with you?) And sorry to hear you're crying - but as someone told me - it's a sign you're getting close to finishing! Breathe, work out what's most important to do, and just do one thing at a time. Hope your talk went well....

And it does seem that towards the end of a PhD, that other stressors come in to play to make our lives even more difficult. You're moving, I have to start back at work - the timing to start new things at the end of thesis is absolutely awful, but it seems this is how it goes....keep going, it'll be over soon.

I gave a guest lecture today, which I really enjoyed and the students seemed quite engaged too, so that was nice. Reminds me that this thesis I'm so over is worthwhile after all...And a big moment for me - have set the date to submit - 17 September!!! Woo woo! Which means I need to get a complete draft done in 6 weeks, which means 6 weeks to rewrite about 80,000 words!!!! Eeeekkk!!! Am hoping some of my 11 chapters won't take me longer than a few days each...

The light at the end of the tunnel is definitely more than just a little flame now....