Jen,
In your first year, you are still working things out -work schedules, research topics, what to read, and getting to know your supervisor. I would not stress out on when you should take holiday. Take what time you need. Personally, I would go home when you want, enjoy Christmas, catch up with friends etc., and return in the new year ready for action. Spend some time (couple of hours) over Xmas thinking about what you want to achieve in the next year. Supervisors are for guidance and advice, but they should not be telling you when to work etc. PhDs, in my opinion, are meant to be enjoyable. Why else would we sign up? So do whatever will keep you interested in the project and research...extra days or weeks for holiday so be it...whatever keeps the momentum. I am in my third year and i have never managed to treat my PhD as a 9-5. However much I have wanted to. If you work in blocks or when deadlines are approaching then great - don't radically change your habits. What worked for you at MSc, MA, BA etc. didn;t fail you, so why change.

PS at my university we have courses called "managing your supervisor" and I think it is important to remember we are the ones doing the PhD and that our supervisors aren;t thinking about our research as much as we are, if at all in some cases?! Trying to please supervisors can end in disaster, particularly if you become dispondent about the project, feel bullied or the project is going in their direction and not yours. So do what makes you happy, you are the one who has to develop the project, research the project and write the final thesis! (little bit of rant but do feel passionate about this!) Hilary

Hi Jen,
I find doing a PhD involves working when it is most productive for you. Taking time off and coming back refreshed is better than finishing for Christmas and knowing you still have to do reading etc. I think your supervisor means that when the university closes (the library for example) then that is time you should be taking as holiday. I personally would do what you want to do. If you are happy taking holiday from the date you said then do. I think December is a quiet month for many universities so in terms of writing and reading that is probably what he means. BTW what year are you in? Hilary

Hi Ann. Yep, definitely had a few drinks at my graduation ceremony...can get Winter Pimms now...yum!
Wrote some of my best undergrad essays with a g&t in hand.
I have just started writing up, although I still have quite a lot of data to collect for my final case study. Just wondering when the writing bug will kick in. I know what I want to say...just scared to start writing I suppose. Anyone else find this?

Hello. I am new to this site. Just gone into my 3rd year (hopefully final year but writing is proving harder than I thought). Just got back from a week in Munich - big Xmas market, lots of mulled wine and if it is too cold outside, beer halls where you can order litre jugs of beer! DanB, I would go to the Xmas market, have several drinks, go to the graduation ceremony, have several more drinks and spend tomorrow nursing a hangover. Just read the posting about hangovers - has anyone else thought there is some correlation between the further into the PhD you are the more you drink?