I've not had the most successful day either, but I am getting on with my chapter and finally egtting to grips with what I want to say, which is a plus!

Will do more tommorrw. Home time now methinks.

Hope you're dog is ok Sneaks!!

As far as I know, most good computer chairs are ergonomical. As long as it has good back support, and you make the effort to sit up straight (don't slouch), you should be ok. Good posture is the key to reducing back ache.

"You can do eeeet"... Rob Schneider in The Waterboy (as well as other Adam Sandsler films)

Aww Sneaks I hope you're ok!! A month of work though... ace! Extended Xmas holiday!! :-)

I have sorted my council tax stuff out. (up)

... now I'm onto getting the chapter (or at least the first half) done. I've also emailed about booking all my conference stuff... but will have to wait until I get a reply before I can check that one off...

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Hi guys.

Hope everyone is well!!

Today I am going to:

- book all my conference stuff for Jan :-)
- get at LEAST the first half of chapter 5 done
- sort out my council tax exemption form

Sneaks, I'm glad your presentation went well on Thurs. my conference on Fri went really well too :-)

I don't have a masters and my PhD is in a subject completely unrelated to to my undergrad degree. I have quite a bit of experience in my PhD area and I think that's why it was offered to me. I'd say talk to some potential supervisors and just go for the PhD. I don't think it'll be necessary for you to do another masters to get onto a PhD course. Go for it and good luck :-)

Hi guys,

I'm feeling all whingey today. Basically, I can't see the light anymore. I want to submit in March, but I just can't see myself ever finishing!! I feel like I'm going to have the weight of this PhD on my shoulders for the rest of my life, and this is hindering my ability to focus and actually get some work done!!

I think part of the problem is that I have soooo much else to think about... conferences, teaching, social life.... everything seems to be just getting in the way and then when I do have time to focus, I just can't because I find myself wallowing and getting all anxious about where all the time has gone. I think the fact that December starts tomorrow meaning I have 18 days to get 2 chapters in, isn't helping.

I'm not usually a stress head, and I don't actually think I'm stressed. I think I'm just over-aware of time. I feel ridiculous. Grrrr. Venting over.

Contributions welcome. :-s

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I'm in my third year of my PhD and an currently writing up. I've been with my partner for 8 years and really don't think I would have got to where I am without him. I think, as with everything, it all comes down to how you manage your priorities. To me, while I am extremely ambitious (I think all PhDers must be), my ambition means nothing unless I have someone to share it with. My OH isn't in academia at all... in fact the thought of going back to uni for him is a huge no no. I love that I can talk to him about stuff completely unrelated to what I do. I love listening to his stories and getting impartial advice from him if I'm ever stressed. I don't feel at all like having him there hinders my productivity. I made the decision at the start that my PhD work would not interfere with my personal life, and that has worked well for us. In fact, at times when I'm stressed he'll be the one encouraging me to work in the evening or do a few hours over the weekend. He wants me to succeed just as much as I want to and I find that a huge motivator. If I fail, I've failed him as well. He's also more than happy to move where ever I go to once I finish.



I realise I sound like a huge sap here, but the point I'm trying to get across is that it doesn't have to be hard work being in a relationship and doing a PhD. Obviously it's different for everyone, and maybe I've just been really lucky, but I think they key to having a successful relationship and getting a PhD comes down to how you manage your priorities and your partner realising that you have more than just them to prioritise. It's about compromise I guess. It may be different when dating, but I can't really comment on that.

no, not running. I'm a rower. Although saying that, I am doing a running race this weekend. I'm not sure why because I can't stand running and look a little like Phoebe from Friends when I do run, but, hey... someones got to amuse the serious runners!

Yesterday, I just about managed my 3000 words before hitting the gym.

Today, the plan is:

- decide what I'm saying at conference tomorrow
- re-read the garbage I wrote yesterday and try make it sound like a PhD student wrote it
- finish 1st section of the chapter

Good luck with your presentation today Sneaks!! I'm sure it'll go fabulously!!

I'm either dedicated or crazy. I'm training for a really big event, and so have to factor in my training each day or my coach shakes his head at me :-( At the same time, I have to get my PhD work done or my sup shakes his head at me. I can't win really, so use each one to motivate me to do the other.... if that makes any sense.

I'd much rather snuggle under a blanket and eat chocolate than do either if I'm honest.

500 words to go... :-)

I have 900words to go before I hit my 3000 word target. Nearly there. I want to go to the gym before 4... that's my motivation to get this done!!

I also love writing. I find it comes a lot easier than the analysis did. I hope yours is going well Sneaks!

Little did these small creatures realise, however, that the world they had been transported to was far behind the present. They had traveled years, centuries even, back in time. Back to a time when humans didn't exist. Humans like Jemima.

Lost in this new, strange world, the AFKAB gang began exploring. Eager to discover their whereabouts, they set out to find someone, something, that could explain to them where they had so suddely appeared...

Hey Sneaks,

Can I join your accountability thread? I'm impressed by how much it seems to motivate you. After a VERY slow week, I'm in desparate need of a kick up the bum...

So... today I want to:

- write the first half of my first discussion chapter - aiming for 3000 words by the end of the day.
- sort out travel arrangements for an upcoming conference
- reduce panic for said conference, by considering all options rationally (this one might be more difficult to achieve)

I would also say to publish before you submit. I have three papers published so far, and my supervisor tells me having these will make my viva a lot easier - less to defend if peer reviewed journals think your research is publishable.

My first was a review article which I then used to structure my lit review, and the other two are on pieces of my research (e.g. my pilot study).

It takes a while to get published - the process can be lengthy so I'd recommend, if you're planning on publishing before submission, to get started ASAP. Even if the article hasn't come out by the time you submit, you can still reference it... just getting the acceptance is enough.