aims for tonight:
1. finish results section of chapter 5.
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Anthropologa, yeh I have no idea how to set realistic goals. because i don't know how long something is going to take. so i think because i only have one week left now, to do as much of my thesis as possible. i think i will try to do "productive" time. i.e do a X number of hours of where i am working on my thesis. and then take the evening off or something.

so tommorow, i am going to clock my time and see how many hours i am actually working "productively" .. and then that will be my time set for the rest of the week. basically going to glue myself to the seat tommorow.

********confession for today*********
i have done zip zata zilch. although i sent a "work" email to a collegue of mine asking her a few qs i have about my chapter 5, if that counts for anything lol.
spent most of the day with family, it's sunday which usually means "family/sunday lunch" day. spent some time in the garden aswell which was nice and relaxing. its really hard for me to study on a sunday or the weekend for that matter! hehe.

now its nearly 8pm. so i figured i will do 1 hour of productive work, and then treat myself to watch "supernatural" on telly. last finale episode!

a big congratulations to liminalplace for staying up until 5.30am!! and getting her conference paper done ! WELL DONE!!!!!
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*****confession time****
yesterday: well uh, i never did come back for the evening shift, naughty me. after spending 6 hours working on chapter 5 during the day. i took a break, rode my bike for 15mins, i had not done any exercise for over a month and then took a shower, had dinner, and relaxed and watched "medium" dvd and then it was around midnight and was way too tired and went to bed! oh well. lol
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thanks for being so encouraging that i've only done 2 chapters out of 6, that was really nice to hear :) you're right, we can only do our best. and then see what happens. so i am going to spend the rest of this week, and try to get as many sections done as possible and leave the rest as "pending/incomplete".

thats a good idea about going to your parents, they can pamper you whilst you are busy studying away and a change of scenary will do wonders!

keep in touch though! us writers gotta stick together hehe

Tractorgirl, you are an angel! thank you so much for the lovely and encouraging message!! you really made me feel so much better!! you've given me the boost and motivation i so needed, thank you so much. I really appreciate it!!!

let's wrap this baby up eh!

i must confess i haven't done anything today. sundays are usually "family sunday lunch" day. so unintentionally kinda took the day off.. i just spent most of the day with my family. you're right, its good to take breaks! and we should take breaks, we deserve it and you're right if we don't we will make ourselves ill. and no more feeling guilty if i take a break.

and you've inspired me. your message, also is a good reminder for me to work harder. i was getting abit distracted, and was having a little pity party just now, i wanted to go to this philosophy course end of august, but i cant go :( cause i have to work on my thesis. but then thought. i only have a few months left to finish my thesis, and then i can take a year off to study all the subjects i wanted to study. so will just put those things on hold. and get back to focusing 100% on my thesis.

thanks for your message! it put an end to my pity party lol. i'm taking the decorations down now lol

i wouldnt worry about the disussion chapter so much. as long as your other chapters are solid, that should be more than enough for your supervisor. besides you still have time even after 7th of july to get your discussion done. usually discussion is left till the end. it will come together. you will get inspiration one day!

good luck! and thanks for your message, it makes me feel better to know i am not alone in the boat!!

i have to submit by the end of september. 30th sept is my deadline. or i will fail my phd.

I did about 6 hours of work yday, then had dinner and didnt come back for the night shift was too tired. i am working on chapter 5 at the moment and sorting out results. as you being a fellow science phd student, you can understand how long it can take to organise results and making tables and figures! and figuring out what it all means!

but i have only completed 2 chapters out of 6! and i have one week left now. eeek. taken much longer than i thought!!

so i am just going to try my best and complete as much as i can. and just tell them honestly, this is what i have done, and this is what i have to get done. what are you gonna do ? hang me? (obviously will omit the what you gonna do /hang me comment)

i was stressing about it soooooo much, that i was getting mental blocks!! but then realised, whats the worst that can possibly happen? ( i actually did this worry diary thing on the internet) and then thought, instead of wasting time stressing about it, i will just try to do as much as i can. and even after 7th of july, i still have to carry on working on my thesis. so i didnt get a full draft of my thesis done by the 7th of july, at least i got as much as i physically could get done.

Hey Tractorgirl!! wow you sound like me! I too have a deadline of 7th of july!! to have a full first draft!

but wow I must congratulate you that you have all the other chapters done, that is brilliant!! and your working on your last chapter..i think your supervisor should be more than happy that you have 6 chapters done out of 7. that is really excellent.
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i have 7 chapters also! but i was aiming to have a first draft of the 6 chapters, (leaving discussion for later).

i never meet my aims! i think i am being wayyyyyyyyy too unrealistic! lol

i have no idea how to set realistic goals. i just spent approximately 6 hours working on my results section for one of my chapters, and i have noway finished. i have done approximately 6 pages worth (double space!) and made 5 figures/tables.

my realistic goal for the rest of the day is to complete
results section of chapter 5.

taking a break now to have some dinner.

it just takes a very long time, writing, organising results, making tables and figures, thinking about what it all means. more time then i anticipate.

i agree, take some time out today, maybe a couple of hours and work on the inspiration you've had and if you feel like continuing go for it! you can take a day off another time, when you feel stuck. but defiantely go with the inspiration!!

angie81, i do the EXACT same thing!! lol i thought i was the only one!! i end up copying everything verbatim, because i am so fearful that i need to know every single detail and like you, if i dont write it down i fear i will forget it. so i'm almost reproducing what i am reading!

can't give you any advice i am afraid. BUT i recently came across this book recommendation. check it out.
i bought the book and read the first few pages, i would have read more, but i had to start working on my thesis. but it was really interesting!!

check it out:

"how to read a book" the classic guide to intelligent reading
by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren.

check out the reviews from amazon etc.

Hello folks! erm didn't accomplish any of my new aims for the evening shift last night. oooops.

anyways bygones, yesterday is in the past, like JB says, don't cry over unwritten words in the past. today is all that matters.

Todays aims:

chapter 5:
1. results
2. introduction
3. discussion

good luck to everyone who are working on a saturday!

tractor girl, what's your time scehedule for writing? ie do you have immediate deadlines? how many chapters is your thesis and how much have you done already? sorry for being nosy