Its the PhD blues
its not a date with Tom Cruise
its an arduous long -winded purgatorial cruise
Its a research degree
unfortunately not a freebie
its the type of thing you find
makes you slightly lose your mind

keeps you up late at night
giving the dawn chorus a fright
They don't pay me in booze,
and not even my dues,
Its the bafflingly longwinded
procrastinating phd blues


Can you tell im bored? Is it really that obvious?

Its hard and a holiday is often desperately needed.
My supervisor told me I should take time this summer and at Christmas.
Im going away in January to the states but its my third year so im trying to get a lot done by then. Keep me motivated.
I think you should have a holiday.

Why don't you use this as a time to focus purely on you and you work. And look after yourself and your work. This is a time where you can be entirely selfish and you know how demanding the work is on your time.
Be selfish and put yourself first.
See what happens, my relationship came in the middle of my PhD when I was not expecting it in the slightest!
Don't worry let it happen.
x

I know its really annoying when those around you are often very unsupportive. This is your time to work though and you must put yourself and your work first. If they dont understand at the moment then perhaps you can catch up with them when your are done. What youre doing is a difficult process and ultimately its for you. So dont worry about it
x

well you know what they say, empty vessels make the loudest noise. Those with an insecurity about their ability can often feel the need to verbalise their 'knowledge' so people dont see that insecurity Ive experienced grandstanders at conferences who ask a question which is actually a long series of comments to point out how learned they are. Does my head in.
I feel for you I hate rudeness especially toward those I respect. Just put it down to experience I suppose.
x

Hello lovelies!!
Im Back.
Had a bit of a productive leave of absence. Finished that awful conference paper I was working on and handed it in. Now im freewriting my way through my thesis.
Also doing lots of training courses to hopefully come out with some professional qualifacations gotta love research training.
How have you guys all been?
How is that elusive work going?

xx

Thats my only advice. Go with your gut feeling. Utilise all your resources which you have at the university. Ive been in touch with careers dept and theyre heping me with my full cv and Ive been teaching and assisting in different practical classes within the univeristy so I can use that also.
You will know yourself!

Never thought id say it but honestly I need to get out of academia, im in my third year and am sick to death of referencing (yes I know I still cant make endnote work)and worrying about whether im writing enough or whatever. Recently I was looking at a few posts available for academics in my field in the USA, LA to be precise and the prospect of it just made me feel tired and I think I realised I dont want to do this for the rest of my life. Thinking about academia makes me feel tired and stressed. I think thats a clear indicator.
Im currently using all the training options I have for professional qualifications within my phd there are some teaching qualifications and project management qualifications. So im getting myself ready for the outside world.

Not to worry, I have a conference in Copenhagen coming up and my paper in my opinion is just awful but im on nice and early, first session first day so Im gonna get it done and dusted and relax.
As much as u can relax at conferences....

Hello!
Well thats me done, conference paper sent to supervisor and I am bloody knackered and my head is killing me. Its far from perfect but its done and I can always redraft.

night night all

hello all! Right so I have foregone any saturday evening merriment and am here trying to kick the ass of my paper to get it done! Well get a good first draft done! Something able to be handed in cos i need to get something in!!!!

Good luck to my fellow hard workers tonight!!!!
x

Thanks everyone for your wonderful messages of support!Must buy endnote!!!!!!

Very similar to yours Lara my supervisor tells me off for writing something changing my mind writing it a different way, then thinking of another way of saying it, carrying on and going back to my first point!
So she says,' Say it, and leave it alone'
or another favourite
'Stop thinking, start writing'

So, I have been fairly happy for two years, reading what Im meant to be reading and now Im 'writing' well supposedly. I've been deluding myself that I'll be fine that all the writing ive done previously will be fine and it will not be much of a problem. But now im just baffled at how difficult this writing up business is, my first drafts are seemingly unattainable, and the constant referencing is just doing my head in.
Who said this PhD was attainable atm im just overwhelmed by the whole thing!

sighs and Hugs D

Hello all,
Ok so im signing in for the day trying this whole paper again making something work.Goodluck for all who are working hard tonight!