I do my normal job during the day time and study at night and in the weekend (yet not always as I do not want to kill myself!)

Still quite tough though

Fluffymonster,

congratulations, well done!!
Obviously stay in contact to share your success, which will also encourage the ones who are not as far as you yet

Again, celebrate yourself

You have got my sympathy as well
I agree that the whole thing is not easy, yet you seemed to have made good progress so far if you are asked to have it publised!

Thanks Nimrod81

I am considering the same: Setting a tight scheme regarding finishing the reading and starting the writing.
Obviously there is a risk of missing things or assuming things which you may not be able to control (like you research population etc.) yet that's problably part of it (and part of life)

From where are you in Spain?

Hi Nimrod81

yet would that not be a reason for a paradigm shift?
I mean people are getting older all the time and social systems are probably going to collapse unless "old people" work longer.
Also the idea of a lifelong job seems no longer realistic

What do you think?

I notice that I have been reading a lot over the last several months, yet have not made much progress regarding the actual research.
Have the feeling that I could read forever, still coming across new things and also finding and getting the literature is time consuming.

How do people do this? When do you say I read enough, do you set deadlines? Or any other means to keep you on track?

Hi Oldguy

I agree with the other students.

There was a question some time ago regaring age of students and this showed that there was a wide range, 27 would be in the middle I would think.

Obviously there are people of 60 who are young in mind and people of 20 who have very conservatist views

Maybe you are wiser / more experienced now?

Give it a try!

Would you consider restarting a PhD?

I presume you earn more now, would that be an issue withholding you? Or are there other factors?

Just curious..

maybe he reads the messages of this forum

Hi Katarina

I think the university in Bath provides something like that, although have no personal experience.
Maybe try their website.

Hi plumshower

just a few tips:

To be motivated you need to "value" what you are working on: Is the PhD important for you? If not it will be difficult to motivate yourself.
You need to see a result of puttung in effort: thus make a chart/ keep a logbook writng down progress. It helps to have specific goals.

You need to "belong": try and get in contact with people who are in a similar situation and start up a study group (or join in discussions on the forum).

You need to have a feel of equity; you should not put in more effoet than your peers.

Hope this helps

Marbeaux

I think it was a courageous first step that you have spoken to him. It is not a surprise that he does not see there is a problem; as you indicated yourself often these people lack insight and "do not play ball" .
As you do feel there is a problem you could / should now discuss this with your (and his) supervisor. It is also a good idea to write these things down.
I have learned regarding these issues to tackle them at an early stage and to document what you are doing.

Marbeaux,

yet maybe you lack assertiveness. If you do not let him know that you are unhappy regarding his behaviour it probably will continue (or gets worse). It is therefore important to say something like;" ... I have noticed that you are not doing your job/ sharing information etc. Is there a specific reason? If not could you ...."
Also makes yourself feel better

oz,

thanks,

I now have my driving licence (via the consultate and german authorities).

Related to the topic:

Is changing your driving licence required? I once lost my driving dutch driving licence and that had a lot of trouble getting a new one as I had (previously)not changed it into a german one. Dutch authorities did not want to give a new one and German authorities did not know me.

I pressume cars and driving licences are OK in a foreign country until something goes wrong and you are dealing with DVLA and alike.