Congrats on sitting the viva and passing with minor coorections.This might not be relevant but I really would like to know how long it took you to finish your PhD, from the starting point until you sat for the viva.

This won't be much help but what about looking at the recommended reference guide : Harvard referencing guide or the one thats related to your subject area. I am sure that these books are in your "reference only section".

Adding on.. I will be finishing my second year in near future and the feelings of self-doubt and blues keep coming on and off. To me it was so bad during the first year, I kept repeating this "I'm not good enough" thing to myself. But life goes on and now I see a much more wider picture thats not too bleak. So, its all about how you keep motivating yourself and doing the work even when it feels like the last thing you want to do. There are phases in this PhD marathon as I understand and different tactics are used, some run slow in the beginning, some in the middle etc.. so cheer up and start doing little bits and pieces of work then you will get to point when you realise you have actually done something good.

By all means try to finish as soon as possible but do not make any hard rules such as "2 years". Just concentrate on your work for the moment and you will finish with better quality with much more concentration on your work and less stress to finish on a specific day or year. These kind of hard rules will only make your life a hell and have a negative impact on the quality of your research.

Good Luck! Let us know how u got on

I can slightly disagree with others and say that I have found that "perfect for me" is only a personal opinion. So,as time went by I have found that I will do my best under the circumstances even though not perfect to my standard. I do have a more open opinion towards others criticisms and praise about my work, so I do take on board them and do what ever I can with that. I think when I came to a point that made me realise that I would never be able to finish my PhD if I carry on being a perfectionist and holding on to the idea that its my precious research, I changed to doing the best I can. But I am yet to see if this is the right approach as I have not finished

This is interesting as it changes with time.I do email a lot during busy periods and disguise my rants and raves in a professional manner. It got better as time went and in emergencies I do call my supervisor. In corridors and passing by moments we usually just smile or say a word or two about work. Although I always keep a bit distance from our private and work life, sometimes there are times it cannot be avoided and we do talk about them in a casual manner. But never the coffee or beer in the pub moments.

Hi, lilliput, if u read the posts I have been in that black hole and doing the same thing (reading gossip columns in interent). So, maybe we both should get are lazy backs off the chairs and start to do somethings, I'll keep in touch to see how u got on. I started on reading and making some notes today and looked over a draft chapter that I should have finished nicely a month ago. I think if we manage at least 500 words a day probably there would be something in the end.

Its nearly four days since I last tried to talk myself to work BUT I have become such a lazy person, it makes me so stressed. Tomorrow is another hill to climb, so hope I can get something done, really guys this is getting out of hand and I am in big trouble when I see the super.

I kind of felt that way about the feedback I was getting from my superviors during the early days. They hinted that I was not up to the standard. I got so upset and dreaded going to meetings for a while. But once you develop a thick skin (you need that) for those comments and try to see if they are really true comments and if not start fighting back with facts and evidence from the literature, that way you will be able to develop the strength to go beyond personal and emotional feeling and see the points. good practice when you face the crticis of your work later in the years. The time is still ahead for you to develop, so dont be too hard on yourself, its a learning curve.

Now then, I have to write a reply because this was a questtion bugging me for the past three weeks as I didn't do anything or anything that could count towards my PhD probably since x'mas. By the way I'm in social sciences. I am absolutely terrified that my supervisor is going to figure this out. Everyday after x'mas I thought it would be that day I would start working, actually I did read half a paper and made some notes but thats about it. Got the motivation to finish this Phd somehow, but the last few weeks has been a nightmare and everyone around me thinks I'm having an easy ride, which bothers me more. OK thats it I am going to start from TODAY, even though half the day is gone already, but there is plenty of time in the night. It's the weekend..I know! but this is freaking me out....I need to get back to my work

funny ..? long !

cycle or circle they are both round and has no end, I think its the cycle wheels I am taking about. No, its not its the cycle of life which goes round and round. What goes around comes around. So as Mista said, its coming any minute now...the blues..the hate moments and etc..out of this world..out of any words...

Again..after failing get any work done today due to so many factors like internet and lack of energy etc. It looks like I have to finish things during the weekend. I always try not to do this but yet again..how am I ever going to get a normal life ?

I have been away from this site for a long time. But, surprise the longest thread is STILL there and I have to say its better to hook up to this than do my work (tons of it!)