I don't believe it is Monday again so quickly. I hope everyone had productive/relaxing weekends.

I have 6 weeks to draft out my literature stuff and methods chapter. Arghh. I have various bits in different documents so my first goal is to figure out where I am up to and my second goal is to write 500 words on a particular topic by lunch time.

Fourth and final analytic chapter drafted and sent to my supervisor. Happy weekend everyone!

I am still here! I have been doing a lot of lurking recently as I can waste quite a bit of time during my working day posting on forums.

I have been working on typing up the last loose ends of my chapter today to send to my supervisor. I am a few days behind schedule (although he isn't officially expecting it until next Friday). I also REALLY want to take the whole weekend off so I must finish it today!

I am hoping to submit this summer, hopefully within the 3 years but if not a month or two after.

I have never worked long hours because it just doesn't work for me. It is important to be consistent throughout the whole thing though.

Attitude and approach to work during the last 12-15 months is definately a deal breaker. I know people who part way into their final year 'accepted' that it might take them longer than the 3 years and so as a result it has done! Generally if you tell yourself something will take a certain amount of time it will do, so it is important to be committed to finishing within the 3 years. if you are relaxed about it you will run over.

You should have a clear plan with deadlines for each chapter during your final year and make sure you meet them. Sounds obvious but again I know plenty of PhD students who haven't set targets.

Working smart is more important than working long hours. It's really easy to find 'relevant' things to do to help you procrastinate. During my final year I decided that if it isn't going to help my PhD or my career then I'm not doing it. E.g. I have presented at a few conferences during my first 2 years so decided not to do any more this year as it is just a distraction.

Morning all. I thought I would join in with this thread again after a bit of a break as I have fairly tight deadlines over the next couple of months.

Today I am working on a chapter which I am *hoping* to have finished by the end of the week. My first goal is to rewrite one section.

Good luck Sneaks, you can do it!

Have fun in Paris Batfink! Reading your to do list today made me feel exhausted.

My journal paper is now submitted. :-)

How annoying for you Sneaks!

It has been a slow morning of writing here. I have tidied up one section but I'm not sure whether I have actually managed to improve it much. Last week I was churning it out but I am in a bit of a slump at the moment.

I am going to move on and sort out and submit my journal paper.

Morning.

Well I didn't manage to submit my article yesterday as there were loads of little bits which took up a lot of time. I will work on my chapter this morning and the last bits for the paper this afternoon.

My first goal is to tidy up one section of analysis.

I did manage my 600 words this morning but they were 600 ANY words so not that great. My next goal is to proofread my journal article, write a biography and keywords and any other bits and then to submit it.

Good luck with the presentation and have a great time in Paris! I had an early start but all I did was roll out of bed and eat breakfast so I didn't actually get up particularly early!

My writing isn't going well this morning. I have managed 100 words because I'm not sure what to write for a particular small section. I am going to have another go at it and then probably break at 10 and get back into it this afternoon.

Morning all. My first goal is to write 600 words before going to the gym at 10.30.

First goal done. My secon goal is to sort out the formatting etc of the data extracts which are going in.

Morning all.

God luck getting back into things Moonblue. Don't panic as these things can't be helped. Just do what you can and once you are well enough focus on making the most of your time.

Today my main goal is to gwt a journal paper ready for submission. First off I need to finish writing the abstract.

I'm in social sciences and I was discussing this with my supervisor last week. 'I' is OK, and he also told me he thinks its better to keep things simple and use e.g. 'in' instead of 'within' and so on because he finds it pretentious to do otherwise. However he also said that I have to respect the fact that it is a PhD thesis and so in opening paragraphs of chapters etc to use 'this chapter' etc instead of 'I'. After spending ages giving me this advice he then told me that actually it is completely up to me and I don't have to accept all of the advice he gives me. He can be confusing at times, haha.