I also need to acquire some pens!

Right- goal 2 is done. Feeling like my chapter is starting to take shape now, albeit very slowly. Running out of steam a bit with it today though. I have a key paper which I only just got hold of to read, so this is goal number 3.

Oh sneaks I hope your dog is OK!

I didn't quite reach my goal this morning, I worked for an hour and a half before having a break to work out, as I am finding the analysis section which I was working on really hard.

This afternoon I am going to put the analysis section to the side and really get on with the background and literature bit. I am going to spend 4 tomatoes doing this and then see where I am up to with things.

Hi all,

I managed to have a really good day yesterday and achieved all of my goals. Today I am going to spend the next 2 hours working solidly on my chapter.

Morning all.

I have made it into the office and have done a few small administrative things. I really need to get on with writing, so my goal is to concentrate on this for the next 2 hours.

Well done getting the presentation out of the way Sneaks!

I didn't manage to achieve my goal today :-( I'm feeling drained and rubbish and couldn't get my brain in gear so ended up doing some reading instead. I don't think it was particularly worthwhile reading either- total procrastination.

I'm going to have an early night and make sure I'm ready to put in some quality time tomorrow morning, before the rest of the day is taken up with meetings. Sigh.

I have had an awful couple of days of being ill. Spent this morning teaching, still feeling ropey but need to try and get on with things this afternoon.

I have emailed my supervisors and set myself an official deadline for a draft chapter, which is 4 weeks away. I've been saying I'll set myself a deadline for ages and then pushing it back, and neither of them are the sort to push their students. But now that I have emailed them both with the date, there it is.

My goal is to work on the analysis for this solidly for the next 2 hours. I really just want to go and lie down but will press on.

Hi all,

I need a kick up the bum today. I am slightly hungover and tired after election drinks and getting up early to teach this morning. My goal for today is to read a few articles and become familiar with a particular area.

I need a kick up the bum today. Went for a run, so started work late, did some teaching prep and then wasted most of the morning panicking because I found out there might have been issues with claiming back some expenses (all sorted now).

Just got back from lunch and voting and need to get on with things this afternoon.

My goal is to do enough so that by 6pm I feel satisfied with my afternoon's progress with a particular section I am writing.

What Sneaks said. I know a girl with an ESRC scholarship who followed her supervisor. What has your supervisor said about it? I'm sure there will be someone official you can contact for advice about the situation.

All you people working in the middle of the night seem crazy to me- I can barely manage to work past 6 o clock!

Just had a positive meeting with my supervisor, who told me the only way to learn how to do my analysis properly is to be prepared to start writing stuff which is crap and then get comments and feedback. So feeling a lot better today and ready to begin tackling some writing!

But goal 1 is to write up some notes from the meeting.
Then goal 2 is to stay in the office until 5 and basically write all day.

I had a bit of a crap day. Wrote a couple of hundred words and now that I have set myself a deadline for writing a chapter, put together a plan but I'm still feeling overwhelmed with it all and not all that confident about my abilities. So far I have been writing odd bits of things which has been okay but the idea of drawing it all together into a coherent chapter is freaking me out for some reason. I'm worried about eventually sending it to my supervisor and it turning out to be utter crap.

I have been looking through the thesis of another student who worked with my supervisor and wondering how I'm ever going to manage to write the bloody thing.

I was advised to speak to him about any worries like this but he is off on sabbatical (although we will be meeting in a couple of months time) and I don't feel like my replacement supervisor knows me well enough to give me reassurance. Oh well, I am tired and today has felt very much like a Monday, I'm sure it will all seem better tomorow after a good sleep!

Oh dear that is pretty rubbish Amanda.

Right, goal 1 is done. I am now going to write 400 words before the end of the afternoon.

Afternoon all,

I hope you are all working productively!

My morning was taken up with teaching. I now need to get a move on with some PhD stuff as I have set myself a deadline to have a draft chapter written for the end of the month. But the first goal today is to prepare for supervision tomorrow.

Morning Emaa! The weather here isn't too bad, no rain yet today!

I can't quite bring myself to do anything too strenuous on a Saturday morning, so my goal is to read a couple of articles.

Oh dear Ev, can you not do goals 2 & 3 without going into the office? Although don't worry about it, we all have our low moments.

I have done my literature stuff- next up I have a very boring paper to read.