Hi fellow travellers

Ahh, have hit a wall. Worked solidly all week-end finishing an article with my supervisor, and doing a powerpoint presentation for a conference paper, and have been having trouble getting back into revising the latest chapter. Am tired and overwhelmed. Am working in an non-thesis related job during the day, and once I go to the gym then come home and have dinner, it's almost 9pm and am too tired to work...and to think I used to do that all the time...

Am procrastinating and feeling guilty. I know all the tricks - just do a little bit, rewards etc etc, but these aren't working. I've set the submission date - 18 June - which is 150 days away. Not long! Thought that might panic me into working, but I just feel tired and overwhelmed. Have gone out and picked up brochures from the travel agents so I can think about a post-submission holiday, and instead, I daydream about having a holiday, instead of writing.

Oh well, only another week and a half of the tedious day job, then I go to an annual conference, which always inspires me...

Musing in the void, forgive the rambling...just another form of procrastination....

Well done Walminski!! Excellent you got thru a nasty sounding piece of work! I have no idea what your last post means - you're talking a different langauge to me - but well done!

Everyone has given good advice. Another thing that helps keep me going is using a timer - see http://www.mytomatoes.com. This runs for 25 minutes, then you're allowed to have a break. I can motivate myself to keep going if I know I've only got up to 25 minutes to do, then I can surf the net or whatever for 5 minutes, then back into it again. You also list here what you've done, so can see progress, and this helps too.

When I'm really lacking motivation I use the chat room at http://www.phinished.org/. People work together there - again for 25 minutes with everyone working, then 5 minutes of chat. It makes you accountable to others you're virtually working with - also really helps, but don't procrastinate reading the emails on this site!

Just start with a little bit, and keep going. Good luck!

Hi there

Doing a PhD part-time in 4 years also sounds unrealistic to me. I'm in social sciences, and like KB, have also always put in 40-50 hours a week, more now that I'm writing up. I'll have done mine in the equivalent of 3.5 years full-time. It's even slower going when you're part-time and have other work commitments, as it's hard to get momentum - you need to get back into the head space of studying and thinking about your area each time. I do far more in 3 stright days that I could do in the same number of hours spread over weeks. Try and find blocks of time. Good luck!

It also depends on how many other activities you take on. If you write journal articles and conference papers, then you might need to put in more hours. I've done this and find that I work 40-50 hours a week, now that I'm writing up it's more like 60+ hours a week. But there do appear to be a lot of students who stick to the 9-5, so it does seem possible for some people.

Hi Bilbo and Tsipat

Hope things are coming along well for you Bilbo. And Tsipat, I'm here, altho it's not Sat nite but Sun morning. But if it makes you feel any better, I always study on a Sat nite - always, always. I like studying then, am fairly rested not having to do paid work during the day, so I don't mind. Maybe you need to treat yourself - if you know you're going to be in working, make sure you have a really nice dinner. Food becomes all important when there's nothing else. Cheer up, we'll all get there.

Hi Kizzy

I did an OS uni visit, but it wasn't for as long as that, it was only for a couple of weeks. My uni had a partnership with a US uni, and so I knew who I was going to be working with. Beforehand I organised a study tour for myself - I emailed all the experts in my area, sent them background info about my research and then went and interviewed them all. They all provided really useful feedback. I think if I was going for a 3 mth visit, I'd have a discreet research project in mind, one that could only be done by visiting that country. I'd use it as a small research project which would fit into the larger research in my thesis. In my case, I'm using some theories developed by American academics, and so I used my visit to talk to academics about these. I also interviewed some industry people too.

Could you think of something along these lines maybe? Go to a campus which specialises in your area, work with academics on a small research project to support your larger one?

My 2 weeks were invaluable, not only for the knowledge I gained, but also for the self confidence it gave me, knowing that I could get around by myself in another country, something I'd never done before and which I was really nervous about. Go for it!

Well done Walminski!! That's excellent!!!(up)

Make the most of it. I presented at a major conference in my discipline last year, and organised beforehand to have lunch with 2 of my international examiners (tho they don't know I want them to examine my thesis yet), and also schmoozed a lot. These things are the best, they make all the drudgery and pain worthwhile.

Good for you!

Hi Keith

Can you get an extension? My scholarship was due to run out in 2 months, but I've been successful in getting an extra 6 mths of funding.

I agree with your friends - try and concentrate on just getting finished. Are you sure it will take you another 6-12 months? Have you done a plan - could it take less if you went beserk and threw yourself into it? If I needed just enough to keep me going for another few months and couldn't get the scholarship extended, I think I'd take out a loan from the uni - anything so I could continue to keep studying and be done with it. Failing that, working part-time would be the next best option.

I don't think it's the sitting down so much, I think it's a lack of exercise and being sedentary in general which causes students to put on weight, including on the bum. So - do some exercise to keep the weight down. I've discovered cycling is also excellent for toning the behind.

A study also came out this week, widely reported in the media here, that watching lots of TV reduces your life span. 'Ha', I thought smugly, 'won't affect me, I'm virtuous and study all the time, and don't watch crap tv'. But no, turns out it's not watching TV per se - it's being sedentary. Can't win! Studying is good for warding off Alzheimers, now we find we lose anyway! So - move around, get up and take breaks at least.

Hi Ev

Don't starve yourself - you need to eat to fuel your body so you can funtion properly! And starvation diets don't work - while you may lose weight initially, your body would react by hanging onto some fat in case there's lean times again. So, you'd eventually put the weight back on.

I'm afraid the best way to lose weight is to eat sensibly, and exercise (not fun, but there you have it!). You need to expend more energy than that you're taking in from food. And it will take a while. Also remember that alcohol is fattening. Says me, who's also trying to lose a Christmas belly, but it's Friday nite and a beer awaits!

Hmmm, and since I don't know CDWM either - not even sure it's on here - am also in the dark. But I do know how to behave at a dinner party (not that I go to any, anymore!!). I've brought a nice bottle of sauv blanc, have helped myself and poured some for you all, and am currently rifling thru your CDs, being appalled that they're not in alphabetical order. And their contents Walminski! But wait! I've brought a CD of some nice 60s lounge music, perfect to go with canapes and wine.

Yes, that's right, I have 6 months to go in my thesis...wait, don't walk away...

Hi there

This might not be appropriate - we have a different process in my country, but could you call the potential supervisors? Just as an intro and just tell them about your project, have a general conversation, get some informal feedback, have a chat, let them know you're applying. You'll find out stuff. They'd be used to students contacting them, and would probably think you're keen. It'll be important phone calls for you, but just another student for them - I'd phone them. Good luck!

Hi Vismaya

Your question is too vague for us to offer a meaningful reply - can you tell us what stage you're up to, what exact difficulties you're having? Do you have a supervisor? They should be giving you guidance on how to start and then do the research. People here can help, but we need more information.