What a strange feeling......its I think what they call in marathons running, hitting the wall, where you have just expended all of your body's resources, you literally have exhausted yourself.....and I am exhausted. Is it a cumulative effect? is it just for the day and I will feel fresh tomorrow? I am doing all of the common sense things about eating right, exercising moderately, getting enough sleep, trying to take enough breaks, socialising, etc. While I do feel pressure, I am not feeling unduly stressed or depressed or etc. But I do not feel refreshed from one day to the next--my brain feels tired, like its climbing up a steep mountain everyday.

I have some vision of the film Amadeus, where he wrote so many compositions in such a short time that he exhausted himself. By no means am I either working that hard nor producing that level of genius, butI guess the point being that mental strain and work takes its toll on your body.

I even found a website where you can check your biorhythms.......hmmm....mine for today say that I am on a physical and mental upslope of the curve, about half way through the cycle, so that is good news, things will get better! But emotionally, its like the bottom of the curve.....interesting! Seven days from now should be better... at least according to my biorhythms. Why fight it? Turning off computer and calling it a day!

I've been like that recently. I sent off 4 chapters on Tuesday night, had to go to work for a few days though it wasn't really busy and I've been like a zombie woman since then. I do all the sensible things too, but it seems to take me longer to shake off deadline exhaustion these days. Maybe it is cumulative, which is a bit scary when I think how far there is still to go.... I'm trying to pace myself more and not end up working late nights for last-minute deadlines, as I don't want to get ill finishing this thing, but there's always so much to do. It really does seem to be a mammoth feat of human endurance sometimes, at least for me anyway - definitely the hardest thing I've ever done! How long have you to got to go with yours, if you don't mind me asking?

Thought I would revive this thread rather than start a new one on the strange effects of writing up...I have productive days and less than productive days, and momentary feelings of panic about getting things done.....its not fun! I also seem to have befriended a persisent migraine headache, day three and running....:-s but not so bad that I can't function. I just pretend its not there to the best of my ability.....Not sleeping that great, but still managing to get enough, appetite like a horse, looking forward to the weekend and hopefully a long snooze to catch up on sleep!

How is everyone else doing

Your experience sounds familiar to mine - except I'm fortunate not to have a migraine - hope it gets better soon. I'm finding my 'productivity' levels worryingly low - as I'm aiming to get my final draft complete by the end of january (minus appendices, etc). Although I'm not aware of feeling stressed, I'm also having problems sleeping (very unlike me). I keep hoping that my subconscious stress would transform into more productive energy and focus!

I've been like that too, but minus the headaches luckily. It's really stressful this writing up phase. I handed in my big draft this week, and I'm amazed at how much better I feel mentally, I'm still physically exhausted, but it honestly feels like the first time I'd actually got a grip on the whole thesis and it started looking like a thing with an end in sight. It's different to handing in chapters, as they're all parts of one whole rather than giving you an idea of the entire thesis, but to put them all together is very satisfying. Just do what you're doing anyway, look after yourself and keep on plodding. Like Lara said once, everything you do is going towards the final thesis and makes a difference, so even on not so productive days, that's better than nothing. It is nice to be able to rest for a week or so though, and catch up with normal domestic stuff and friends and family. Until the feedback comes in and then it's back on the case again for me, sleepless nights and all.

writing up made me need glasses because of eye strain (I had constant headaches and sore eyes)..get your eyes checked out and tell the optician that you get lots of headaches - they can prescribe some specs that help with close work/computer screens. Look after your health and your health will look after you!
Good luck with the writing- keep going!

x

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and sympathy. I may see about getting my eyes checked, these headaches are killer.