Hi. This is my first post. I'm about 7 months into a PhD on cinema. I guess my first question is - are their any other humanities/arts postgrads here? I'm finding that, as solitary as PhD research can be, its doubly so when you don't really have anyone else in your field to chat with.

I think I've made decent progress so far. I've taken notes on the majority of writing in my topic area (admittedly, it's not a large area). I've written a rough lit review and several essays worth of film analysis. And I've just started to put together some dot points for my confirmation. However, it feels like I'm completing nowhere near the 32 hours a week that the uni recommends.

Part of this has to do with me working 3-4 days a week. I can usually only study for a few hours at a time, which chokes any sense of momentum. I'm also discovering what a slow reader I am. It'll take me a whole day to cover 20-page article (let alone a book!). Although, as I cover more material, I'm finding myself able to skim through new articles that cover similar material, which is nice. Any tips on how to get faster at read/note-taking?

When I told the other first-years (all in their 30s and 40s) that I was also working part-time, they were surprised. My supervisors seemed surprised as well, and noted that full-time PhD students used to not be allowed to work. But I don't have a scholarship (haven't published anything) and so I kind of have to work (you know, for food, shelter, etc.). Besides, I love my job, and i find I it keeps me more motivated and active, and provides a nice daily routine. As opposed to my Honours year, where for portions I wasn't working, and would sleep in and fall into lethargic ruts.

Not really sure where I'm going with all this. Overall, I guess I'm happy with where I am at the moment, but I harbour an overriding dread that I'm way behind where I should be. I guess it's not apparent now, since I'm just expected to read and take notes (which I am), but come second year, I'm wondering if I'll be able to produce a 100,000 word thesis, while also working 40 hours a fortnight.

Does anyone else have trouble juggling work and study? Anyone worried they're not putting in enough hours? For example, I would love to treat the PhD like a job - clocking into my desk at 9 and then leave at 5, but my work schedule just dices that all up. And do people find time for socializing and leisure? Surely nothing but work and study dulls the mind. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. :)

This would really depend on how focused you are when you work. My guess is most PhD students do around 4 hours of focused work a day. So in my opinion you would be fine, as long as you did focused work in the hours that you worked. No FB, Twitter, or this forum! Best of luck