I'm Broo, 25, also studying at a Scottish University. I'm approaching the end of my first year (already??? Aagh!). Very generally my PhD is looking at relationship cognitions and usually when I tell people that they get rather nervous (yes I'm analysing your relationship as we speak... )

I actually find it easier to deal with essays answering the same title first, then looking at the essays looking at the next title etc. I find it lets me stay focused on the one topic as opposed to switching mindsets back n forth. I had to mark essays that weren't in my subject area so I just did a little basic reading into the topic, I also took a look through what was covered in class (I wasnt teaching in the module) so I could identify if anyone did extra reading/their own research outside of what was covered and so were more original and could earn a few extra marks. Does your department not provide you with marking criteria with what the student needs to have done to achieve an A, B etc?

I used to *love* that cartoon! One of the best cartoons ever! For a trip down memory lane:

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v794977F4TfKAG6

I went to my first conference a few months back and what I did was look through other speakers' abstracts to see what their research areas were and just approached them in between sessions. Everyone was very keen to discuss their work and to hear about mine - I'm very shy and so was pretty nervous about it beforehand but people generally love talking about what it is they're researching so I learned a lot about what else is going on 'out there' in the research world

Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows by Lesley Gore. I can't help but laugh whenever I listen to it at how ridiculously over-the-top cheerful it is, it's great, although that might also be because of The Simpsons having used it in an episode but I'd recommend it anyway just for a short burst of happy

I get like this from time to time, I get the feeling that no matter what I read, there's always something else I could/should be reading, and am I wasting time by looking at this paper when I could read another that would be so much more useful and so I get overwhelmed by it and can't concentrate on what's in front of me. Sounds silly, but just approaching each article/book chapter etc one at a time and not thinking of it as the first in a huge pile made me feel calmer. The fact that there will be something useful from each article, some information on methodology, theory, analysis etc also helped. Even if it's just small, you know you will gain something from reading it

Staring out the window. It's amazing how fascinating litter being blown about or people just walking by becomes when you've got work you should be getting on with.

I'm with pamw and olivia on this one - tea and diet coke all the way! And in the evenings, for my sugar rush, a big bowl of cereal - anyone else think it's strange to eat 'breakfast' at night?

Sorry you're feeling like that - I'm only in my first year but can totally relate. I've had moments of absolutely loving what I'm doing, but also times of feeling totally lost, that I'm way out of my depth and just can't bring myself to do any work at all! If it at all helps, when I can't motivate myself, I don't try to force it, I take some time off, do other things totally unrelated to work for a wee while and feel much better for it, refreshed and motivated. So maybe taking a litle break to distance yourself from it would help you to feel less overwhelmed?

Hello from a fellow new person!

I started in october and several lecturers (including both my supervisors) advised me to try to get as many publications as possible during my PhD. At the moment I've submitted two papers, one as first author (which was from work carried out for my undergraduate degree), the other as second author on a subject not directly related to my PhD but on a similar topic. I'm not sure how many I'll manage to submit by the time I finish (needless to say, it's been a bit overwhelming already, balancing time between actual PhD work and extra work) but I have been told that I should try to aim to get at least one of my studies from my PhD work published by the time I finish, but to aim for two or three publications from my thesis overall

Sorry to take some joy from what you wrote, but it is such a relief to hear I'm not the only one whose motivation has totally vanished! I took a week off for Christmas and now I just can't make myself work! I've read papers but in terms of actual planning of studies (just started in october) - nothing. Am hoping the fact that I've got three deadlines coming up in the next couple weeks will 'inspire' me...