I'm so thrilled to have my full time fees paid, but still need to work for all my living costs. Luckily I will start a job in the university library and be close to resources and can get straight to academic work after work...I'm going to bring my dinner in a packed lunch box and fork it in amongst the stacks! lol

Seriously though any top tips for time management when your time is at a mega premium?

I know working several days a week is going to tough, but there is no other option other than to reject the university studentship and do it over six years. Som can anyone comfort me and tell me they know someone who has worked and studied at the same time?

I suppose I'm lucky in that I don't have a relationship or kids, and my friends understand (and some have been through) the whole PhD routine...though all with full funding (damn those science subjects!)

I studied my second BA (would have to last 2 years as I already had a BA, I ended up spending 3 years) while working FT. My BA was by distance learning so this helped a lot. Basically I also planified carefully in advance (maybe at the beginning of each week) what would I be doing each day after work, allowing a minimum of 2 hours each day and 4-5 on Saturday and Sunday. Well, now it seems awful to think that this was my way of life for 3 years, but it wasn´t really that awful (I suppose that was because I loved my subject).

I guess not everybody who studies and works has such a schedule, I would love to be a bit more spontaneous but I felt that I need one in order to avoid procrastination.

Hej!

Thank you for your advice, both of you. It is always good to hear about other peoples time management tips. I think I'll plan my PhD every week i.e journal articles and chapters to read, and I can always use my breaks to eat lunch and work. Today I've made my evening meal in a lunch box and will be burning the oil in law library (not my PhD area, but with huge sash windows, massive desks and quiet mega stressed law students it is the perfect working environment!) I admire those who manage to do a PhD with family. I know I would find that VERY hard.