It's really cheered me up to read this...I felt like I was the only phd student in the world who wasn't doing 12 hour days. I get 'the guilts' really bad about this all the time so it's nice to feel that not everyone is dedicating every hour of their day to work! When i'm in the lab I tend to 9-5 or a bit less if it's microscopes because that gives me a headache. When i'm writing (at the moment) i aim for 9-5/6, usually with an hour for lunch and around an hour faffing/internet etc. If its going really bad I tend to go to bed for a nap around 2/3 then when I wake up i'm ready to start again.

I also feel like as i'm only in the first year there is no point working mega hard and burning out too soon...I have plenty of time for than in the next 2 years!:-)

Thanks very much for that, I think i'm struggling with excepting that it can't be perfect at this stage (i'm 6 months in) and will keep evolving so your advice was really helpful.:-)

Hello

I'm currently trying (emphasis on trying) to do my literature review and I feel like i'm getting nowhere! Its taking over everything else, i.e lab work, presentations etc, and is the only thing I think about. When I have days when i'm working on other things i'm really happy but as soon as I get back to the lit review I get really down. I've read lots of books/articles to help and understand what the lit review is but just can't seem to get anywhere with it, it doesn't help that not much has been written in my subject area compared to other theses in my department which i've read.

Sorry to bring this up again, i'm sure lots of people have complained about the lit review before, but any help would be much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank