I agree with thecoastman. The time I spent studying for my Master's was the most fun I've ever had in my life, and I got a distiction at the end of it all! Because I had a healthy social calendar, all the hours spent working were more focused and a lot less daunting. Of course I had to pass on a few nights out when I had coursework due but then so did all my friends at uni. It's all about balance.

Welcome to England! You made me fondly remember moving into student halls for the 1st time (and not so fondly remember the train journeys every time I wanted to spend a weekend at home)!

When I first applied I panicked, panicked and panicked some more about originality. I finally relaxed when I realised that, while other people might have published work on my general topic area before (and I've since found out a couple of people have), my thesis will still be original and (hopefully!) interesting because my methodology, perspective and conclusions can still be unique. Since I started looking at my work as 'in dialogue' with other research rather than 'in competition' with it, I've been a lot less on edge!

Happy New Year PinkNeuron :)

If I were you I'd write as much as I could, but also make sure I had the rest of the review roughed out in note-form, so that even if the draft was far from complete I'd have plenty to discuss. That'd be significant progress, in my book.