Aw congratulations! Time to party, woohoo!

Hi DotDot681,

You are definitely not the first, or only PhD student to feel this way! Especially when you've left a secure job to start something as big and as scary as a PhD! Please be reassured that they way you are feeling is completely normal. I was terrified in the first 6 months of my PhD that I'd made a huge mistake in leaving my job and was so worried that I wouldn't be able to do it. I'm now half way through my last year and I have a full draft of a thesis under my belt (bar the conclusion chapter!). So if I can do it, anyone can! As Lughna pointed out below, I think it would be a really good idea to sit down with your supervisor and talk to them about how you're feeling. They will be able to reassure you, or give you constructive advice.

Just a little aside - please don't compare yourself to other students - I tortured myself comparing myself through the first few months and felt like I was so behind! The truth is, each PhD is an individual project and progresses at a different pace. You might feel like you're behind now but in a few months you could feel completely differently. I know I did!

Finally, try not to think of the PhD as a whole goal to achieve. Set yourself little goals, as suggested below, like writing a literature review, a methods chapter, etc etc, and you'll get there before you know it.

If you really feel like you want to quit, then you need to tell somebody at the university, BUT I would say, especially in today's job climate, that you should find a job to go to first. You have nothing to be ashamed of if you quit. We're all here to talk to :-)

Hi Jenstallon,

Yes it works quite well - I've found it really useful to have set myself goals publicly, I feel awful if I don't achieve them! But I'm not doing very well today :-( I've had a bit of bad news this morning which has upset me a bit, but I need to put it to one side for now and deal with it later! I must get my goal achieved!!!

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Hi Heidi,

Tricky... I'd be tempted to try and read it myself over the weekend then stick with the original hand in date, however I guess it would be better to ask for an extension rather than submit and then get corrections... however I guess if you ask for an extension then it'll delay your viva right? Is there no way you'll be able to read it through by Monday?

I guess what I'm trying to say - badly - is that it's your choice whether you do corrections now, or after viva. But it might be better to submit a polished thesis in a month's time rather than end up with major corrections afterward. Gosh I've confused myself now - I'm in the middle of writing up myself so my brain is everywhere, sorry! :-)

Good morning everyone,

Up bright and early - literally! Yay for sunshine :-) I didn't really have a very productive day yesterday in terms of writing, but I did a lot of thinking so I'm going to be cracking on with my chapter today.

Goal 1: To get final analysis chapter re-structured into new sections

As it's quite a mess at the moment, I envisage this goal taking me quite a long time today!

Hope everyone has a good and productive day (up)

Morning all,

Oh Button, nightmare! I can definitely sympathise with you, I would be livid and very stressed too! Hope it all gets sorted for you!

I'm a bit headachy/queasy this morning (seems to happen when I spend too much time looking at the screen like yesterday - see post from a few weeks ago!) so I'm going to do a bit of reading away from the screen. Hope you all have a good day :-)

Great post Batfink, really helpful (up)

Right, I've had enough for today, somehow I've managed to read and make changes to the whole chapter so I'm spent all my mental energy for one day! I will see you all back here bright and early tomorrow!

Have a great evening everyone :-)

Hi,

I think it's just one of those things, just because someone is your supervisor/advisor, it doesn't mean you're going to get along. I don't spend any "social" time with my supervisor and nor do any of my colleagues spend time with theirs socially. I'm not sure about other people on this forum but I think it's rarer to have a close relationship.

Stop worrying so much - just treat it as a professional relationship and you'll be fine!

As for the lab manager, I'm afraid I don't have one so I can't help with that. But I guess it's just a case of getting to know them and working out how much help you can ask for. I would go for polite professional and see how it progresses from there.

hehe know the feeling well Button ;-) I find that if I'm struggling to work sometimes it is better to get away from the desk for a bit and then sit down when I'm feeling less agitated! But if it's critical you get this work done then try breaking it into smaller chunks then reward yourself when you've done them?

Morning everyone!

Hope you're all doing ok this morning! I think I counted out the other day that I've moved 10 times in my entire life which is far, far too many!

Thanks for your support with the diagram - I have sketched something that looks ok-ish but it's getting it into an electronic form that I'm going to struggle with! I'm not going to do anything else to it now though until my supervisors have seen it and given it approval!

Well today I am mostly going to be getting on with making amendments to my second analysis chapter, good luck today everyone (up)

It sounds like you've made your mind up - if you want to quit then you definitely should, as long as you've thought about it. I would also recommend making sure you have a job to go to before you quit! Good luck!

Hi everyone,

Sounds like you're all busy and getting on well with your work so well done! And hope the move went well Batfink, I hate packing and then unpacking with a passion! Hope it goes ok!

I'm working on a diagram/graphical representation of my findings today which I thought about over the weekend but so far it's not going very well - I can't draw to save my life either which doesn't help! I might have to enlist the help of an arty friend if the diagram makes it into the thesis! Hurray for talented friends!

Agree - I think it would be interesting to study the effects of doing a PhD on mental health! I'm not finished yet but I would say this experience has definitely pushed me to my limits! Having said that, it's also taught me a lot about myself so it's a bit of a double edged sword!

I would go for it, personally! It might be worth running it past your second sup just whilst you're waiting for a new main supervisor though, just to keep them in the loop.

Well done you - really glad you're getting it all sorted, that's great news (up)

hehe Button! Take it your hubby is a football fan?!

It's really easy to get overwhelmed isn't it, but I think breaking it down into little goals helps. I never thought I'd actually get to where I am now but it's all been done by approaching it one step at a time. You're a star, you'll get there :-)

I've had lunch now but I'm struggling with what to do next... Also have that Friday feeling ;-)