it seems to be such a difficult balance deciding when to push on and 'just do another hour' and when it would be best to rest.
I had a rubbish day yesterday - crying all the time and getting overwhelmed with the fact that 'I am going to be a Mum!'
I guess that in a few months time I will wonder what all this worry was about. PhD theoretical and methodological summaries will be the last thing on my mind when dealing with a newborn!

Must crack on...one more hour then I'll call it a day, it is Friday after all.

I'm making some small steps forward. Today I completed a chapter...and it feels great to move onto the next one in a positive frame of mind.

Jepsonclough - Thank you for your story - it has inspired me to 'just get on with it'

...and I am going to make a concerted effort to not be too self-critical or analyse my productivity levels too much. Just keep plodding on.

Crikey...anyone who has read my previous posts will know that I started this PhD with awful health circumstances...and the pregnancy side-effects are no-where near as bad as that. I can do it! I will just have to make sure there is plenty of food in the freezer, forget the housework (which is pointless anyway in the midst of DIY!) and if working in the chaos is too bad I'll have to work on my laptop at the library or my Parent-in-laws house.
Where there is a will there is a way...and at least I am not currently sleep-deprived and surrounded by nappies etc!
M.;-)

======= Date Modified 10 Sep 2010 13:19:26 =======
I managed 4 hours today....but still haven't completed re-editing chapter 1, which I hoped would have been completed on Monday! What a duff week.
Thanks for the words of support Artista and AQ.
I have decided to try to relocate when the worst of the building work is being done - and some friends are coming to help. My hubbie is trying to be lovely and doesn't want me to do any DIY or worry about it....I just can't help being nosey though. And normally I LOVE getting involved with renovations!
(How does Sarah Beeny do it - all those children and lots of houses renovated and books written!)
Must go and eat and sleep now...I'm shattered.

I'm feeling a bit under pressure guys! I have 3 months until my submission date. I thought I was on track to submit my final draft in six weeks time but it is taking SO LONG. To add to my worries I am 5months pregnant, exhausted, and my other half is ripping my house to pieces to install a nice new kitchen before the baby comes.

I am using the pomodoro technique for time management, and trying to resist the urge to be a perfectionist, but it seems SO hard. Perhaps its my squiffy pregnancy hormones...I can't seem to think straight, and am stupidly emotional, and exhausted. I can only manage two or three hours a day...at this rate I'll never get it done!

I just NEED to get this thesis completed before my baby arrives! I think I need a bit of moral support from you lovely forumites!
Any words of wisdom?
Matilda

Calvino
If you do take this on...and there are people on this thread that do it...may I recommend using all the time management skills and short-cuts at your disposal to make the most of your work time.

I was very ill at the beginning of my Phd and could only devote 2 or 3 hours a day-sometimes less- so I made sure that I used them very well.

I devoted some time at the beginning to....
...learning to speed-read ( essential in the humanities like me!)
...making sure I structured a system to organise my research ( so I did not waste time looking for lost stuff) ( There are plenty of books out there with titles such as "Organising and managing your research")
...using the Mind-map technique ( My disabilities uni advisor gave me some software for this...so you may be able to track some down)
...I found a quite place to study ( it is human nature to let yourself get distracted by others and more fun stuff!)
...I have voice-activated typing soft-ware ( again it take a little time to get used to in the beginning, but has save me HOURS!)
and...
...later I discovered the Pomodoro Technique on this forum. It is amazing, and really helps focus.

I used to be quite conscientious, rather a swot, before the PHD. But now I can get some much more done than when I studied previously. Sorry if I am advising stuff that you already know!
Some management guru's use the phrase "work smarter, not harder". It can be achieved! I am close to completing my Thesis in 3 and a half years, despite not slogging away for hours each day ( and I don't work weekends either! That's family time)

Oh...and when I lived in London the commute killed me! If you can manage to work during that wasted time you will be doing well...or just use it for some thinking or relaxing/meditating time.

Matilda

Sneaks

Not sure about USB warmers.

But I had an insulated mug with lid from Starbucks that did the trick ( It didn't make my tea taste as bad as the cheapo travel ones.)

Now it doesn't work as well, 'cos I left it in the uni research centre and someone threw away the lid! Argghhhh
Matilda

======= Date Modified 18 Aug 2010 09:43:09 =======
I'm at the desperate stage of using the "Find and Replace" function in Word to change the names of organisations to their initials.

So, for example I put "......The Society of Desperate Editors" ( hereafter referred to as 'SDE')" at the first instance then get clicking away to change the rest of the text. I saved 110 words in the last chapter just by doing that.

And I agree with Queerface's advice too. Get rid of "This thesis has argued that....X is important" and rephrase as "Arguably X is important"

Each uni is different - I check that our Grad school does NOT include footnoes ( that is quite a saviour!)
Matilda

Rick..
No, I'm not a medical researcher, I am in the humanities.
But during my illness I gave permission for the researchers to use me as a case-study...and I went to the academic centre on several occasions to let student doctors learn from me. I feel rather an expert on my condition now!
But I have become aware, from myself and observing others, that stress and health are inextricably linked.
Research is important...but health is more so!

Sue....I wish you well.
Matilda

Yes...Life challenges do put the whole thing into perspective.

I remember being incredibly stressed when doing my BA and MA theses....but after some major health issues that I had to overcome whilst starting my PhD I realised that life needs balance.
I hope you don't mind if I indulge myself and brag about my life history....I hope it will help others who are having challenges realise what can be achieved. (and I am so darned proud of myself!)

I was classed as disabled when I started my PhD research...with a pain and mobility condition that hospital consultants could not fathom....the prognosis was not good. But having research to do through my illness gave me another focus. I only managed little 'baby steps' each day, but I learnt to approach things differently.
Doing my PhD helped me recover ( I did not dwell on how rubbish my life felt when I was when disabled) But also... my illness helped me approach study in a more balanced way.
Now, I am not a huge bundle of stress when approaching the deadline....and I have the life challenges of the last few years to thank for that.
Of course lots of support, physio, therapy, Yoga, meditation, and hypnotherapy helped too.

But when I started my PhD I did not know whether I would ever walk again...or even get anywhere near producing any research.
Now....I can walk ( and run....I did a 5K a few weeks ago!)
...I have managed to produced a half-way decent first draft
...and I am going to have a baby too!

I have learnt not to get too stressed about my research, and used the Pomodoro technique ( I only do about 4 or five hours each day!)

So please...everyone. Don't kill yourself with self-inflicted pressure as you enter the final stages. Put the darned ting into perspective. And if you don't use the pomodoro time management technique I wholeheartedly recommend it!
thinking of you all... it has also been great to have this forum for support!
Matilda

AQ

How did it go????

Matilda

Mmmm!
I have discovered Baklava ( sp?) Fantastic for a sugar rush!
Also rather keen on Cadburys Caramel nibbles - amazing how I quickly I can get through a bag. So much more luxurious that my undergraduate days when I survived on own-brand chocolate digestives!
Matilda

Greygeek

Yes that "appointable" status is rather vague isn't it!?
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
My hope, each time, was that as Brick universities are getting fuller, and more expensive, I hope more students might take the OU option, and I get a job! They are certainly getting a younger demographic of students now since the top up fees were introduced.
Keep us posted!
Matilda

The feedback was good and although I do have some re-structuring to do it seems to be manageable.
I also have to learn to not "sit on the fence" and be more direct about what I want to say.


Anyway I now have some firm dates....so I'd better get on with doing those revisions and edits!

Best of luck to all those in a similar situation!
M

Nervous tonight because I have a 2-hour feedback session on my first draft with Both supervisors....Now frantically trying to re-read the whole of my draft before tomorrow ( 2 chapters to go )

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to make good plans for when I complete the darned thing!
I want to concentrate on shopping for baby stuff and chosins baby names etc! MUST CONCENTRATE ON THESIS!

Great post Helena

How honest of your supervisor to admit that...perhaps it is the sign of a good academic!

Matilda