I'm also aiming for a march 2010 deadline, and also have "The Fear". Just trying to wrap up my first chapter by the end of July. Deadlines deadlines deadlines helps. I have been doing lots of planning of how things will plan out - I have a table of chapter progress with a column for each phase; data collection, analysis, chapter outline, first draft etc... Every two weeks or so I will reprint to see whether I've met the deadlines in each cell. I also have a week by week plan for the next few months. It's all a bit flexible but helps (although does make me sound rather anally retentive!).
Today I feel rubbish and haven't got much done... :o( very sleepy
It helps to think of things I;ve succeeded at before - a flick through my masters and reminder of what a slog that was helps.
I have mental list of things for the "after phd life" ... have an income, visit friends, go exciting places (and getting plane tickets with Dr Cakegirl on...), do exciting things... it helps to dream!

I've made a mental decision that I will try to be positive and enjoy these last few months. I'm sure I'll miss this part of my life when it's gone - for all the reasons people are listing on the positive thread. Yep it's a mammoth task, but it's my mammoth and soon I'll be choosing colours for my thesis cover.

Re viva outfit - good thinking, I have been discussing graduation outfits with my Mum - advanced planning retail therapy!

Morning EE, I'm having the same "urgency disassociation" which is not helpful given the insane amount of writing I need to do. Also spending the weekend making chapter changes, which I'm sure should be easier than the slog to get the the chapter draft stage. Unfortunately this is my first main chapter and I have months of similar weekends ahead. At least you're nearly finished!
Hope today is more productive for you. You must have worked incredibly hard to get this far, so I'm sure you can squeeze another weekend in. Start by writing a list of all the corrections, then do the easiest first and take great satisfaction in crossing each one off the list.
And don't forget to put a beer in the fridge so it will be a chilled reward this evening :-)

I had a similar problem once with a stray/unloved cat. One day I accidently pushed it out of a 1st floor window - I felt very guilty but the cat never came back.

Incidentally, it's true, cats do land paws downwards, and it wasn't harmed!

Hi Tortellini, You could try "Using Software in Qualitative Research: A Step-by-Step Guide" by A. Lewins and C. Silver. The authors are based at the University of Surrey in Guildford and run really good courses introductory and advanced for NVivo - so if you can find the time/money to get there I recommend it. However, since the courses are good I imagine the book will be too!
Best of luck :-)

Hey Lara, I've been off the site for a while (having my own PhD peaks and troughs!) and just popping in to read occasional threads...I'm so impressed at how hard you have been working :-) Best of luck with the sup email tomorrow.
x

I seem to remember reading a fiction book which had an element of this in it...I think it was a Jodi Picoult novel, but I can't remember which one...I'll have a snoop along my bookshelf when I have a spare moment and see if I can find it for you!

I think it's a great question!

It tells me off if I put the truth!  I am lucky (bah!) enough to be doing an interdisciplinary PhD...which I think may be code for taking on a very big project. Ooops...

Loving the poll function though! 

Must admit the Team GB mens rowers are a rather lovely PhD distraction...

Anyone think we can make procratinating into an olympic sport?

Late night working is such fun!
I like to know I'm not the only owl around. However, tomorrow I have to function by "normal" time limits, so shouldn't stay up too late. Need to do some writing though.

Good luck everyone!

What's a myth?
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A female moth...

The giraffes are sneaky...I couldn't find them anywhere, then I hit post to ask where they are and they turn up in an advert. All I could find on the other page was the man with another man inside his skull.

Does anyone know a giraffe who is doing a PhD? It must be incredibly difficult to type with those big feet, and with your eyes being so far from the screen...

Pen drive...
Widget...
Thingamejigg..
Keeper of all known stuff...

Hey guys,
Related to the holiday theme...does anyone have the problem that when you go on holiday, and finally make your brain switch off, that it takes a looooonnnngggg time to switch on again? Any remedies? I have to take a trip for about 3 weeks in my last year and am terrified I will forget everything and lose my steam (what little I have). This has happened on shorter trips so what will 3 weeks do?!
This summer I will be off for weekends away, a festival here and there but no long holiday until the 3 weeker...
I'll still dream though

Hi Lara,
I've been away for a few weeks, back in PhD world now. You've made so much progress since I was last here...well done! You have such determination to get this finished and I'm sure you will. Keep going but remember to look after yourself and get a bit of space each week to let your brain rest. Well done so far