Hi JA,
that's a familiar feeling! At times I really hate all this academic lark...But, some things I've found helpful - for me a central problem is feeling that I don't write 'good enough' text - so at problem times I give myself freedom to write poor text, just write down things I know already and want to say (rather than indepth text with hardcore scientific debate). I also think of my writing as drafts which I will rewrite in due time.

The same works with reading too - I try to 'fool myself' to browse through a book/article, or read it while eating, or even go to a pub to read (this can backfire though!) - often I end up getting inspired of it!
Also, I don't know what you are doing, but for me it helps to change from one topic to another - instead of lit review think of methodology etc

Well, there's my good ideas - and I should really try to get into work now myself... not doing too good today either :-/

Yeah dark chocolate is a good opion - i find that it's so strong I eat less of it but still get my sweet tooth content for a while...

Cryogenics - great to hear of your colleagues lifestory, I know there are people who do that, manage with family and uni/career. And then there are people like me who do want it all but have not (this far) done much to make it real... instead waiting for the 'right time' (hah! when ever will that come...). Not impressed of the week either... but thanks for that information oz...

We should all have a strike and make babies! :D and stay out of work and uni

(ps as a sideline about state support & pregnancy, in Finland you get a 'maternity box' from state, filled with baby clothes, nappies etc - and the box can even be used as a bed for first weeks! I do love that idea :) http://www.vauvat.net/aitiyspakkaus/isokuva.jpg)

...are my comfort foods to get through the long days of working. What's yours?
I have at times changed to herbal teas (some are good enough) and to fruits (can't really compete with chocolate!).
My only worry is how big I'm gonna be at the end of 3yrs of PhD with sitting my computer muching chocolate!

Hi Vicky,
I don't know about sciences, but for me (social sciences) email lists have been really useful, you get lot of information about phd places, funding, jobs, conferences etc. You should be able to find something if you google e-mail lists + science/ biomedical / cancer research etc.
Hope you get lucky

Cheers for the good comments. That's a very good point that you made Corinne of if there are people there I'd want to meet. I'll go through the conference programme so - and will also think a bit more of what I could put into my poster...
(ps so glad I found this forum for all phd anxiety :)

(continuing)
As you can probably read of that post, I'm very much thinking of not doing the conference, but feel kinda that it's 'giving up' and I should stick to it etc... uff...

Help! Comments and ideas needed!

I've got my abstract accepted for a conference, but not as a presentation but as a poster instead. I am now wondering if I should cancel the whole thing, because:
1. I'm in my first year, so I don't have any data to present (the idea for the presentation was to talk of theory & my plans, but I'm finding it really hard to compress these to a poster)
2. The conference is not my main field, but interesting enough. I was there last year and though it would be 'nice' and quite useful too to go again.
3. I'm getting good work done now with my literature review and feel I would benefit more of continuing this than going for a semi-useful conference for couple of days and trying to get back to work after that...

All comments and experiences etc very welcome!!

The sad thruth is that more and more women are postponing getting pregnant for work - and so too in the wonderful world of uni. In my department the only staff members who have children are middleaged women with (nearly) grown-up children. Where are all the mothers of young children? My position is that women have the right to have children when the time is right for them (I'm still considering, maybe in a year or two...). I also think the society (which ever country you are in) should support fathers also to participate - and the fathers employer to pay some of the support too! I know in Finland this is one reason why young women have trouble finding permanent jobs, the employers are worried of the extra cost of maternity leave etc, don't know how this is in other countries...

Cheers for an interesting discussion - this is my first post on this forum (and any forum ever!), wasn't thinking of joining in but reading this thread got me very interested and inspired.

Big for all yous who manage PhD + family