I get into the office at about 8am each morning and leave at around 4:15pm. I won't pretend that I manage to be productive for all of that time, and sometimes I work at weekends and evenings, thought not as a matter of course. I'm in my second year, and although it's difficult to tell, I think that I'm on track - my supervisors seem to think so too. I'm not really prepared to give up every hour of the day for my PhD, there are more important things in my life, such as spending enough time with my other half.

If you are about to publish at the end of your first year, you are obviously doing very well. Just take on board the comments of the interview panel and you'll be fine.

I find that when I'm stressed I snack a lot more on things like biscuits and chocolate. However, it's important to try and eat good healthy meals. This need not be complicated, there are lots of recipes on the web for tasty and quick meals. I find cooking quite theraputic as a break from work.

I am starting to feel like I personally just couldn't cope with an academic career and a family. I see how stressed my supervisor is and she doesn't get to spend much time with her kids. I don't want my life to be like that. I want to choose a job that I can do really well, and I think to be a really good academic I'd have to work night and day for the next 40 years! Really stressed with my PhD at the moment, starting to wonder why I ever started. I think that after I finish, a career change is needed.

I say if you think that you are ready you should go for it. The PhD has never had a detrimental effect on me and my bf, though it does help that he's doing a PhD also. Is your gf in academia?