I checked too. I can get neither electronic nor paper copy of this journal though my Uni. Sorry!! :-(

======= Date Modified 22 Nov 2011 18:13:32 =======
Oooh, I'm feeling smug smug smug today! Ok, so a lot of what I did today were fairly minor tasks BUT I completed them all PLUS I finished the dreary theory book to boot! Woot!! Seeing as I'm riding on the crest of a wave right now I'll set myself one final task...

Goal 7. Write up notes of dreary theory reading

After that it's time for (turkey) and a TV treat.

Hope you all had a good day too! They don't come too often, good days, don't they? (Which is probably why I'm feeling so strangely happy with myself...)

Tick, tick and tick. 8-) This is so satisfying, even though admittedly my goals are all pretty small scale today!

Next up:

Goal 5. Read next chapter in dreary theory book, then go food shopping to clear resultant headache

Goal 6. Proof read transcript

Congrats Sneaks, that must be a big weight off your shoulders! For now anyway. Fingers crossed your sup doesn't fiddle with it too much!

I've ticked off my first two goals. Now off to hang up some washing to dry then onto the following:

Goal 3. Sort through pile of miscellaneous paperwork which has been accumulating for weeks and is probably hiding some important things I should have dealt with ages ago (I dread to think what I'll find)

Goal 4. Email sup to arrange meeting

Morning all!

I hope you're all well and making good progress! I've not used this thread for a few days now while I was busy with stuff that took me away from the desk much of the time. Got a few things I want to blitz today though and 2 hours later haven't yet got started on anything productive, so I think I'll need to use your good selves to help me along! So here goes:

Goal 1. Finish interview transcription
Goal 2. Book conference travel

I agree with Delta. I'd take the job and if you end up really hating it or better things come your way deal with it then. Employment in any setting is so hard to come by at the moment that I don't think any of us can afford to look a gift horse in the mouth. Sad and rubbish I know, but that's the situation we're dealing with. And the contract's only for 12 months, so it's not like you're signing your life away. I'd say take it for now, just for the sake of having some certainty for after you're finished with your PhD. I don't think it will do your CV any harm even if you end up moving out of academia. Good luck!

I must echo much of what's been said already. I live with my better half and much as he's super supportive I daydream about living on my own sometimes for the sake of being able to get on with my work a bit better. Terrible, TERRIBLE priorities, I know but it might do away with that constant nagging feeling of not putting in enough hours... Because he works a fairly standard working day I try to fit my own working hours around that so that we can continue to spend quality time together and have a relatively normal life. I've noticed however that my PhD work doesn't very neatly fit into these hours (well, my brain capacity to work on my PhD anyway), and that I could really do with working a lot more in the evenings and at weekends. I do of course do this on occasion, but I grudge it a bit as well when he's around and I'd like to spend time with him too! So I do think that living on your own does have its advantages while you're doing your PhD as you can totally suit yourself. As regards becoming a hermit, well, if it's any consolation then beyond the person I'm living with I've next to no social interaction either these days ;-)

Well, by way of an update, 7 hours later I have managed to cover ONE of my goals today. This place is interruption central! :-s As nice and as helpful as it can be to have interaction with colleagues, but today was just ridiculous. I've only just managed to get my first goal finished!! Time to go home now. It's freezing in this office. Over and out.

Congrats Slowmo, what a fantastic job, I'm well chuffed for you!!!! 8-) Good luck for the future!

Afternoon folks,

Back at my desk after a morning’s field work, so where to start! Like you Batfink I’m determined to be productive today – but then I say that every day and usually fail miserably!

Goal 1: Review and comment on draft article
Goal 2: Update field diary
Goal 3: Return book to library
Goal 4: Email sup about recruitment issue
Goal 5: Go over random notes and update ‘to do’ list accordingly
Goal 6: Make work plan for the rest of the week

Right, that should keep me out of mischief for a while. Good luck with your tasks Batfink and good luck with your lecture Eska!

Hello everyone

I too have been otherwise engaged the last few days and am in procrastination heaven today. Look at the time and I've achieved sweet FA so far!! So, there's no two ways about it, I need to use this thread to force me to kick into action RIGHT NOW!

Goal 1: Photocopy a couple of articles
Goal 2: Print off and post a letter
Goal 3: Look out planning scribbles for an article that I never ended up writing
Goal 4: Catch up with UNI RELATED emails

There. all fairly simple and quick, but it'll do to get me started ;-)

======= Date Modified 31 Oct 2011 16:20:24 =======
Thanks for the kind words Eska. Luckily I was eventually able to offload to a colleague who noticed that I was clearly not happy, so now I feel a little better. She was well shocked when I told her what had happened but agreed that there was nothing to be done about my sup's outrageous actions on this occasion, I could only try and move on. (Still looking for a crying emoticon though - forum admin take note!)

On the positive side I've meanwhile managed to tick off my 3 initial goals and more, so now to set my final goal for the day:

* Proof-read interview transcript (this has been on my to do list for donkey's years, so it must must must be done today!)

Hope your lunch tasted as nice as it sounded and you got your lecture prep done ok. Nothing worse than having nightmares about work eh?

Morning guys

Ah, nothing like starting the week with an early morning dentist's appointment, then finding out that you've been stabbed in the back by one of your sups while the other one simply washes their hands off the situation. I'm so upset right now it's not funny, but I'm trying not to think about it otherwise I'll just bawl...

So, upwards and onwards regardless:

Goal 1. Update field diary
Goal 2. Take notes following recent meeting
Goal 3. Arrange meeting with backstabbing sup for my weekly dose of being patronised and bullsh***ed (insert crying emoticon)

Hi Sneaks, I'm here, albeit very sleepy and in a thoroughly foul mood thanks to my dear husband's drunken snoring keeping me up all night :-s I had been full of good intentions about getting lots of work done before our visitor arrives early afternoon, but as it stands I'll barely get anything done now! That's one MASSIVE dog house he's in right now...

Sorry to hear that you're back to tackling the same thing AGAIN, poor you. These things are soul destroying aren't they? Good luck!! I will have to set myself a suitably small target now for the sake of getting it done in time and still having ticked off at least something. So, goals for today:

Goal 1. Write thank you email to someone who was immensely helpful to me yesterday
Goal 2. Write up notes of supervision meeting and circulate

Hey Arcade Fire!

First off - what a fabulous username. You have my approval (up)

Having worked for a number of years in a job I really enjoyed before returning to academia for my PhD I must say that neither experience is better or worse than the other, they're just very different. Both have or had their stressful and frustrating periods as well as their enjoyable, intellectually challenging ones, both included dealing with lovely people and with right b*****ds! The question is - what would help you more in the long-term with your 'dream' job - work experience in an industry setting or experience of self-directed project management and associated academic skills? Which setting gives you better access to relevant contacts and networking opportunities which may be handy to have for the future? If they literally compare the same then I'd be tempted to say go with the PhD, especially if it pays you the same as a decent job as you say, as it's a very privileged, once in a lifetime opportunity which not everyone gets the chance to take up, and much as it's a grind at times it does help you to grow not just intellectually but also as a person (well I think so anyway). If you can hack a PhD, then you can tackle anything! 8-)

Not sure if this helps at all. Maybe draw up a list of pros and cons for each in relation to their ability to contribute to your dream goal?