I wonder if it's easier to work at night because there's no expectations on you to produce things at night? Does that makes sense? When I'm ill I work well too!

Hello! I'd love some advice...I'm a student working ALONE and abroad, long distance from both my Uni. and my supervisor. I am finding it VERY tough though.. I am lacking motivation and wish I had an office space and a closer library. When I got home I get pepped up and start to get motivated again, then I come back and it's back in the doldrums. I miss academic discussions and no one here I know is interested in academics at all! Although I got upgraded my work is not that good, and I've been told to work a lot harder and also that I need to give up my part-time job which I LOVE and is the only thing keeping me going! Any advice please??

I am in exactly the same position as you are...I have been in an almost a permanent slump though! I am pretty depressed right now. I also think about all my alternative 'happier' lives, and the pointlessness of continuing...even though I know my 'other lives' wouldn't probably make me any happier, and even though I know there is a point to carrying on. I am therefore not the best person to give advice, but I've been finding that yoga and mediation helps. My supervisors hate me for having a part-time job but it is really helping me stay sane.

One of the hardest things for me is treating the phd like a job. I don't know how other people manage it, but I just don't work that way-I can't get my brain to just function from 9-5, and I am running out of time so no longer have the leisure to go read stuff in the library just to get a feel for things, and use up my hours that way! Keep plodding on though!! Do more off campus too! :)

It could be that you have Social Anxiety Disorder. This is characterised by extreme self-consciousness in social situations, and extreme fear of social situations approaching a phobic reaction (often physical). I would advise seeing your doctor A.S.A.P before things have a chance to downward spiral. He will probably refer you to a psychologist if he suspects S.A.D. It is certainly a problem that can be overcome with cognitive behavioural therapy etc.

I live an hour and a half bus ride from the nearest library AND I'm in a different country to that in which I'm enrolled. I go to the library about twice a week...less than that and I think I'd be struggling. But I really want to start trying to go every other day. My biggest problem is motivation. I'm really behind on everything and still haven't produced a chapter. It's hard being academically isolated. I use Athens sometimes, on days when I just can't be arsed to get on the bus. My supervisor recently blasted me for not getting enough done, so I'm pretty down about that at the moment, and contrary to his wishes have been sitting around watching TV and being full of self-pity!!

Hmm, there's a lot of stuff I need that's not on Athens, especially primary sources.

Phd is tough! It's definitely a love/hate relationship. I think my problem is that unless I feel excited about what I'm doing I don't feel like doing it, and of course, it's impossible to feel excited on a daily basis. I would say that I'm just lazy, except for the fact that when I have a job, routine or schedule I do fine. I've tried giving myself one, but it just doesn't seem to work! Arrrgh!

Hi! I'm a History of Art phd, and I'm really struggling at the moment with self-motivation issues, which is driving my supervisor crazy! I started the phd full of high hopes and very enthusiastic. I'm still enthusiastic, but for some reason just can't motivate myself. Part of the problem I think is that I'm academically isolated as I'm working out of the U.K and it's an hour and a half bus ride to the nearest library! I don't know any other phd's here, and my friends aren't really interested. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to get my arse in gear and start treating the phd like a day job?? Or has anyone experienced similar difficulties? Thanks! If I don't finish a chapter soon I'm worried I'll get kicked off the course!