OMG I haven't been on here in ages and this thread is still going!

Self-denial works for me...

Who said empire line and smocks look good on small people???? I'm skinny and look TERRIBLE in anything like that! Look like I've been attacked with a big duvet!! And puffy sleeves give me an 1980s style shoulder pad effect!!!

What's your actual area of interest in IR?

I'm in the 'we need to talk' phase

Join the club! 18 months in and feel I have nothing to show for it. Been in such a slump for about 6 months now and can't seem to break out of it.

I was told mine should be first chapter - around 10,000 (social science) - but depends on subject area

I've spoken to my supervisor - don't really get the feeling that he's too concerned about the situation (great guy, but kinda scatty)

Thanks for the advice guys - you're right that I need to sit down and work out where this is going otherwise I'm going to keep drifting. I've been avoiding work because it feels like I'm back at the start and I don't want to face it, but going to sit down and work out what I need to do to get this back on track

Thanks everyone x

No soc sci

My research got very close to another student of my supervisor's - I found out from them by accident not the supervisor. I've had to change track recently and can't get into anything new - just see all the work that I've wasted. Maybe I could use more of it, but just not motivated enough and don't feel it is now good enough. but I think you have a point golfpro - I don't think I'm being a proactive as I could be.

Hit 18 mmonths (part time). Got nothing to show for it, not sure where it is going and lost all motivation - know I need to sort this out, but trying to avoid it and not working as a result. Any advice?

I'm a PT student and work two PT jobs to pay for it. People always seem to think if I'm not at my crappy job then I'm not doing anything else, despite the fact that I every second of my spare time is spent on the thesis. So fed up of people getting narky at me because a) they think I have all this free time and b) because I can't see them because I am actually working.

I know what you mean about the 'three years of work' comment. What work do I have to do? EVERYTHING that's what!

Sweeney Todd - terrible film, but worth watching for the divine and gorgeous Alan Rickman in VERY tight trousers

It really is about stopping when you think it will pass. I know it sounds terrible to submit something you've worked so hard on when you're not 100% happy, but I've seen too many (very very good) people not complete because they were perfectionists.

I would buy the book - don't put pressure on your supervisor to let you off. They deserve to have the book back in the condition it was lent; to put them in a position where they look bad if they make you buy them another copy isn't very nice.

It is really important to take time off. I find that when you are PT and working you feel such guilt for not spending every second of your 'spare' time on the PhD. First, because you realise you work so hard at your job to finance the PhD (why put in all that effort if you don't spend every second you can on the PhD?). And second, because you realise how precious time is and how little of it you have. I know these sorts of pressures get too much for me; I don't feel like I have any breathing space. And when I do take time out for myself (even just an hour or so reading a book not related to the thesis), I can never really enjoy it because I'm always thinking 'you should be working on the PhD'.