February 16, 2008
- Reading, Writing, and Rest Days – Part 3
In Part 1 and 2 – we reviewed your Reading Days and your Writing Days. The 3nd Part of Reading, Writing, and Rest Days is Rest.
You need to have days where you are taking a break or not worrying about your business or your dissertation or whatever you are focusing on. Those would be your [...]
February 12, 2008
- Reading, Writing, and Rest Days – Part 2
A new technique that I’m trying out in my own life is this concept of reading, writing, and rest days. Now, as it sounds, it’s a three-part model that consists of reading on some days, writing on some days, and resting on other days.
February 8, 2008
- Reading, Writing, and Rest Days – Part 1
A new technique that I’m trying out in my own life is this concept of reading, writing, and rest days. Now, as it sounds, it’s a three-part model that consists of reading on some days, writing on some days, and resting on other days.
February 4, 2008
- Stress - Part 2
Now, remember stress, simply defined is the experience of feeling like you have too many things to do and not enough time to do them in. So, stress, essentially is an experience of overestimation of the work with an underestimation of time available.
January 31, 2008
- Stress - Part 1
Now, stress, simply defined is the experience of feeling like you have too many things to do and not enough time to do them in. So, stress, essentially is an experience of overestimation of the work with an underestimation of time available.
November 20, 2007
- Periodic Bouts of Reorganization
When you’ve been working on the dissertation for a certain amount of time, or when you’ve completed a major section; such as the proposal, or even just a chapter, it’s important to create structures where you actually go back in to your working space, and you create a new kind of organization.
February 5, 2007
- Maintaining Motivation to Finish
In the long, (perhaps arduous) process of writing the dissertation, it’s only natural that your motivation will, at times, wane. You may feel inspired and enthusiastic for the first few months of your dissertation process, but notice that, gradually, you start to lose focus and feel less interested.
January 18, 2007
- The Hard Way or The Easy Way?
Ok. So my “to-do” list for today was really long…and somehow it’s taken a very long time to get anything done. Why? I realized, after several lost hours, that I was approaching some of my work from the hard way.
January 12, 2007
- Crafting Your Timeline To Finish
Since we’re at the start of a new year, I thought it would be great to focus on crafting your timeline to finish. Although the entire dissertation process isn’t up to you, a large percentage of it is. By creating a plan to finish, early, on, you have something to work towards.
November 17, 2006
- Will you recognize the end?
I often get asked this question, “How do I know when I’ve finished my dissertation?”- the quick answer, of course, is this, “when they hand you your diploma.”
Ok, but aside from that, how do you know when you’re “done” writing or “done researching” or “done revisions”? After all, in a way, isn’t the dissertation a living document and one that can keep growing and evolving over time?
November 15, 2006
- Should you write it down or just do it?
I’m going to let you in on a little secret, but just because it’s a little secret doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful.
If you, like me, are fond of “to-do” lists (and likely most of you are, since there hardly ever seems to be enough time to get the “to-do” list done!), I’d like to share with you a secret tool I’ve found to build and maintain momentum.
October 11, 2006
- Checking Email is not Working On Your Dissertation
Ok, I admit it- I sometimes check email WAAYY too much, and I notice (often!) that it’s my convenient excuse for not jumping into other, more important, and way more lucrative things. It’s easier, sometimes to ’seem busy’ than it is to be busy. I just spent last week at a conference, and was reminded of some [...]
September 11, 2006
- It’s never too late to get back to it!
Hi all- it’s been a while since I wrote… lots going on…but I’m thinking that you all maybe didn’t even really notice, given that it was summer vacation. I’ve been busy with a few things: one of which has been dealing with the death of my grandmother, which has been hard, though I’m sure she’s [...]
May 30, 2006
- Keep up with important dates.
When putting together your calendar or work schedule, be sure to include important dates and build in times to assess your progress. For example, if you know you have to turn in a chapter by May 15, be sure to set aside time the month before (let’s say April 15) to "check in" on your [...]
May 29, 2006
- Don’t keep more than one dissertation task list or calendar.
In order to be, and remain, optimally organized in your dissertation process, be sure to keep all your to-do’s and appointments in one place. Don’t carry multiple calendars or multiple notepads. This will only confuse you. Your best bet is to organize everything in your life into one system- whether it be an electronic handheld [...]
May 24, 2006
- Do as much as you can as soon as you can.
If you know me, you know I advocate a balanced life. This can sometimes be at odds with focusing solely on the dissertation for a few days or a week in order to get as much done as you can. I think there is place for both approaches in the dissertation process. You might work [...]
January 13, 2006
- To do lists can keep you focused.
Keep a running âto-doâ list for dissertation- you can get back into it more easily. One of the major complaints I hear is that itâs difficult to get back into the dissertation at each sitting. One way to address this is to keep a running âto-doâ list of what youâll work on next. By referring [...]
January 6, 2006
- Getting back to work in the new year..
Hello! Happy New Year! I hope 2006 is going well for you so far. After a few weeks break, I’m back to blogging and ready to help you make 2006 the year of your Ph.D. Just in case you didn’t know, I also have a newsletter that goes out every two weeks- if you haven’t [...]
April 28, 2005
- Schedule in important tasks ahead of time.
Wow. I’ve been running quite a bit behind lately, hence no blog posts so far this week. I have forgotten my own good advice: schedule in important tasks ahead of time. Simply put, when it’s put in the calendar, it’s more likely to get done, and the more you get done, the more you are [...]
April 22, 2005
- Treat the dissertation as a part-time job.
Treat the dissertation as a part-time job: work on it and then leave it to go on to other tasks or activities. When you are working on the project, work on it, and when you’re not, go out and do other things. Two hours of focused achievement is always better than 4, 6, or 8 [...]