The benefits of having my own business are that I can do whatever I want. The negatives of having my own business are that I can do whatever I want. Lately, I’ve been noticing- *very often* how much MORE productive I am when I have structured myself to be disciplined.

Structuring discipline means, simply, that you create a framework and structure that enables you to be disciplined about your work and items you must accomplish. Like you, I am much more disciplined about getting things done when I know someone is waiting for me to finish, or will be reviewing the assignments I’m working on.

I got away from structure and discipline for a while; I was kind of sick of having such incredibly regimented days. What I realized is that the answer is found in balancing structure and discipline with enough open space for creativity and wondering.

It’s the same for your dissertation process. If you have created a structure which enables you to be disciplined and complete your dissertation tasks, you, too, can afford a few hours or days off, here and there. I know that you might be afraid that if you take a break from this, you’ll never come back to it. I hear that a lot. However, really, if you are in a cycle of working and producing meaningful output, you don’t have to be afraid of never coming back to it. You definitely will, assuming that the habit is solid enough.

It’s similar to exercising: if you generally exercise frequently, you will come back to it, even after a several weeks break: because you like how you feel when you exercise. If your dissertation habit is solid enough, you like how you feel when you’re working (or at least you like the feeling of working) and you’ll come back to it even if you take a break for a while.

The biggest problem with having tons of time to do the dissertation is that, very often, you fill up the time with unrelated work. Create a structure and discipline around working: get into the work, do the work, and get out of the work- and then go and do something else.

The more you structure your environment to succeed at this project, the more likely you will be to finish quickly.

Dissertation success is little more than structured discipline, applied regularly.

 

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One of the most important commitments you can make to yourself and your success is to recognize that change requires action.

This was in high relief this week, as I spoke with several dissertation writers who were complaining that they "didn’t feel like working on their dissertations" or they "had too much to do" (socially or otherwise) to make progress.

So here’s the thing: Reaching any goal of importance requires two commitments: a commitment to change and a commitment to take action. Let’s explore these more fully.

The first commitment: to change is activated when you recognize that your current actions are not bringing you closer to your goal. A commitment to change is needed when you realize that your actions are not moving you in a straight line.

A dissertation process marked by detours will never get you to the finish line as fast as a dissertation process which proceeds in more or less a straight line. So when you recognize, inside, that your actions are not leading to your desired results, you must make a commitment to change.

This may mean a change of mindset, a change of behavior and it could also mean a change in priorities or changes in time management and the way you schedule your life.

The point is, the first commitment that must be made is to change whatever is not working.

The second commitment I mentioned is that of action. Action is the process of making your changes real: manifesting them into the practical, observable world.

Where change can be an internal process, action is always external. Your second commitment must be to act in alignment with the changes you want to create.

Action need not always consist of grand, sweeping gestures. And, in fact, it is more sustainable when it is consistent and simple, as opposed to inconsistent and overly grand. You don’t have to be dramatic or work all night without sleep to finish. You can complete while being reasonably balanced and healthy about the process. You just have to commit to change what is not working and take action to do so.

If your dissertation process has gotten stuck or derailed- and, unfortunately, that is the case for more than 50% of you, it is time to make two commitments: one to change and the second to act.

Keep walking towards what you do want (rather than what you don’t want). You’ll arrive at your desired destination a whole lot quicker.

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