When I was writing my PhD thesis I found it helpful to remind myself that no one would ever read it, including my examiners.
Another tip is to have extra slides at the end that you don’t plan on showing unless someone asks that may help explain stuff better.
That’s a great idea.
When I was writing my PhD thesis I found it helpful to remind myself that no one would ever read it, including my examiners.
LOL.
Here’s what I did today:
4 am : got up
4:30 - 6:30 : worked on theiss
7:00 - 9:00 : at the gym
10:00 - 12:30 : worked on thesis
12:30 - 3:00 : lunch, read for a bit, nap
3:00 - 6:00 : worked on thesis
6:00 onward: dinner, backgammon with little brother, pack and organize stuff for the week.
I revised one and a half chapters and compiled everything I have into one big document, which is now my actual thesis. And I sent it to my advisor. I got a lot of work done and feel slightly better - but only slightly.
hi TC -
did my MA (anthropology) in 2006 and am now wrapping up (!) my PhD thesis. i’m with you - it’s hard to do, and unless you’re one of the lucky ones, you can’t count on much support from your supervisors. a few random thoughts:
-my fellow students have almost always been my best asset. lean on them and offer help in return.
-you have to own this. your supervisor might really like you, but doesn’t have enough time to care that much about you. they want you out of their hair, though, so generally no news is good news and if you can produce a reasonable document they’ll be more than happy to help you!
-i got a fair spurt of work done when i gave notice on my apartment and started planning to move.
-i got even more work done when i took on a couple of jobs. i worked 6-10 at one, and then 11-5 at the other. then i’d go to the library and write until about 8ish, then off to bed. i think having that structure was probably better than trying to write full-time, because i farted around less.
-i’m almost always mistrustful of people who describe thesis writing as easy or quick . . . i know things are different in the hard sciences, but i guess i just think there’s an extent to which it’s unavoidable that the thesis is a bit of a slog and you’ve really got to muscle through.
-in the end it was maybe one full month of pen on paper to write the thing, but it took me a year to get there first. i don’t think i could’ve done that right away, because i had material that needed thinking through, and had to sort out my own headspace first. sounds like you’re just about there too - time to shift into gear.
-my dad’s a highschool english teacher. when my supervisor would take a month to get a chapter back, my dad would edited the entire thesis in a night. thanks, dad.
-ian flemming wrote (on average) 1 james bond novel per summer, every year, and then other articles etc. his schedule: up in the morning, breakfast, and then 2000 words. he never stopped to correct spelling or anything, just kept putting down words and words. then a swim, and a lunch, then edit in the afternoon. done and your first martini of the day before dinner!
-two big things: having a ROUTINE of some sort is key. and, never forget how empowering it is to get things done. the others have mentioned this too - progress begets progress!!
-in the end, i was a straight pass (no revisions!) and am still pretty proud of the document. i always knew how to write - as do you - it was just the doing of it that took some doing. you’ll get there too, but as the others have said, you’ve got to hurt a bit.
best of luck. you’ll get through it and be glad you did - it’s an accomplishment.
-mike
really helpful — thank you.
4 am : got up
4:30 - 6:30 : worked on theiss
7:00 - 9:00 : at the gym
10:00 - 12:30 : worked on thesis
12:30 - 3:00 : lunch, read for a bit, nap
3:00 - 6:00 : worked on thesis
6:00 onward: dinner, backgammon with little brother, pack and organize stuff for the week.
That’s not bad but still only 7.5 hours out of a possible 16 (assuming 8 hours sleep). If this is crunch time and you are worried, you might want to reduce the 2 hour gym or 2.5 hours for lunch/read/nap, that’s 4.5 hours in the middle of the day.
stay off ST?
I get distracted WAY too easily (like right now for instance)…cut off technology if you can, even if that means just turning off the wireless on your 'outer.
stay off ST?
I get distracted WAY too easily (like right now for instance)…cut off technology if you can, even if that means just turning off the wireless on your 'outer.
I think I will limit ST time to: while I am drinking coffee in the morning; at night when I’m getting ready for bed; and the OctoberFish thread. I actually don’t get on it a ton during the workday.
JFW, just freaking write. Don’t worry about things being perfect, just get things down on paper. Edit and revise later.
Don’t worry about things being perfect, just get things down on paper. Edit and revise later.
This!!! I’d estimate that I spent the first 20% of my thesis time producing roughly 80% of the final content. Start your day by framing the critical ideas, then commit to working within that framework, and that framework alone. As you continue to write, don’t second guess what you wrote earlier in the day. Simply continue filling in the blanks, and save the fine tuning for when your brain is fresh.
Maybe get off ST and get to work on it?
x2
I mean seriously, you have over TWENTY ONE THOUSAND posts on an internet forum and you’re wondering if you have enough time to actually get something productive done?
This thread is exactly why I am satisfied with a my under-grade degree.
If I were charged with writing a masters thesis or something like that I guarantee I wouldn’t start it until the very last minute and then I would work straight through until I was done.
I’d probably be polishing off the final revisions as I walked into the defense.
One of my PhD students had a hard time finishing her dissertation, so when she was in her office, I just disabled the wireless base. No internet connection. No cell phone either.
Things got done a lot quicker.
One of my PhD students had a hard time finishing her dissertation, so when she was in her office, I just disabled the wireless base. No internet connection. No cell phone either.
Things got done a lot quicker.
Are you looking for students? 
I don’t do bioinformatics, but I’m not too far off.
Aren’t you in chemistry? (if I remember well)…Actually I’m looking for students indeed…need to know python, R, java, C++, some databases 
Electrical engineering, but working on a single molecule force spectrometer that isn’t an AFM tip or magnetic microbeads. So, really, I play more like a chemist on most days.
I’m teaching a freshmen level C class–does that count? 
Good luck on your hunt for good students. I’m trying to find a new lab myself (funding, project viability, etc.) but will stick it out here in sunny San Diego.
Did you tell them that Dennis Ritchie passed away just a few days ago?
Yeah.
Blank faces.
It was a painful moment.
Kids these days.
One of my PhD students had a hard time finishing her dissertation, so when she was in her office, I just disabled the wireless base. No internet connection. No cell phone either.
Things got done a lot quicker.
I rarely use my phone, but no internet might help sometimes.
I went to the Thesis Room for my dept today. Those puppies look nice when they’re all finished. It was motivating.
It’s coming well - my advisor is sending stuff back tonight, she told me yesterday. I have 112 pages or so that I sent her Sun. night.
Got no advice really to help you except that you might have to cut out some training to get it done. Of course, I didn’t read your entire post to see if you are already doing that.
Good luck, Alyie. I’m sure you’ll get things done on time.
Got no advice really to help you except that you might have to cut out some training to get it done. Of course, I didn’t read your entire post to see if you are already doing that.
Good luck, Alyie. I’m sure you’ll get things done on time.
Skipped a couple bike rides. That’s it so far. Really wanted to do those rides, too - Oct. has been nice in Maine.
Thanks for the well wishes.