Beating the Dissertation Blues

©James C. Coyne, Ph.D.Department of Health Psychology

University Medical Center, Groningen jcoynester@gmail.com

Preventing and combatting the blues

Productive and Unproductive Blues

Can the blues be your friend?

When you should not beat the blues, but embrace them… 

Constructive Disengagement

The benefits of stepping back and taking a break. Confidence in your own patterns and cycles. 

Taking a Break is Working.

Working on Thesis in B,B,B

Bed

Bathroom

Bars

Question is whether the blues are persistent and

impairing, or only transient.

Life is one damn thing after another, but depression is the same damn thing over and over.

---John Weakland

Radical Behavioral Theory

A PhD thesis involves a long and persistent behavioral output in the absence of immediate reinforcement.

Context of writing a dissertation can become aversive and induce avoidant behavior.

Preserve a reward structure that does not depend on progress.

Control yourself by controlling your environment.

Overcome Avoidant Behavior

Structured Procrastination

Butt in Chair Technique

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

-Louis L'Amour (1908 -1988)

Behavioral Activation

Rely on Overlearned Routines

Writing daily is hard, but viewing it as a process that will ultimately become habit--a really rewarding one--is important. The incentives of writing daily mirror those of exercising daily, and even if analogies between "muscles" don't really work, writing daily and write often as possible are important goals.—Joe Betz

Commit Yourself to Write 200 Words a Day

Can be anything as long as it contributes to the complete draft

One big idea

Single block quote

Explication of the previous day's block quote

Working out an idea that you know you want to include but you are not sure where it will fit

The rule of 200The rule of 200

Zero DraftShitty First Draft

Zero draft (Based on JR Trimble, Zero draft (Based on JR Trimble, Writing With StyleWriting With Style))

The key thing is to keep everything moving. After a bit of babble you will find yourself starting to make sense.

Even then, of course you can count on running into new mental logjams, but don't panic. Simply force your typing fingers to nakedly record all the confusion and inarticulateness you’re feeling.

Cognitive Behavioral Theory

A PhD thesis can introduce irrational thinking in people otherwise not predisposed to it.

Catastrophism and Perfectionism

Catastrophizing

Nobody will like me, everybody will hate me, I should eat some worms.

Perfect is the enemy of

done.

Everyone wants to write the perfect thesis article but no

one ever does.

Realistic Thinking and Goal Setting

Set parameters for marking series of small successes.

Interpersonal Theory

Regardless of how depression comes about, understanding and resolving it involves interpersonal relationships.

Dutch PhD students have the burden of increasing the impact factor of their advisors and department.

May need to get explicit expectations from advisor and renegotiate if unrealistic.

Relationships and Social Support

Most Dissertation Students Could Probably Benefit From a Wife.

Recognize That Dissertations Can be Difficult for Relationships and

Partners.

If your partner has never worked on a dissertation, process may be

difficult to understand.

Working hard on the thesis

"It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing." --Gertrude Stein

Don’t let set unrealistic deadlines just to placate your partner.

“In the event of a decompression, please adjust your own oxygen mask before trying to come to the assistance of others.”

Often better to talk to your dog about the

specifics of your thesis than to your

partner.

“I am doing the best I can at the moment. However, this is not my best moment.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Ask for slack nicely

Use Peer Support, Buddy Up, Use Social Media

There is no need to fear the [thesis] will go on forever. One of three things will stop the process: deadline, exhaustion, or satisfaction. With experience and luck, authors will reach satisfaction just before the other to catch up with them. – Peter Morgan, Editor, Canadian medical Association Journal (CMAJ). 1986.

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention.attention.

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