How to Stay Sane While Writing a Thesis

Presented by Annette Stevenson

Student ASSIST 6773 2897

Building C37 – between the Deli Café and newsagent “up top”

What today will aim to cover

• Identify your study goals as well as the strengths and any weaknesses that you bring to your study

• Rollercoaster of peaks and troughs• Procrastination traps• Overcoming the dreaded “writer’s block”

and feelings of isolation• How to manage your time and to minimise

stress

Me and My Post-Graduate Study

1. My long-term goal(s) for my study is…

2. The strengths I bring to studying are…

3. The things that are impeding my study are…

4. My good coping strategies are…

Research Thesis Rollercoaster (Elphinstone & Schweitzer, 1998)

• Normal to have highs and lows• From excitement to sense of failure in a

week• 3 ‘d’s – depression, doubt, desperation vs

enjoyment and elation• The self-saboteur• The obsessive-compulsive side of you• The anti-social you• Post PhD blues

enthusiasm excitement relief

apprehension anxiety feelings of isolation and self questioning come and go enrolment→→→topic chosen→→→proposal accepted→→→development of research area

High Dependency on Supervisor (Elphinstone and Schweitzer, 1998)

Medium Dependency on Supervisor (Elphinstone and Schweitzer, 1998)

increased motivation

frustration boredom data collection→→→analysis→→→→focus on argument/detail

Low Dependency on Supervisor(Elphinstone and Schweitzer, 1998)

elation satisfaction lessening motivation post thesis ‘let down’ focus on writing→→→→completion→→→→→→→→→→→submission

Common doubts(adapted from Elphinstone and Schweitzer, 1998)

• I’ve picked the wrong topic Re-read proposal, review reasons for discarding other topics

• The data are all wrong Be open to results going either way and testing hypotheses

• I can’t write anything Make writing a routine. Some “writer’s block” is normal

• The end is so far. I will never finish SMART goals (specific, measurable, attractive, realistic, time-

framed

Common doubts cont’

• This isn’t good enough. It should be perfect No such thing as the “perfect” thesis. Not your final work. Have

other strings to your bow.

• I’ve left something out Maintain perspective. Clear rationale. Project boundaries.

• I’m not up to this. I’m not good enough. Progress journal. Identify strengths.

• Why am I doing this? Why am I putting up with this pain?

Revisit why you took this on. Identify internal and external sabouteurs. Support people.

• If I finish this, I will never write another thing From burnout to book, article, etc. Visualise completion.

Study Spirals

Downward spirals

1. Action (set a goal and didn’t make it)

Feeling (frustrated)

Thought (This is frustrating)

2. Action (set another goal and didn’t make it)

Feeling (anxious)

Thought (Why bother?)

3. Action (not bothering, avoiding)

Feeling (unmotivated or anxious)

Thought (I could fail. I am failing)

Study Spirals cont’

Upward spirals1. Action (set a minimal goal and make it)

Feeling (feel in control of work)Thought (I’ve achieved something)

2. Action (set another goal and make it)Feeling (energised and motivated)Thought (I am getting there)

3. Action (Achieving goals and doing well)Feeling (in control, motivated, happy, energised)Thought (I am going to finish this. I’m passing)

0. BEGI NNI NG Throw away

sanity to start

The Ph.D Game

1. Your

supervisor gives you

project title. Go on 3 spaces.

2.

3. You are f ull

of enthusiasm.

Have another

turn.

4. Realise

supervisor has given

nothing but project title.

5. Go to Library -you

can' t understand catalogue! Miss one

turn.

6. The important reference has gone missing in

the lib. Back 2 spaces.

7.

14.

13. Things don't go well. You

become disillusioned

Miss one turn

12. END OF FIRST YEAR

11. Examiners

not impressed

by fi rst year report.

Throw 1 to cont

10. Do extra work on

fi rst year report.

Extra turn.

9. Supervisor

makes a comment you

don't understand. Go back two

spaces

8. Need

supervisor's help.

Miss one turn fi nding

her.

15. You become depressed.

Miss 2 turns.

16. You become

more depressed.

Miss 3 turns.

17. Change project.

Go back to beginning

18. Change supervisor. Throw 6 to

cont Otherwise go back 6 spaces.

19. Do lab demonstra -tions to get some dosh.

Go on 2 spaces.

20.

21. Lab demos take up too much of your time.

Back 4 spaces.

28. You begin to

think you will never fi nish.

You are probably

right.

27. Beer

monster strikes.

Spend 1 turn recovering.

26. Work every weekend for two months.

Go on 6 spaces.

25. END OF SECOND

YEAR No results.

Who cares?

24. Experiments are working.

Go on 4 spaces.

23. Specimens incorrectly labelled. Go back to 20.

22.

29.

30. You spend more

time complaining

than working. Miss 1 turn.

31. You realise your mates are earning 5 times your grant. Have a good cry

32. You are asked why

you started a PhD. Miss

a turn finding a reason

33. You are off ered a job. You may cont. or retire f rom

game.

34. Start writing up.

Now you are really

depressed. Miss 5 turns.

35.

42. Your PhD is

awarded. Congratula -

tions now join

dole queue!

41. You are asked to resubmit thesis.

Back to 33.

40. You decide PhD isn't worth the bother. Withdraw

now. Game over.

39. Harddisk crashes.

Back 3 spaces

38. I t proves impossible to write up and

work. Go to 33.

37. Your thesis will disprove external

examiners work. Go

back to 28.

36. Your data have just been published by rival group.

Go back to 28.

(Original source unknown - found at http://graphite.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/~kw10004/phdgam/ )

Staying motivated

• Remember that tenacity, endurance and motivation are important attributes

• Keeping a journal, or a web log – “blog”• Acknowledge and celebrate your progress• Stay connected – don’t isolate yourself. Join postgraduate

peer support groups postgrads@une http://blog.une.edu.au/natressociety/ http://blog.une.edu.au/deassist/ http://blog.une.edu.au/deassist/ http://www.une.edu.au/library/eskillsplus/ - online program for

postgraduate students (research, literature, endnote, career) eSkills Plus Meeting Place – a social space for UNE

postgraduates Attend seminar/discussion groups Peer support and/or supervisory groups (formal, informal?)

Procrastination Styles• Perfectionist, dreamer, worrier, defier, crisis-maker,

over-doer (Grant and Greene, 2003)• “How do I feel about the task that I’m putting off

now?• What are the advantages of starting this right now?• What are the disadvantages of leaving it until later?• What excuses am I making for not doing this task

right now?• Will it kill me to do it for a few minutes at a time?• How can I break the task down into manageable

sections?• What reward can I give myself for finishing it? (Grant

and Greene, p. 83, 2003)”

Procrastination Stoppers

• Warm up your mind Be specific about what you are avoiding List advantages and disadvantages to doing or not doing the task Challenge the part of you that doesn’t want to do the task Plan tasks in advance Visualise yourself completing the task Do a mental warm up – revision, brainstorming, etc Swiss cheese technique – do anything related to task

• Set yourself goals Set time limits Review progress, learn from mistakes Record progrss/achievements on wall chart, in journal, etc Salami technique – break task into steps – do one at a time Aim to spend 10 min a day on unpleasant tasks Contract with others what you want to achieve

Procrastination stoppers cont’

• Make physical changes Stretch, change posture, exercise Attractive and inviting work environment Go to distraction free place Work alongside someone who works well Have a sounding board

• Stay positive Don’t look at decisions as right vs wrong – most decisions have

pros and cons Replace negative thoughts such as “I can’t”, “I won’t” Visualise self completing task Pretend to be the well-organised non-procrastinator Say no to requests. Be assertive. State your needs. Ask for help

Hints for Pushing Through Writer’s Block

• Drafts – for your eyes only at first• Don’t wear critical and creative hats at the same time• See writing is an evolutionary act• Proofreading vs rewriting with critical hat on• Copy editor for final draft• Write about anything – get creative juices flowing• Speak, verbalise, have conversations about your ideas• Mindmap your ideas• Mental warm ups – revising drafts, chapters• Be physical• Change physical environment• Carry a notebook• Focus on the smaller chunks vs bigger picture• Do something creative• Write how you feel about your thesis (unblock emotions)

Time Management Exercise

• Think about areas in your life in terms of time. Do you give each area of your life your preferred proportion of time or would you like to re-balance the way you allocate your time?

NB: 7 x 16 waking hrs/day = 112 hrs

70 hrs = 63%

35 hrs = 31%

20 hrs = 18%

10 hrs = 9%

Time Management Exercise cont’CURRENT

....0% ACADEMIC WORK

....0% HOME DUTIES eg housework, shopping, showering, cooking, etc

....0% RELATIONSHIPS WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHERS eg things we do to enhance our relationships with those with whom we are very close

....0% SOCIAL eg things we do to meet people, enjoy friends & extended family

....0% PERSONAL eg things we do for ourselves

....0% OTHER eg paid employment

PREFERRED

....0%

....0%

....0%

....0%

....0%

....0%

Time Management – The Central Skill

Yearly planner – set deadlines for each step

Reading - define general area

Reading - designing study (have “just in case” time)

Reading - collecting data (asap)

Reading - analysing data (computer hold-ups)

Writing - rough draft

Editing to final copy stage

References/Appendices

Proof-reading

Printing and Binding

Hand in Time!

Minimising stress• Physical (body)

Exercise Yoga Diet Sleep

• Emotional (feelings) Talk to significant others Writing Asserting needs Humour

• Cognitive (thoughts) Positive self-talk Improving concentration Communication Social interaction

• Behavioural (actions) Time management Holiday time during candidature Negotiating supervision contract/arrangements Arrange for a computer, and any other resources you need

Organising Yourself

• Read down the list of statements, ticking those you feel apply to you. Alter statements so that they apply to you better. Note down any reservations or differences you have.

Organising Yourself cont’• I don’t think I work as hard as I could• I couldn’t tell you how many hours I put in last week.• I often seem to leave things like essays/writing till the last minute.• I find it hard to get down to work.• I don’t seem to be able to stick at a task (like reading through a

chapter) for very long.• I think that others do more than me.• I don’t find it easy to talk to others openly about how much work

I’m doing.• I’m never quite sure what I’ve got to do next.• I sometimes take ages to ‘get going’.• I’m not sure whether I’m doing enough or not.• I tend to flit from one task to another.• I seem to work better in some places than others.• I work rather irregularly, putting in lots of time one week and

practically none the next.• I’m generally behind, sometimes several weeks behind schedule.• There is no way I could do all the work I’m expected to.• I’m not sure I always do the most important things first.• I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep going right to the end of this

course.• I don’t have any sort of long-term plan for my work.

Source - http://web.missouri.edu/~kleinp/images/cartoon_diss_def_small.gif

References

• Grant, A. and Greene, J. (2003) Coach Yourself. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing.

• Elphinstone,L and Schweitzer, R. (1998) How to Get a Research Degree – A survival guide. Australia: Allen and Unwin.