‘Been there and done that’ – I can completely sympathise with the challenges you will be facing during the last months before hand-in: I was there myself not that long ago. You have been working on your topic for quite a while and you are now exhausted (and even bored of it), so you just want to get it done. Your studentship might be about to end (or indeed has already ended) and you are also trying to figure out how to survive alongside writing up. Maybe you have caring responsibilities. Add here whatever is troubling you at the moment. As I know only too well, any personal issues you might be facing whilst you complete your PhD will be hanging over you as your deadline looms in the horizon getting closer and closer.
You’ve worked so hard for so long that you deserve to get through this process as unscathed as possible. To help you overcome the final hurdle, I’ve put together some tips that you might find helpful. Take what works for you and leave the rest.
- Don’t write alone – finding the motivation to write can be really difficult. Throughout my PhD I found very helpful to write with friends: meet up in the library or a café and motivate each other to finish that annoying section that seems to be resisting you. Joining an online community is another option – why don’t you give Rowena Murray Writing Group a chance?
- Use someone else’s writing plan – struggling to come up with your own writing plan to finish that dreaded first draft? Follow one that has already been created for you! You might want to give Wendy Laura Belcher’s Writing your Journal Article in 12 Weeks a check.
- Get into a writing mood – to find the necessary concentration, you might want to create a playlist to help you block out any unnecessary distractions and get your writing going. As a Music graduate I find music too distracting whilst I write, but a rain soundtrack works marvels for me! YouTube has a lot of examples to choose from if you struggle to find your own.
- Build in rewards – when finishing the chapter doesn’t seem to be motivating enough (don’t I know that feeling?), build in external rewards into your writing routine. I used to combine writing with friends and grabbing a coffee as a reward after a couple of hours of intense writing. You can also motivate yourself by going out for a walk after you complete a section or watch some tv after you’ve completed analysing some data.
- Look after your wellbeing – working towards a deadline and producing a good piece of work is extremely stressful. Remember to take good care of your mental and physical health – Royal Holloway Wellbeing is open to PGR students and maybe your GP practice has some initiative that will help you address your wellbeing. There are also other active ways of taking care of yourself such as taking regular active breaks, jogging or starting yoga lessons. Your brain will thank you!
- Goals and expectations – set yourself realistic expectations: you know how far your deadline is from now, so why don’t you break it down in achievable chunks? It is easier to say ‘Chapter 1 will be ready within a month’ than ‘ My thesis will be ready in 6 months’. Setting small, achievable tasks will help with your motivation and confidence, rather than leaving you feeling frustrated for not making them. There is something extremely satisfying on ticking something off a to-do list!
- Get in touch with your supervisor – even if you don’t have the best relationship with your supervisor, check in with them! If you’d like them to look at your final draft or discuss potential examiners, make sure that you know what schedule they are working on at the moment: they might have teaching commitments, about to go on research leave or have more students submitting at the same time. It will help you plan your own work in advance and prevent any last-minute stress you don’t need.
- Remember to take breaks – even though you might have that perennial feeling in your head (I should be working!), take breaks. I planned my PhD work in the same way as a 9-to-5 job, ensuring I had bank holidays and weekends as times for me to relax away from research. I will recommend planning nice things for you to do after submission – ensure you book in a celebratory dinner with friends (or more than one if needed!) or organise that trip you’ve been postponing throughout your studies. The PhD is a long process, so after you submit you must ensure you take a proper break: your viva will need you to give your all, so do something fun as well as sleeping for a week!
Dr Laura S. Ventura Nieto
Doctoral School Programme Administration Manager and PhD Survivor