Just can't get started

[doctoranda]

Today I need to finish up a dissertation chapter. It is mostly done, but I need to finish the conclusion and add some details and quotes here and there. After I am done I am totally free this afternoon. Time to get cracking you would think. I just can't get myself to start writing. I feel overwhelmed (but don't really now by what). I am so frustrated with myself. So I figured I'll just vent out here and maybe it will help. Or maybe my fingers will like typing so much that they will keep going after this post...

[americaninoz]

Cup of tea break to clear your head maybe ?

[potatopie]

Ugh. I know how you feel. I just handed in my dissertation proposal yesterday and it was worse then pulling teeth to get myself writing.

I find that if in the back of my head I know the deadline is moveable, then I don't work. I need pressure to motivate me. Is your supervisor expecting the chapter from you today?

[doctoranda]

Potato Pie, my advisor actually never reads the stuff I turn in and when we agree on a deadline she usually tells me she has other stuff to take care off. Very frustrating. I actually managed to start and have already put in 2 hrs. so far. I have to say though that after all the added stuff I like the chapter even less and thus am I scrolling through the document in pain trying to slay and rewrite. It seems that the more I work on the dissertation the less I like what I wrote and the more unfinished it seems!!!

[potatopie]

That sucks about your supervisor. Leaves you struggling on your own.

I know this advice won't help you to finish today, but I find that if I step away from it for a bit (like a day or two), I can look over things with a much fresher eye. When you've read it over and over again it just becomes a blur.

[doctoranda]

Jun 1, 2012 7:49:50 GMT -5 potatopie said:

That sucks about your supervisor. Leaves you struggling on your own.

I know this advice won't help you to finish today, but I find that if I step away from it for a bit (like a day or two), I can look over things with a much fresher eye. When you've read it over and over again it just becomes a blur.

So so true! I especially love it when you go ou and do something fun or just sleep or something and then... all of a sudden... you just know. Anyway, I wanted to get the chapter out but now I want to old on to it a little longer because I am so close to making it a more complete and polished version than if I just email it to them today.