having a bad evening

melancholly

sorry in advance for the whinge, just having a bad evening with phd things and need to let it out somewhere!

i'm just at that panic point - too much work, not enough time, lots of other admin rubbish eating into research time.......... got comments back on some writing and i know it's constructive but it all needs re-doing (apparently!). one person who read it has criticised the changes that someone else told me to make.........:mad: and i want a proper income so i don't have to count every penny i spend..... and for my family to understand that a phd is a different level of work to an undergrad degree and it is very hard!!

it's just all too much suddenly (and i'm tired anyway so that doesn't help) - i guess it's just that i feel so emotionally invested in my work, that it all gets personal even though it clearly isn't! i can see the lack of logic, but i still get upset!
AARRGGHH

(sorry.... but i do feel a bit better, and quite silly too, but i can live with that!)

pavlovs_dog

whats your phd subject?

whens your deadline? are you on target?

melancholly

psychology, next september...............and kind of! or i thought i was......... getting some written work that someone has said is good massacred by someone else has just thrown me!

pavlovs_dog

why dont you take a day completely away from it? spend that day relaxing/sleeping/catching up on all the things that normally distract you. then the next day go back to your dissertation with a renewed rigour :beer:

good luck with it all :j

MercilessKiller

pavlovs_dog wrote:

why dont you take a day completely away from it? spend that day relaxing/sleeping/catching up on all the things that normally distract you. then the next day go back to your dissertation with a renewed rigour :beer:

good luck with it all :j

I agree.

People say hapiness is more important, and though not all the time I'd agree, when you're stressed out and feeling the pressure, I definitely think a day out to relax and do what YOU want to do, will not only make you happier but improve your work as you'll feel less pressured as such

misskool

hey melancholly,
I understand completely how you feel! August is a particularly bad time as well because all uni students are having hols and people who work get to go on their holidays!

I am rushing (12 hour days in lab!!) to finish in 8 weeks but it seems harder and harder every day (I blame the exhaustion)

And I know how parents and others can't seem to comprehend that things go wrong with your phd and why aren't you finished in three years... and have you still not got a proper job...and what are you planning to do when you're done...etc etc...

Just stop thinking about other people, think about what makes you enjoy it (you did like it at some point, promise!) and like the others have said, take a day off! It will seem so so much nicer to have a day off and you'll be more motivated to work the next day.

melancholly

thanks guys
feeling better today - there's nothing like a good cry and sleeping in to feel better! it's just nice to hear other people who understand the whole phd thing

DrFluffy

Ohh! The 2/3 of the way there point. I still remember it! It's normal (honest). The reality of finishing up starts to get driven in and panic is normal. The most important thing for you (and the quality of your research) is to schedule some 'you' time... Contrary to the belief of some people I did my doctorate with, staying in the lab for 17 hours a day does not make for good science!

Good luck!