No More Excuses

So now I've stopped teaching I find myself in the disconcerting position of having no excuses left for not getting on with work on my PhD.  Easter holidays over, husband at work, children at school.  It's just me, my Labrador and lots of empty pages.



"Are you really just going to read that book?"

Procrastination comes in many forms and it is so easy to find other things to do.  I always know how much I am putting off work when I am suddenly filled with a compulsive desire to make cakes, or worse, to clean the house.

We can make all the excuses we like, but to achieve something, there is nothing else for it, but to just get on with it. It's easy to become an expert in avoidance tactics.

Walking to clear the head or to avoid the empty page?

A PhD is all about independent learning and self-discipline.  As a result, in my experience, there are many temptations.  Often these may even come disguised as worthy, useful activities such as attending training courses, gaining teaching experiences, accepting public speaking invitations and networking.  More mundane distractions including repeatedly checking email, organising filing systems, going to the library, tidying the desk, answering the phone, err - writing a blog.  Each of these can be useful or important but any or all of them can be a time stealer. 

OBU Library - make your visit time-effective

Perhaps the online researcher has even more temptation than most as it's hard when you're using Facebook or Twitter for research, not to get pulled into your friend's latest post.

My husband has a sign over his desk at home that says, "do the work".  Simple as that.  Sometimes the most straight-forward phrases are the best. 

A blank page can be very scary but the only way to get over it, is to just get on with it.  After all, the satisfaction that comes from a completed piece of work is a fantastic feeling.  Perhaps I'll try focusing on that.  Methodology, here I come!