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THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE™ The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide™ focuses on ways to help its readers more readily overcome the roadblocks that often seem to stand in the way of completing the dissertation. It is read throughout the world. Want to become a coach?New MentorCoach Training Programs launching. Subscribe to our other no-cost ezines: Visit Ben Dean's Live Coaching Workshops in Dallas, Austin, St Louis & Detroit. INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH A DISSERTATION
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE - June 19, 2007
3. Your Dissertation--Albatross or Triumph?
By Mary M. Leonard, Ph.D.
June 19, 2007
A Note from the Editor
Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
How time flies. It was two years ago that I wrote an article for the ABDSG called Technology Is Not Your Friend. In that article I encouraged readers to monitor how much time they spend (waste?) on e-mail, internet "research," etc. Since then, technology has maintained its relentless advance, and perhaps it has become even more of a presence in your life.
Although I still believe that the internet can be a pernicious time suck, I am also aware that there are a number of useful resources out there for ABDSG readers. I'd like to highlight some of these resources in an upcoming issue, and I need your help. Do you visit websites like www.phinished.org? Do you use Scrivener or other software for writers? Please write me at tracy@mentorcoach.com and let me know how technology has been your friend during the dissertation process!
In this issue of the ABDSG, Dr. Mary Leonard offers some useful, low-tech suggestions for how to jumpstart your writing, untangle your blocks, set a good pace, and maintain momentum. Enjoy!
Inspirational Quote
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up.
-- Thomas A. Edison
It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, impossible to
win the victory unless you dare to battle.
-- Richard De Vos
YOUR DISSERTATION -- ALBATROSS or TRIUMPH?
TAKE HEART! YOU CAN SUCCEED!
By Mary M. Leonard, PhD
It is now the middle of June . . . spring break (if you had one) is a memory. Does your stomach sink when you realize that you expected to have the next draft of your dissertation done by now? Or were you determined to finish the dissertation by the end of summer and now that goal is impossible?
Have you found that in spite of your best efforts:
• You are working on everything except your dissertation?
• You are having trouble staying on track and making real progress?
• You are worrying that your literature review still needs major revisions?
Perhaps you don't want to admit that you fear you may never finish. The dissertation may seem like an albatross around your neck. You may be losing enthusiasm for the whole graduate program. You may worry that you are not cut out for academia.
If you identify with any of these thoughts and fears, you're in good company. These are common and normal feelings. It has happened to more of us than you know . . . and most of us have managed to get through it.
Why do some people reach goals while others stall? You've heard the saying, "If you keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results--that is the definition of being neurotic." We don't get where we want to go by using the old methods that have not worked. We have to change our attitudes and behavior.
Susan Johnson (2006), an expert in time management, has identified a major factor that contributes to people's paralysis in the face of difficult tasks. She describes "overwhelm" as a feeling that can emotionally strangle us as we struggle with writing, perfectionism and over-commitment.
Do you have expectations that you often do not meet? Do your responsibilities at work take on an impossible life of their own? Do you see too little of your families and friends? When you do see them, are you often remote or irritable? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you may suffer from overwhelm.
Overwhelm can leave us feeling breathless, worried, preoccupied and chronically behind. On the more serious end, overwhelm can lead to severe anxiety, depression and alienation. We feel as if we have dropped down our own private rabbit hole.
So how do we dig out? We turn to positive psychology. Johnson (2006) offers interventions that can cut through immobility and fear and move you out of overwhelm. These suggestions often seem counterintuitive--and they are exactly the new behaviors you may need to get you out of current ineffective habits. They will help you to (1) jump start your writing, (2) untangle your blocks, (3) set your pace, and (4) maintain your momentum
(1) Jump Start Your Writing.
At your desk, take a few deep breaths. This interrupts your anxiety. Then come back to the present in order to stay out of worries from the past and fears for the future. You can be productive in only the present moment. Most schools of meditation encourage these same steps.
Use exaggerated slowness and complete a small task. At first, this can spark "desk rage." But keep with it. You will be surprised at how slowing down actually leads to finishing tasks.
(2) Untangle Your Blocks
Clear off your work place. Do not try to clean your office, sort your papers, or organize your files. For the time being, just move everything off your desk and put one project in front of you.
Write down everything you have to do in all areas of your life. Use a large notebook or large yellow legal pad. Some call this notebook "Tasks Forward." This complete list of tasks establishes what needs to be done and you don't have to worry about forgetting something.
Keep this notebook with you. As you complete a task, cross it off. When you have finished most of a page, tear it off and transfer the unfinished items to the next page. Over time you will either complete the tasks or consciously give them up.
Create your priorities. Write down your overall goal with a deadline date that is one month earlier than the date your advisor or the graduate school has given you. Using "backwards think," establish the tasks that need to be done just before your final goal, then the tasks before that goal and so on. This establishes a realistic timetable in which to finish your dissertation.
Give yourself small goals. When you are stuck, give yourself small blocks of time in which to write or short sections to complete. For example, decide that for a week you will write for only 45 minutes, three times a day. Or give yourself the goal of writing a page every two hours. Most people can tolerate writing for 45 minutes or writing one page in large time blocks. It makes the tasks easier and you build up success in reaching your goals.
3. Set Your Pace
Find a place in which you can work. Choose a room where you can spread out all your work and have few interruptions.
Face up to your broken commitments. Johnson (2006) describes this as turning around your AWOL (absence without leave) syndrome. Make a list of all of the people to whom you have broken promises. Depending on the people and the importance of the broken commitments, email, call or make an appointment with them and apologize. Then make realistic goals and deadlines, and meet them. Most advisors just want to know you are still working at finishing your dissertation.
4. Maintain Your Momentum
Writing a dissertation is a long haul. Depending on your discipline, it can take anywhere from one and a half to eight years. You need to find what works for you. Don't sabotage your success, and don't stop.
Find what works for you. This article has given you many approaches with which to identify and address "overwhelm." Use them. Employ the ideas with which you find the greatest success. You need to dig out of paralysis, avoidance and ineffective work.
Stop sabotaging yourself. While you work these specific interventions, you may be tempted to minimize your successes. It will probably be difficult to give yourself a small goal like writing for only 45 minutes three times a day. You will need to remind yourself, again and again, that you need to use these new strategies and you need to give them time to work. You can seriously sabotage yourself with pessimistic thoughts.
The worst sabotaging thought is, "I should have been able to do this
on my own." This is an irrational thought. Nothing prepares you to write
a dissertation, so watch out for your critical voice.
We get help for almost everything in graduate school--and in life for that
matter. What is important is that you have been stuck and now you have some
tools to assist you.
Savor your successes. They fuel momentum.
Don't stop. You already know, but I will remind you that you may still get into a jam, find yourself tied up in knots, or have a dry period. But now you have some new or renewed skills. Give yourself at least a month to get some traction with these new behaviors.
You are smart, organized, and persistent--or you would not have gotten this far. You are going to get this degree.
Now get that albatross off your neck. Finish that dissertation. You are ready to triumph! I know you can do it!