David Romer's Rules for Making It Through Graduate School
and Finishing Your Dissertation
"Out in Five"
Don't clutter up your life with other activities; just write.
Don't carry out a thorough and comprehensive search of the literature; just write.
Don't attempt to make sure that every page you write shows the full extent of your professional skills; just write.
Don't write a well-organized, well-integrated, unified dissertation; just write.
Don't think profound thoughts that shake the intellectual foundations of the discipline; just write.
If you don't have a paper started by the spring of your third year, be alarmed.
If you don't have a paper largely drafted by the fall of your fourth year, panic.
____
All the reason why I cannot just write...
Balik kampung every other weekend esp. for the holidays; you name it I covered it from New Year to Xmas, from kenduri potong jambul to kenduri arwah. Coming up next: Nuzul Quran, Deepavali, Hari Raya (plus extra public hols on the 23rd), sem break, Selangor's Sultan's besday (Yamtuan's pun kena celebrate gak), ...
There are lots of other activities esp. involving free consultation from minor crisis like where got house to rent, know anybody suitable for this job, borrowing money, etc. to major ones like 'suami-ku-kawin-lagi-what-to-do', relationship trials, harassment blahblah. Aside from my unofficial role as the Royal Keeper of Seal of... (er, lately blogging too but it was supposed to help right? A page a day...that refer to my dear D!)
Professional skils in research - NALA!
Well-organized? Definitely not!
What profound thoughts?
Am I being through?
Is it comprehensive enough?
I'm beyond alarmed - I'm panicking!! (& I should!)
P/s: K.simah, as you'd observed your husband goin' thru the same process successfully- any help there?
5 comments:
OK OK, take few deep breath now. In..... Out..... In..... Out.....
Still panick now?
Yes? Then why are you reading this blog at this very moment? Go!Go! Finish up ur writing. Hehe!
Mmg betuk la. Sejak dok jauh ni, every single opportunity mesti pikir nak balik kg je.
Good luck in ur writing.
balik kampung...blogging ..etc..etc..is just ur subconscious way of escaping the process of writing ur *T*... mcm my hubby dulu..he took us outting... went to watch the matches..play online games..etc..etc..everything as long as he wouldnt have to sit down n write..no matter how i nagged him to write..(of course he used the excuse that the kids kindda disturbed him....*ways to escape ur thesis* hehehehe.. THESiS FİRST STAGE
so i *left* him (literally) in peace for 2 months..went back to Malaysia so that he could complete
his thesis in full concentration..no wife to nag..no kids to disturb... he went into
THESİS SECOND STAGE (u have no family..ie kids...hubby to disturb u at least..so get into the second stage FAST)
dear Rad..go into ur room...sit down..concentrate ur mind...do not go out of the room unless u r planning to eat or drink or go to the toilet...n solat.....no blogging..just write...
u ..the books..ur materials..ur sources.. n ur computer.. do it for at least 2 weeks.....u will go far that way... my brother in law did the same thing too.. he was in USA..he sent his wife n son back to turkey..he concentrated like that.. practically *locked* himself inside the room..n Yup..he finished his big T..
self motivation..bla bla bla i think is just a *bulls...* (forgive the expression).. u wont do it unless u have to..one way is to force urself into it... that is my personal point of view la... no connection with anyone else...
lupa nak cakap..my hubby finished his ph.D within 5 years hehehe he deliberately extended his thesis as long as possible coz he was trying to postpone his compulsory military service..lepas ph.d dia kena masuk askar....so dont feel bad that u r havent finished urs yet.. u should.. but look at my hubby..5 years man... !! same case of urs... tak boleh nak duduk diam tulis T.. :0)
:) first battle has been won! that is because u know exactly what u should be doing and what u should not be doing...
secodn battle? hehehehe...itu yg susah tu...because it is called self-disciple.
self-motivation is of course....the secret recipe. If u can master that...meaning u are driven by some form of inner motivation to finish ur T...then no matter what, other distraction will be exactly that....simply distraction!
what is the worst thing that can happened if u dont finish ur writing?
In that situation, will any of the things that u now do as distraction helps u?
idham
Deni,
That advice sounds like utk orang nak bersalin je? heheheh. BTW, my niece no.27 juz arrived in time for raya, another is giving false alarm (supposed end of the month), a close fren of mine anytime now, another next month...I'm surrounded by babies!!*luvthemall*
Thank you for you concern & wishes-Blogging is supposed to keep my sanity intact. If I were to voice out my problems to my colleagues here, I'll be getting more headache since I'll have to listen to their grouses too - we're a grumbling lot at times!
How do I justify the blk kpg weekend? Since I'll be in a faraway place (difficult to commute) after this, I better spend time with mak now...I do try to limit it to once a month!
K.Simah,
I would luv to have you nag me all the time- as a reminder you know!!
My family don't understand even if I did try to explain. They'll be asking things like: Kenapo nak balik copek2,kau ado kuliah ko? Bilo exam? Eh, apo kau buek ari2? Paling2 tinggi pun, apo masalah eh nak menulis?
Sheeeeeeesh!!! Ingat sonang ko?
I get your point - most of the distractions are a form of escapism!
I do have a plan of attack now -
BTW, cannot work from home or kpg -end up sleeping lor!
Your hubby out by 5yrs? (Specialization?) Well...I'm only 3.5 now...hmmm...
*gointoworkharder&smarter*
Abe Id,
Self motivation OK
but self dicipline is lacking indeed.
I work well under pressure but I know I would have done better if I were to do things differently. My sup realized this & she agreed to set a certain dateline for me to come up with progress reports.
I'm lucky indeed to have her supports & you, Simah & Deni too..aside from my family & friends la.
So, blogging isn't a waste of time eh? (I'll be very selective from now on)
What's the worst things that could happen?
I'll not have a job as promised but I'll have a BIG loan to pay..it's unthinkable!
InsyaAllah, I know deep down in my heart that I'll pull this through..
Thanks my friends.
Post a Comment