PhD PROJECT:
By: Muhamad Fazil Ahmad
PhD Candidate UPM
MEASURING DETERMINANTS OF CITY BRAND FOR INSTITUTIONALIZING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
PhD External Supervision By Dr Rachna
For: Muhamad Fazil Ahmad
Email: phd.countryreputation@gmail.com
Blog: http://fazilahmad.blogspot.com
1. When will you be done with your dissertation?
Hello, Muhamad!
Dr. Rachna Jain here with the first issue of the new and improved 365PhD newsletter. While it may seem backwards to start at the end, I'd like to begin by talking about finishing your dissertation.
I often get asked this question, "How do I know when I've finished my dissertation?"- the quick answer, of course, is this, "when they hand you your diploma."
Okay, but aside from that, how do you know when you're "done" writing or "done researching" or "done with revisions"? After all, in a way, isn't the dissertation a living document and one that can keep growing and evolving over time?
Yes, it will evolve and grow over time. The distinction is that this should happen after they've handed you the diploma.
If you have been writing the dissertation for years, you've probably already lost sight of the end. You need to clearly determine how much more you need to write, research, or do in order to get this project finished.
If you've just started to work on the dissertation, you need to outline some objective markers and firm deadlines to identify "The End."
For example an objective marker may be: "I'm done the first draft when I have 150 pages written." (Notice we didn't say 150 perfect pages or 150 absolutely stunning pages, we said 150 pages.)
Another objective marker may be, "I'm done with the literature review when I have traced this topic for the past 20 years and condensed it into 20 pages."
The point is: you have to recognize the end. If you do not recognize the end, you'll never know when you get there. And this can keep the dissertation hanging around for years and years, long past the time you should have finished it. In short, the best place to begin is by identifying when it will end.
Again, thank you for reading. If you have any tips, recommendations, or strategies you would like to share with others working to complete their dissertations, please send them to me and I will try to publish them.
It's been great connecting with you. I hope your writing process is going well.
--Rachna
2. Working well with your advisor
Hello, Muhamad.
If you're just beginning to form your dissertation committee, the best piece of advice I can offer is to select an advisor that you can work well with. This means someone who is open, available, communicative, and wants to help you finish.
After you have chosen your advisor, keep the following in mind:
The internet has undoubtedly changed the advisor/advisee relationship. In an age of emails, text messages, and cell phones, it seems more and more students are relying on electronic communication to stay in touch with their advisors. Late night emails, e-copies of drafts, and quick phone calls have, for many students, replaced traditional sit-down meetings with their advisors.
While there is value in instant communication, it is also essential to talk - face to face - with your advisor on a regular basis. Discussing research questions, posing format questions, or merely venting about your dissertation frustrations can bear more fruit than any short email.
Attempt to maintain a regular meeting schedule with your advisor. Meet for coffee once a week for at least 30 minutes, have lunch every other for every other Tuesday, or schedule recurring conferences for the 1st and 15th of each month. Make seeing your advisor a part of your routine, not a cry for help.
Lastly, and most importantly, keep a running log of questions and topics of discussion for your advisor. Never go to a meeting without an agenda!
Hope you enjoyed this issue.
--Rachna
3. Set small goals. Meet. Repeat.
Hi, Muhamad.
Small goals are a necessity when taking on a project as massive as the dissertation. Thinking of the dissertation as an overwhelmingly enormous task does nothing but bog you down and stifle your creativity. Instead, you must see your dissertation as a series of small goals and creativities that culminate in the completion of a momentous project.
True this sort of small-step approach may seem monotonous and unexciting, but it is the best way to finish without becoming overwhelmed.
When you set a small goal, you immediately feel capable of reaching it, and, in fact, you may over-reach it (meaning you end up doing more than you planned, moving further ahead than you thought.)
Operate in 45 minute increments and you will find focus and motivation. In each 45 minute session, establish a concrete goal. For example, "I will read two chapters and take notes in the next 45 minutes" or "In the next 45 minutes, I will outline the key arguments of three topical articles." Anything that is small enough to achieve, and important enough to be worth achieving is fair game for this type of goal setting.
When you set goals in 45 minute increments, you are very likely to find that you accomplish more each day. I've implemented this small goal/45 minute rule, myself, and it's really helped boost my productivity even further.
If you don't know how to make progress, set a small goal for your next 45 minutes. Meet. Repeat.
--Rachna
4. Making dissertation progress and personal discipline
Hi, Muhamad.
Small goals are a necessity when taking on a project as massive as the dissertation. Thinking of the dissertation as an overwhelmingly enormous task does nothing but bog you down and stifle your creativity. Instead, you must see your dissertation as a series of small goals and creativities that culminate in the completion of a momentous project.
True this sort of small-step approach may seem monotonous and unexciting, but it is the best way to finish without becoming overwhelmed.
When you set a small goal, you immediately feel capable of reaching it, and, in fact, you may over-reach it (meaning you end up doing more than you planned, moving further ahead than you thought.)
Operate in 45 minute increments and you will find focus and motivation. In each 45 minute session, establish a concrete goal. For example, "I will read two chapters and take notes in the next 45 minutes" or "In the next 45 minutes, I will outline the key arguments of three topical articles." Anything that is small enough to achieve, and important enough to be worth achieving is fair game for this type of goal setting.
When you set goals in 45 minute increments, you are very likely to find that you accomplish more each day. I've implemented this small goal/45 minute rule, myself, and it's really helped boost my productivity even further.
If you don't know how to make progress, set a small goal for your next 45 minutes. Meet. Repeat.
--Rachna
5. Important resources for dissertators!
Hi, Muhamad! Back again with another tip for completing your dissertation.
Today I'd like to share two very important resources that every PhD hopeful should use:
(1) Your university's librarians
Librarians are amazing people! Most librarians got their Ph.D.'s because they have a desire to help people do research. They know the best places to find whatever you need to find and the formatting for nearly every discipline's attribution system.
Find a librarian that you get along with and learn his/her office hours or make regular appointments to discuss formatting issues or general research questions.
(2) Your peers
Never discount the importance of having a solid group writing and brainstorming group of your peers. Whether or not these peers are in your department or discipline is entirely up to you, but having fresh eyes or fresh ears to share drafts with or bounce ideas off of can provide you with good ideas and offer an interesting perspective.
Share your deadlines with your writing group and serve as accountability partners for each other. Build each other up, share in your collective frustrations, and motivate one another- your dissertation need not be a solitary endeavor.
Best of luck,
--Rachna
6. Don't let gremlins take control of your truck!
Hello, Muhamad! Today I'd like to talk a bit about the impact of negativity on your writing process.
Sometimes during the dissertation process, you'll be going along fine when all of a sudden; your motivation declines and your actions diminish.
Every time your motivation dips and action stalls, it's because the gremlins--those negative, whining, critical voices we carry around--have gained control of the truck. When the gremlins are in control, we begin to wonder if we'll succeed. We worry that we might be overreaching ourselves or that others will be upset by our actions. The gremlins have only one purpose: to keep you safe and small. You never have to worry about playing in the big game when the gremlins are in control.
Very often, the gremlins show up when we're tired or when we've just obtained negative feedback from our adviser or when we spend too much time in isolation and not enough time with people who love us.
Are there times in your dissertation process that you've been moving toward your goal of obtaining the Ph.D. when, all of a sudden, it seems like your progress comes to a screeching halt? Sometimes, this might be necessary; you might be waiting for some more information, a new book, or a new resource. But other times, doesn't the "stall out" happen because you've begun to doubt your idea and whether you have the intelligence, skills, or ability to create what you dream of?
It happens to all of us at one time or another. When you feel like you're like a truck that is stuck in neutral--not really moving forward but not sliding back--it's time to take a look into the driver's seat and see who's gotten control of the steering wheel. If it's a little green guy with big eyes; big teeth; and a loud, critical, nagging voice--tell him to get out of the car and catch a bus to nowhere with a one-way ticket.
By noticing the gremlins and actively working to send them away, you will attain greater inner calmness and peace. Keep focused on appropriately controlling your negative thoughts and keep moving in the direction of completing your dissertation. You can do this, and remember: the Ph.D. you want also wants you.
Good luck!
--Rachna
7. Journaling your way to dissertation success!
Hi, there.
I'm here again with another helpful hint to completing your dissertation.
Today I'd like to talk about journaling. Keeping a journal, diary, or blog can be a very helpful aspect of staying motivated during your dissertation process. Though regular entries, you can trace your productive (and not so productive) days to discover what elements of your daily life best lend themselves to increased output.
In your journal, note the conditions of your progress in order to track trends. For example, if you note that, on the days that you take the time to organize your working area, you write more pages, make an effort to clean your space more frequently. If you notice that, on days that you check your email before writing, you tend to write fewer pages, limit yourself to 10 minutes of internet time AFTER you have worked on your dissertation for a pre-specified amount of time.
Making the focus of your journal successes of even the smallest kind ("I just couldn't focus today, but I still managed to write 3 pages" or "Today I couldn't seem to write anything, but I got 15 endnotes in tip top shape!") allows you to see the dissertation as a multitude and not a magnitude.
Too often, ABD's look at the dissertation process as one big chunk- and don't take the time to acknowledge their incremental progress to the finish line.
If you're feeling unmotivated, stuck, helpless, or could use a bit more appreciation for your progress, consider starting a dissertation success journal today. The more progress you notice, the more progress you'll make. Try it and see.
Thanks for reading!
--Rachna
8. Measuring your dissertation progress
Hello, Muhamad!
Today we have a tip from Tim Martin, a fellow dissertator.
Dr. Jain, My suggestion is to make the best use of time. I have a fellow learner that just expressed her concern over the delay in scheduling a conference call. I commented on how some of our dissertation schedule is dependent on the schedule of others (mentor, committee members, etc). However, use this as bonus time. When waiting for feedback (can be a couple of weeks) or the appointed time for a conference call, use the time to catch up on other items, such as double checking references, seeking out books or newsletters on dissertation or taking a much needed vacation. Remember to be flexible and adjust your schedule whenever possible.
Tim makes an excellent point! Progress isn't necessarily measured in pages. Instead, it can be measured in footnotes completed, new resources discovered, or a few days spent refreshing your mind and body.
Don't forget, if you have a helpful hint you'd like to share, email it to me and I will do my best to publish it.
Cheers,
--Rachna
9. Addressing and closing the "critical gap" between you and your dreams
Hello, Muhamad. Today I would like to discuss the "critical gap" between where you are and where you would like to be. This "gap" is the space between where you are, and where you dream of being. The gap exists, most often, because there is a strong desire for something (the completion of your dissertation), combined with a weak belief that you will actually attain what you desire. So, stated another way, you really want something that you don't really think you're going to get.
Since you already believe the "getting" is going to be hard, tough, or, maybe even impossible, you don't take action to move through the gap. Over time, it becomes easier to wish and hope than it does to take action to get it.
For example, did you start this year with some New Year's Resolutions? (Many of us did). Are you still adhering to the things you resolved to do? (Many of us aren't.) If not, this means that you've stopped moving through the gap, and have allowed yourself to believe that attaining what you want is not possible.
In my coaching work, we tend to focus a lot on changing the "inner landscape", which is made up of the thoughts and beliefs that guide your actions. Changing on the inside leads to a change on the outside- so it becomes easier to believe in your success, and, therefore, easier to achieve it.
If you want to complete your dissertation, get really clear on when you want it done, and to be very honest about what keeps you from completing it. (Hint: this rarely involves outside entities like time, space, or other people). If you have a goal that you're not meeting, it's usually because you've not fully committed to it. The first step to crossing the gap is to find, and commit to something you really want.
Now that you've found the "gap" and are ready to move through it: identify any beliefs or thoughts which are keeping you from taking action ("I'm not smart enough, qualified enough, attractive enough"), start working on shifting these belief systems (maybe by finding contradictory evidence- times that prove you are " ____ enough") and keep practicing this new way of thinking and believing. Pretty soon, you'll find that the space between where you are and what you want is getting smaller and smaller- and you will find that the distance between you and success is no bigger than a crack in the sidewalk.
Until next time,
--Rachna
10. Do your friends and advisors cultivate your ideas?
Hi, Muhamad- Dr. Jain, again.
Discussing your ideas is a key part of the dissertation project. The importance of brainstorming with other individuals cannot be overlooked; however, it is absolutely necessary for you to watch who you talk to.
Be careful in sharing your dissertation process or progress with people who probably won't understand, and, worse, may make you feel badly about your project.
There is value in sharing your work with individuals that are not part of the same academic discipline or know little about your specific topic, but it can also expose you to unnecessary (and possibly unfounded) criticism.
If you need to talk about your dissertation, be sure you do this in a safe place and with people you trust. If you forget this, you run the risk of having your ideas trashed and of feeling badly.
Take your ideas where they will be welcome and cultivated. This is how they will grow.
Talk to you soon!
--Rachna
11. Accepting criticism and critique graciously
Hello, again.
Because we talked recently about the importance of taking your ideas where they will be welcomed and cultivated, I figured that today would be a good day to talk about the importance of criticism and critique... and how to accept it graciously!
Receiving critiques can be very difficult because your dissertation is (hopefully) something you are fond of. You have invested countless hours in developing a topic, doing the research, and fleshing out your arguments. Yet, regardless of how much it can hurt, criticism is, for good or bad, an integral part of the dissertation work. While it can be difficult to watch someone poke holes in your arguments or question your research, surviving your defense requires you to be open to all types of feedback.
Sometimes, the feedback will be gently given. Other times, it will be quite harsh. The challenge for you, the dissertator, is to find a way to recover from the harsh criticism so you can keep moving ahead. It is important to remember that *you* are not being critiqued. It is not personal. So, take the criticism and use it to write a better dissertation.
In the event that harsh criticism bogs you down, the following ideas may help:
1) Have a safety net - keep a close knit group of two or three friends that you can rely on to allow you to safely and comfortably vent your frustrations.
2) De-stress by spending some time with young children and/or pets. Giving yourself time to play allows you to put the harsh criticism out of your head and takes you to a better place.
3) Do something relaxing and rewarding. You can't relax and be upset at the same time.
If you have any useful strategies for dealing with harsh critiques or a personal story about dealing with criticism, please send them and I will include them in a future email.
Until next time, best of luck.
--Rachna
12. Taking care of yourself during your dissertation process
Hello, Muhamad!
Hope you are making progress. In this issue of 365PhD, I'd like to take some time to talk - not about your dissertation - but about YOU. In the whirlwind of research, writing, and editing (or the whirlwind of avoiding research, writing, and editing), it is possible to lose touch with the rest of your life.
As you endeavor to complete your dissertation, take the heart the following tips to balance your life with your writing:
(1) Respect important events.
This tip comes from my own experience. During my dissertation year, I was asked to be a bridesmaid in my friend Mary's wedding. We had met during my Master's program and had stayed in semi-close touch for a few years after. When I received the invitation, I felt that I was toobusy and couldn't possibly take time away from my dissertation to be a bridesmaid and have some fun. Mary never spoke to me again. Perhaps there were other reasons, but I suspect that they were related to my refusal to make room in my dissertation process for her. In a year-long process, would taking a weekend off have been such a big deal? Probably not. Hindsight is 20/20.
(2) Schedule a complete "day off" from the dissertation at least twice a month.
Breaks are important to keep your mind refreshed and your energy high. You should allow yourself at least two days off each month. Schedule these days off several weeks in advance and protect this time. It's essential to the dissertation process. As such, you should not feel guilty or like you are "slacking off." Instead, have fun and don't even think about your dissertation! Instead of worrying or fretting or pushing yourself, spend this day reconnecting with yourself,nature, or people you care for. You'll feel an amazing difference.
Hope this helped.
--Rachna
13. Do you suffer from "Impostor Syndrome"?
Hi, Muhamad! Time for another tip for finishing your dissertation!
It seems that many PhD students suffer from "Imposter Syndrome". For those of you who don't know, this term refers to someone who is "playing a role" and therefore believes that his/her success is due to "tricking" others. People with "Imposter Syndrome" can live in mortal dread of being "found out" or "uncovered".
What this most often means, in my experience, is that there is a BIG HUGE gap between the person's accomplishments and his/her own self view.
For example, do you know any other students that continually say that they feel that they are not as smart as other members of your PhD program?
Do you every feel this way, yourself?
:)
The truth is, I think we all must feel a bit of "imposter syndrome" every now and then. We sometimes "fake" that we know what we're doing, and we sometimes step out into a bigger game or a bigger world before we're quite ready. The difference, I think, comes from the knowledge that you can grow into the bigger shoes or bigger game or bigger space.
And, of course, the second step is in accepting that you have every right to be there-- because you are, indeed, who you say you are.
This week, where could you step out bigger and let the real you shine through?
Until next time,
--Rachna
14. The Dissertation Survival Kit
Things Every Dissertator Should Have:
Everyone writing a dissertation should have a handful of quintessential supplies that assure productivity. The following three items are my personal "Dissertation Survival Kit."
(1) A planner
Finding a planner that suits your needs is an essential part of setting and meeting your goals. Whether it is a paper-pencil scheduler or a fancy electronic gizmo, visually detailing your dissertation timeline allows you to internalize the deadlines and refer to them whenever you need.
Consider your planner your ever-evolving contract with yourself. Record your appointments and attend them. Document your objectives and meet them.
(2) A journal
Take note of your successes, explore your failures, and examine how you can recreate the successes and prevent the failures in the future.
(3) A timer
Work incrementally and use the time to be sure you're never slacking off. If the timer hasn't beeped, you are not free to check your email or surf your favorite news site.
What are the supplies that are essential to your dissertation process? Email them to me and I'll publish them.
Here's to wishing you productive and happy working,
--Rachna
15. Curing yourself of perfectionism.
Hi, Muhamad.
Lately I've been thinking about perfectionism. The desire to write the "perfect dissertation" can drive a dissertator to the brink of insanity. You should never underestimate your capabilities, but it is possible to set your goals too high.
Avoid pushing yourself too hard: redefine "perfect." I like to think of perfect as related to doing my best, at all times, with everything I know and have at that moment. If you apply this to your dissertation process, and know that you, too, are doing the best you can with what you have, perhaps you will find that you have attained perfection, and won't need to keep ceaselessly striving for it.
It also helps if you take the time to understand that "not perfect" is not "failure." Instead, feedback, criticism, and critiques are the guidepost to success. All feedback moves you closer to being finished with your dissertation.
The sooner you hit "wrong way" dead ends, the faster you'll find the "right way" expressways. We all make mistakes or have stumbling blocks in our progress, but the most successful people use those mistakes and stumbling blocks to further their overall progress.
Lastly, practice allowing yourself to be less than perfect. Students who are perfectionist about the dissertation often have extremely high standards in other areas of their lives. Practice living a life that isn't rigidly perfect. Don't make the bed one day, leave the dishes in the sink overnight - realize that the world won't end if you give less than 110% effort. This will not only lead to a more joyful dissertation process, but a more joyful life in general.
Best of luck,
--Rachna
16. Motivational methods to measure your dissertation progress!
Hello, Muhamad.
Time for another tip:
If you are planning to finish your dissertation in twelve to eighteen months, you will need to produce about five pages of writing each week (or about one page per weekday) to meet this goal. This assumes chapters of twenty-five to thirty pages and that you are steadily producing output. What you may notice from this example is that five pages a week may feel doable. By thinking of the writing in five-page increments, you can see that the dissertation need not be a mysterious and looming project without structure or focus.
With this 5 page benchmark in mind, devise a method of tracking your progress in a visible, physical way. This is a great motivator, as well as an excellent way to mark the end of each of your writing sessions.
Here are some possibilities:
(1) Physically tally each page you complete on a chalkboard
(2) For each page you finish, drop one marble into a jar.
(3) On a calendar, color in each day that you complete your goals with a brightly colored marker.
Link your visual tracking system to a reward. If you complete at least 18 pages every two weeks, treat yourself to your favorite ice cream, a massage, or dinner and a movie. Quickly, you will find yourself attempting to mark off as many tallies as possible so that, come reward day, you'll be able to rejoice in your successes.
Until next time,
--Rachna
17. Get the creative juices flowing!
Hello, again Muhamad!
Writing your dissertation is a test of fortitude and patience that is most easily passed with consistent, continual effort. And, though it is less dramatic or romantic, you must remember that writing need not always been prompted by great genius. It is always better to do even mediocre work regularly than it is to do brilliant work inconsistently. Graduate students who wait for the Muse to visit before working on the project tend to be ABD for much longer than those who find a way to work on it in a consistent fashion. Inspiration, deep excitement and passion are not always necessary components to dissertation progress.
If you sit down to work and cannot seem to productively commit your thoughts to paper, attempt the following to insure meaningful progress and maybe stir your creativity:
1) Stop writing and start talking. Record your thoughts and play them back. When you listen, you may make connections or see gaps. If you are a fast and accurate typist, you might even want to consider transcribing your spoken thoughts onto paper. This can help you overcome the starkness of a plain white sheet of paper that seems to be waiting--not always patiently--for your thoughts.
It may also help to talk to someone. Try talking about your ideas aloud to a peer, spouse, or partner. Sometimes, sharing our ideas with others can help us clarify our arguments. If your listener is willing, have him/her repeat back what was said and allow questions. This can demonstrate where the logic of your argument may be faltering or breaking down.
2) Ask questions. Instead of "Talk about so-and-so's contribution to XYZ," write, "What was so-and-so's contribution to the XYZ?" This technique comes from a process developed by Steve Manning, who has worked with many writers. Manning has found that it is much easier for a writer to begin writing on the answer to a question. This process may help you as well.
3) Ease into it. Consider easing into the writing by starting with a section that you know you can easily handle, perhaps one in which you are merely reporting information rather than interpreting it.
4) Don't write. If you have tried some of the above but are still stuck, you might consider spending your working time in another form of necessary activity such as organization, additional research, revision, or editing. Sometimes, you just can't produce new writing on command.
As always, best of luck.
--Rachna
18. All our power is in this moment
Muhamad, today I would like to share a simple thought with you: all our power is in this moment.
It is from this moment that you create your future. It is from this point- with your knowledge, strengths, "not quite right" pieces, relationships, and talents that you send up wishes, dreams, and hopes for the future.
Many of us put off joy and happiness- as we fall into patterns of thinking like, "I'll just work really hard- for now- and then take time off later, after I've made more money." Or "I don't have time to work on my relationships- there will be more time later."
How many things do you put off into the future? How much joy do you postpone?
I'll ask you to consider these questions over the next few weeks- and, if you'd like to share, I'd be glad to learn about your answers.
I am continually reminded that we all can accomplish our goals. We just have to start. In this moment.
--Rachna
19. Eliminate distractions to increase productivity
Doesn't our world just seem full of distractions, Muhamad? Whenever I sit down to attempt to accomplish something, the phone rings or an email arrives or I realize a show I "really want to watch" is on. Next think you know- I've spent two and a half hours watching a movie that I've already seen or I've dedicated an entire afternoon to surfing the internet for a new pair of shoes that I don't even need!
My suggestion- remove the distractions.
I know it's not easy, but it's necessary. Unless you absolutely need the internet for your work, disable your connection. Turn off your cell phone. Don't turn the television on and hide the remote so that you will never be tempted to click it on "for a few minutes."
I have started cutting back on the number of times I check my email each day and it's made a HUGE difference in my productivity.
Instead of checking it 5-6x per day, I'm gradually cutting back to just 3x per day- once in the morning, once after lunch, and once at the end of the day. It's amazing how much more mind-space I have to actually produce new things. My creativity is coming back, as is my enthusiasm.
It is also helpful to work at a time when distractions are limited. Use the quiet of the morning to focus all of your energies on your dissertation. Enjoy the silence of the night while concentrating exclusively on your day's dissertation goals.
Establishing a ritual distraction removal and working at a distraction-free time readies your mind and body for work. You become focused on the task at hand and, who knows, you may even complete it early and be able to spend the rest of your day indulging in distractions galore!
Good luck,
--Rachna
20. Keep It Clean!
Hello, Muhamad
As you work on your dissertation, Keep your work environment clean, pleasing, and free of distractions. It's really helpful to have extra room to work. Make it a habit to "clear out" your work space on a weekly or monthly basis- filing away articles or information you aren't actively using, shelving books, etc. This will keep your
mind clear and focused.
Sometimes, just cleaning out your space is enough to get you started working when you're stuck.
Several studies have pointed out that too much visual clutter (like that which comes from piles of papers, books, and other information) can actually increase your stress level. Being surrounded with too much 'stuff' can leave you feeling unfocused and confused about what to do next.
A good habit to cultivate is to regularly clean up your work area of any materials you aren't actively using. Try to adopt an organized approach from the beginning- it's much, much easier than trying to change part of the way through. If you've already started, then do what you can to be clutter-free from here.
Don't forget to share your best tip with us! I'll publish as many as possible! Thanks, and have a great day!
--Rachna
21. Don't Delay All Your Gratification
Dear Muhamad,
Planning to do the dissertation can sometimes be more fun than actually sitting down to work on it. When you feel this way, it's easy to procrastinate and avoid what you should be doing.
One of the main reasons people avoid anything is because the perceived rewards of completing the task are not greater than the perceived effort it would take to complete the task. Stated more simply: procrastination arises when you don't feel your effort will give you adequate rewards.
I just returned from a psychology continuing education program and in that program, the instructor talked about the idea that people who were able to delay gratification were shown to be more successful in life over time. The research was completed on children, but the results probably apply to adults, too.
After all, you've delayed gratification multiple times to get to this point, haven't you? And you've probably been reasonably successful until now. Something about the dissertation is different, though. It can be difficult to delay gratification one more time.
My solution? Don't delay ALL your gratification. It sounds simple, but it works. Build in rewards for your dissertation progress, and tie these, directly, to your goal achievements within the project. You finished writing a section? Go out to lunch with a friend. You finished writing a chapter? Take the weekend off. You broke through a difficult transition and found an elegant solution to the problem? Call a friend and get some praise.
We are social animals, and one of the most important keys to our happiness is our relationships. Use your relationships/relationship activities as ways to reward your dissertation progress. You'll have more fun, and will finish faster, too.
Best,
--Rachna
22. Select a Manageable Topic
Hi Muhamad,
Your dissertation is an incredible endeavor and so you must make sure your topic is manageable.
It's common, initially, for graduate students to select complex designs, intensive research requirements, and all encompassing topics for study.
If you want to finish quickly, though, you need to pick a topic which you can complete quickly. Design a study which will allow you to collect data quickly, or a topic in which something has been written that you can build on.
These are small adjustments which can, literally, take months or years off your dissertation process.
If you are working on pulling together a topic, be sure to pick a manageable one.
See you next time,
--Rachna
23. Create Your Timeline to Finish
Hi Muhamad,
A great tool to get you started in the best way is to use the backwards planning process. I wanted to share it with you here.
This tool is excerpted from my book: Get it Done, A Coach's Guide to Dissertation Success. All of my past clients have found it useful. I hope you do, too.
If you want your own copy, you can get that here:
http://www.completeyourdissertation.com/go/books
*******
Take a piece of paper and list, at the bottom, your desired defense date. Let's say it's August 21.
Then, count backwards three weeks from August 21 and write August 1. This is the day that you have to turn in the final draft to the committee for review.
Then count backwards 1 month from August 1, and write July 1. This is when the full draft should be turned into your advisor for his/her comments & revisions.
Counting six weeks back from that, you write May 15 which is when you must start your final chapter. Count six weeks back from that, and write April 1- this is when you must start your 2nd to last chapter. Count six more weeks back and write
February 15- this is when you must start your second chapter. And so on.
Allot about six weeks per chapter, and aim to write each chapter in six weeks or less. This way, you can know, exactly, where you have to be- and by when- to defend as planned.
See you next time,
--Rachna
24. Communicate Your Goals
Another great dissertation tip for you., Muhamad did you know ... it's good to set reasonable deadlines of yourself and others. Communicate about these as soon as possible.
Quite often, my clients do not discuss their plans or eventual goals with their advisors or committees, and then feel disappointed and hurt when events proceed in unplanned directions. A great way to prevent this is to communicate, clearly, what your plans are (i.e.- I want to finish my dissertation within one year, is this something we can work towards?). If you ask questions like this early on, you will be on the "same page" with everyone you're working with. When everyone is in agreement, the work proceeds quickly and smoothly.
When was the last time you contacted your advisor? Do you feel that you're on the same page with him or her? If not, make contact this week- even if it's scary. You can do it.
Don't forget to share your best tip with us! I'll publish as many as possible!
Thanks, and have a great day!
--Rachna
25. Overcoming Procrastination
Hi!, Muhamad
Today I'd like to share an informative article I found online.
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Overcoming Procrastination: Getting Organized to Complete the Dissertation
Tara L. Kuther, PhD
Based upon a paper presented in J. Primavera and T. Kuther (Co-Chairs), Dissertation management: How to avoid becoming an "A.B.D. Symposium conducted at the 1999 annual meeting of the American Psychological Association,
The doctoral dissertation is often viewed as an ominous black cloud, looming over the All-But-Dissertation-Student's head. The dissertation is often the most difficult academic requirement a doctoral student faces; many students exhibit delay in completing it (Frank, 1984; Rudestam & Newton, 1992). Procrastination is common among college students and has been found to increase over the college years (Solomon & Rothblum, 1984). It therefore should be surprising that, after several years of education beyond the bachelors degree, procrastination predicts dissertation among ABDs (Muszynski & Akamatsu, 1991).
Why do ABDs procrastinate? Possibly because of a combination of fear and perfectionist tendencies. Those who procrastinate tend to be perfectionistic, have low frustration tolerance, high needs for autonomy and approval, and fears of failure (Muszynski & Akamatsu, 1991). With regard to the dissertaTion, perhaps the most common reason for procrastinating entails perceiving it as an overwhelming
task. Motivation may be the biggest problem that writers of the dissertation face.
From the start, it is important to recognize that the dissertation is a time consuming, lonely process, that usually takes about two years. The dissertation may serve as a major blow to a graduate student's self esteem; it is not uncommon to feel as if it is an
insurmountable task that will never be completed. The key to completing the dissertation promptly is organization and time management; the dissertation stage is often the first time in which a student must provide his or her own structure towards completing a research task. Throughout graduate school, structure is provided
to the student through courses and formal assignments as a research assistant. The dissertation is unstructured, it is now the student's turn to apply the structure, and structure must be applied in order to complete it.
One way of providing structure is to view the dissertation as a series of steps, rather than as one mammoth task; motivation may be maintained and even enhanced as each small step is completed. Remember how good it feels to cross an item off a list?
Organization provides a sense of control, holds procrastination at minimal levels, and is key to completing the dissertation. How does one get organized?
1. Outline the small steps needed to complete this large project.
All too often, students may feel that their only goal is to "finish the thesis. A goal this large may feel indomitable; break it down into the component tasks. For example, at the proposal stage, the tasks may be organized as follows: thesis statement, literature
review, method, plan for analyses. Each of these tasks entails many smaller tasks. The list for the literature review may consist of an outline of the topics you wish to discuss, with each outlined as detailed as possible. You may even wish to list relevant articles
in the appropriate places within the outline. The method will consist of the participants, including items on locating them, rewards, drafting informed consent forms, locating measures, describing psychometric properties of the measures, piloting
measures, drafting the procedure, etc.
In terms of completing tasks, it is not necessary to start at the beginning of the list, in fact, believing that one starts the dissertation proposal by writing his or her introduction and thesis and ends with the plan for analyses will detain progress. Begin
where you feel comfortable and fill in the gaps. You will find that you gain momentum with the completion of each small task. Feeling overwhelmed by any particular task is a sign that you have not broken it down into small enough pieces.
2. Make consistent progress writing every day, even if only for a short period.
Set aside periods of time to write on a regular basis; establish a firm schedule. Train yourself to write in short blocks, for at least an hour a day. All too often we insist that we need large blocks of time to write. Blocks of time certainly help the writing
process, but the ABD often lacks such resources. For example, when I was writing the dissertation, I taught 5 classes as an adjunct at 4 different schools; blocks of time were difficult to find, other than over the weekend. Aside from pragmatics, writing at least a little every day keeps the thesis topic fresh in your mind, leaving you open to new ideas and interpretations. You may even find yourself thinking about it and making conceptual progress as you complete mundane tasks such as driving to and from school and work.
3. Use incentives to assist you in overcoming procrastination.
Writing requires consistent, well-organized effort and a system of self-imposed incentives to overcome procrastination. What kind of incentives work? Although it depends on the individual, a safe bet is time off from working. I found "vegetation time such as time spent playing computer games to be helpful as an incentive to reinforce progress.
4. Methodically break through writer's block.
When it is difficult to write, talk through your ideas to anyone who will listen, or just talk out loud to yourself. Write out your thoughts without criticizing them. Take time to warm up, intellectually speaking, by writing to clear your thoughts. Get the
ideas out without scrutinizing each sentence; it is often easier to edit than it is to write. Work through your ideas by writing, THEN edit extensively. You will write many drafts of each section of the dissertation; a first (second, or even third) draft need not
approach perfection. In addition, it is acceptable to use dashes to mark when you cannot find the appropriate word to express your idea, but want to go on; just remember to fill in the dashes later. The important thing is that you develop a pattern of producing some output regularly that output can be edited or even thrown out, but
it is important to produce something.
5. Recognize and accept the fact that writing is a time consuming process; do not rush yourself.
No draft will be perfect that first time around. Expect to go through several drafts of each section of your dissertation. Once you feel comfortable with a particular section, take time away from it. Ask others to read your writing and consider their comments and criticisms with an open mind. After a few days or a week, reread the section and edit again; you may be quite surprised by the impact of a fresh perspective.
Writing the dissertation is much like running a marathon. The seemingly insurmountable may be attained through a series of small goals and deadlines; accomplishing each small goal may provide additional momentum. Make consistent progress each day, use incentives to assist you in attaining your goals, and acknowledge that the dissertation will require time, hard work, and patience.
Finally, consider the words of Dag Hammarskjold: "Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was."
This article first appeared in the Summer 1999 Edition of the APAGS Newsletter, Vol. 11(3)
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It's been great connecting with you. Hope you enjoyed this issue.
See you again soon!
--Rachna
26. Communicate Your Goals
Another great dissertation tip for you., Muhamad
did you know ... it's good to set reasonable deadlines of yourself and others. Communicate about these as soon as possible.
Quite often, my clients do not discuss their plans or eventual goals with their advisors or committees, and then feel disappointed and hurt when events proceed in unplanned directions. A great way to prevent this is to communicate, clearly, what your plans are (i.e.- I want to finish my dissertation within one year, is this something we can work towards?). If you ask questions like this early on, you will be on the "same page" with everyone you're working with. When everyone is in agreement, the work proceeds quickly and smoothly.
When was the last time you contacted your advisor? Do you feel that you're on the same page with him or her? If not, make contact this week- even if it's scary. You can do it.
Don't forget to share your best tip with us! I'll publish as many as possible!
Thanks, and have a great day!
--Rachna
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