struggling with procrastination, looking for strategies and ideas












3














I am currently in the writing phase of my thesis. Factors related to and unrelated to academia are putting me under "nice" amount of pressure. it became much harder for me to concentrate on reading or writing and always end up procrastinating much of the time.



What are good strategies to get back on track in regards to managing my thesis work? When should one consider psychiatric counseling?










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  • Possible duplicate of Strategies to overcome "academic-apathy" in the final stages of the PhD?
    – cag51
    1 hour ago
















3














I am currently in the writing phase of my thesis. Factors related to and unrelated to academia are putting me under "nice" amount of pressure. it became much harder for me to concentrate on reading or writing and always end up procrastinating much of the time.



What are good strategies to get back on track in regards to managing my thesis work? When should one consider psychiatric counseling?










share|improve this question






















  • Possible duplicate of Strategies to overcome "academic-apathy" in the final stages of the PhD?
    – cag51
    1 hour ago














3












3








3


1





I am currently in the writing phase of my thesis. Factors related to and unrelated to academia are putting me under "nice" amount of pressure. it became much harder for me to concentrate on reading or writing and always end up procrastinating much of the time.



What are good strategies to get back on track in regards to managing my thesis work? When should one consider psychiatric counseling?










share|improve this question













I am currently in the writing phase of my thesis. Factors related to and unrelated to academia are putting me under "nice" amount of pressure. it became much harder for me to concentrate on reading or writing and always end up procrastinating much of the time.



What are good strategies to get back on track in regards to managing my thesis work? When should one consider psychiatric counseling?







emotional-responses procrastination






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 7 hours ago









N00

5681218




5681218












  • Possible duplicate of Strategies to overcome "academic-apathy" in the final stages of the PhD?
    – cag51
    1 hour ago


















  • Possible duplicate of Strategies to overcome "academic-apathy" in the final stages of the PhD?
    – cag51
    1 hour ago
















Possible duplicate of Strategies to overcome "academic-apathy" in the final stages of the PhD?
– cag51
1 hour ago




Possible duplicate of Strategies to overcome "academic-apathy" in the final stages of the PhD?
– cag51
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















4














Don't try to limit procrastination. You have already tried that and it didn't work. Instead, limit the time that you spend writing, but during writing time, write and do nothing else.



The limitation of your permissible writing time should feel like a real constraint. It should also feel doable. Forget about 'making up for lost time'. If your are a heavy procrastinator with strong anxiety, start with half an hour or less. Three hours should be the maximum if you schedule daily writing sessions, which I recommend. Remember to take breaks during which you move away from the desk. The 'pomodoro technique' can be useful to divide time into manageable chuncks of writing/working and rest/recovery.



Don't ever allow yourself to write once the allotted time period has expired, until the following day. You might waste scarce writing time by procrastinating once, perhaps twice, but probably not more.



This is how I finished my PhD thesis.



Regarding counseling: Consider counseling or therapy if you feel depressed, anxious, or have trouble sleeping for more than ten days in a row.






share|improve this answer























  • Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
    – Peter K.
    4 hours ago



















1














Start with why and determine the reasons behind doing a particular work!



The following three strategies have worked for me:



First, slice your project into several tasks.



Second, for each 45 minutes of working time, dedicate 15 minutes of rest time. (important: that 45 minute task must be completely focused task)



And last but not not least, plan for the time block. Exactly write down what you will do (step by step) during the time block you have dedicated for a task.






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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    active

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    active

    oldest

    votes









    4














    Don't try to limit procrastination. You have already tried that and it didn't work. Instead, limit the time that you spend writing, but during writing time, write and do nothing else.



    The limitation of your permissible writing time should feel like a real constraint. It should also feel doable. Forget about 'making up for lost time'. If your are a heavy procrastinator with strong anxiety, start with half an hour or less. Three hours should be the maximum if you schedule daily writing sessions, which I recommend. Remember to take breaks during which you move away from the desk. The 'pomodoro technique' can be useful to divide time into manageable chuncks of writing/working and rest/recovery.



    Don't ever allow yourself to write once the allotted time period has expired, until the following day. You might waste scarce writing time by procrastinating once, perhaps twice, but probably not more.



    This is how I finished my PhD thesis.



    Regarding counseling: Consider counseling or therapy if you feel depressed, anxious, or have trouble sleeping for more than ten days in a row.






    share|improve this answer























    • Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
      – Peter K.
      4 hours ago
















    4














    Don't try to limit procrastination. You have already tried that and it didn't work. Instead, limit the time that you spend writing, but during writing time, write and do nothing else.



    The limitation of your permissible writing time should feel like a real constraint. It should also feel doable. Forget about 'making up for lost time'. If your are a heavy procrastinator with strong anxiety, start with half an hour or less. Three hours should be the maximum if you schedule daily writing sessions, which I recommend. Remember to take breaks during which you move away from the desk. The 'pomodoro technique' can be useful to divide time into manageable chuncks of writing/working and rest/recovery.



    Don't ever allow yourself to write once the allotted time period has expired, until the following day. You might waste scarce writing time by procrastinating once, perhaps twice, but probably not more.



    This is how I finished my PhD thesis.



    Regarding counseling: Consider counseling or therapy if you feel depressed, anxious, or have trouble sleeping for more than ten days in a row.






    share|improve this answer























    • Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
      – Peter K.
      4 hours ago














    4












    4








    4






    Don't try to limit procrastination. You have already tried that and it didn't work. Instead, limit the time that you spend writing, but during writing time, write and do nothing else.



    The limitation of your permissible writing time should feel like a real constraint. It should also feel doable. Forget about 'making up for lost time'. If your are a heavy procrastinator with strong anxiety, start with half an hour or less. Three hours should be the maximum if you schedule daily writing sessions, which I recommend. Remember to take breaks during which you move away from the desk. The 'pomodoro technique' can be useful to divide time into manageable chuncks of writing/working and rest/recovery.



    Don't ever allow yourself to write once the allotted time period has expired, until the following day. You might waste scarce writing time by procrastinating once, perhaps twice, but probably not more.



    This is how I finished my PhD thesis.



    Regarding counseling: Consider counseling or therapy if you feel depressed, anxious, or have trouble sleeping for more than ten days in a row.






    share|improve this answer














    Don't try to limit procrastination. You have already tried that and it didn't work. Instead, limit the time that you spend writing, but during writing time, write and do nothing else.



    The limitation of your permissible writing time should feel like a real constraint. It should also feel doable. Forget about 'making up for lost time'. If your are a heavy procrastinator with strong anxiety, start with half an hour or less. Three hours should be the maximum if you schedule daily writing sessions, which I recommend. Remember to take breaks during which you move away from the desk. The 'pomodoro technique' can be useful to divide time into manageable chuncks of writing/working and rest/recovery.



    Don't ever allow yourself to write once the allotted time period has expired, until the following day. You might waste scarce writing time by procrastinating once, perhaps twice, but probably not more.



    This is how I finished my PhD thesis.



    Regarding counseling: Consider counseling or therapy if you feel depressed, anxious, or have trouble sleeping for more than ten days in a row.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 4 hours ago

























    answered 4 hours ago









    henning

    18.4k46293




    18.4k46293












    • Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
      – Peter K.
      4 hours ago


















    • Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
      – Peter K.
      4 hours ago
















    Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
    – Peter K.
    4 hours ago




    Yes. I took six weeks off my writing phase to "research" quotations about coffee, which I wanted to place at the beginning of each chapter of my thesis. It gave me a much-needed respite, and when I got back to thesis-writing, it was much easier.
    – Peter K.
    4 hours ago











    1














    Start with why and determine the reasons behind doing a particular work!



    The following three strategies have worked for me:



    First, slice your project into several tasks.



    Second, for each 45 minutes of working time, dedicate 15 minutes of rest time. (important: that 45 minute task must be completely focused task)



    And last but not not least, plan for the time block. Exactly write down what you will do (step by step) during the time block you have dedicated for a task.






    share|improve this answer


























      1














      Start with why and determine the reasons behind doing a particular work!



      The following three strategies have worked for me:



      First, slice your project into several tasks.



      Second, for each 45 minutes of working time, dedicate 15 minutes of rest time. (important: that 45 minute task must be completely focused task)



      And last but not not least, plan for the time block. Exactly write down what you will do (step by step) during the time block you have dedicated for a task.






      share|improve this answer
























        1












        1








        1






        Start with why and determine the reasons behind doing a particular work!



        The following three strategies have worked for me:



        First, slice your project into several tasks.



        Second, for each 45 minutes of working time, dedicate 15 minutes of rest time. (important: that 45 minute task must be completely focused task)



        And last but not not least, plan for the time block. Exactly write down what you will do (step by step) during the time block you have dedicated for a task.






        share|improve this answer












        Start with why and determine the reasons behind doing a particular work!



        The following three strategies have worked for me:



        First, slice your project into several tasks.



        Second, for each 45 minutes of working time, dedicate 15 minutes of rest time. (important: that 45 minute task must be completely focused task)



        And last but not not least, plan for the time block. Exactly write down what you will do (step by step) during the time block you have dedicated for a task.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        R. Gholizadeh R.

        195128




        195128






























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