Autumn Dissertation Momentum

1. AUTUMN DISSERTATION MOMENTUM For those of us involved in academia, autumn is truly the start of the new year. Think about it. January isn’t really the best time to start anew. In the northern hemisphere, the colder, darker months can leave us feeling lackluster and depressed. On top of that, we’re fresh off of the holidays, when we may have overspent and overindulged. When it comes to January, it’s a wonder we attempt to create a new start at all. This October, how can you keep that fresh, back-to-school-feeling? Look no further!

2. 5 Steps to Keep your Inner Student Alive Reconnect with your supervisor and peers. Many graduate students working on their dissertations gradually become quite isolated from other students in their program, as well as their supervisor and committee members. (Of course, reasons for this vary.) Reach out to them now. Set up a meeting with your key advisor to discuss your current status, timelines and progress. Re-engage with your dissertation draft. Move past your inner resistance. It will feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but after a summer of outdoor busy- ness and family activities, fall is the perfect time to get back into the writing groove. Start by reviewing where you left off: do you want to pick things up again there or perhaps dive into a different section? Remember that the dissertation writing process does not have to be sequential. Try to schedule a regular writing block of even an hour or 90 minutes into your day.

3. Venture outside your usual haunts. Nothing expands our mental horizons more than exploration. It gives us a chance to reinvent ourselves; to see the world through eyes anew. On top of that, the discovery of new places and people provides a refreshing influence that can shift our understanding. When we return home, we are renewed. Devote some time to sharing what you know. When we teach others, it solidifies our knowledge base and increases our confidence. What skills can you share with the world? This doesn’t have to be academic in nature. (Think of hosting a book group or teaching a kids’ watercolour class.) Whatever you know, pass it on. Broaden your social circle. Socializing with fresh, new humans can break down all sorts of internal boundaries. Befriend otherwise. It’s easy to find people with similar viewpoints, but dare to reach out beyond your usual circle. Join that hiking club; try birdwatching; volunteer at your local food bank. someone you might not Commit to wrapping up your dissertation project. For most of us, any unfinished long term project (such as a dissertation) continues to weigh on us heavily the longer it is delayed. We declare we’re going to get to it and yet another week (or month or year) passes and procrastination takes over. www.dissertationcompletecoaching.com info@dissertationcompletecoaching.com