Help me to make a great leap forward in my PhD in the next six weeks. I am in the last year of my PhD (philosophy) so the thesis has to be finished by December, however, I am also full time university lecturer, so when the term starts my ability to write every day is drastically compromised. By selling part of my soul I negotiated almost complete freedom for the next six weeks and I want to use them to make massive progress with writing the thesis. I already have about 40,000 words written and I am hoping to write another 40,000 over the next 6 weeks. The challenge is to stick to the daily quota of 1,000 words, as some days it is possible, even fun, other days it is very very hard.
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posted by slimeline
on Jul 31, 2012 -
23 answers
How can I train myself to get into work by 9AM when nobody but me seems to care at all what time I come in?
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posted by Scientist
on Jun 21, 2012 -
61 answers
I need some help with motivation. I work best to set-in-stone deadlines which I will be in trouble if I do not meet. Unfortunately my current job doesn't work that way. I'm finding myself rather unproductive these days and I don't like it.
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posted by Ziggy500
on Apr 12, 2012 -
11 answers
For those who find "relaxing" completely un-relaxing, how do you cultivate a strong activity and project based home life?
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posted by elephantsvanish
on Jan 2, 2012 -
11 answers
I think I procrastinate on projects as a dysfunctional way to manage my anxiety about them. Can you help me manage that anxiety more productively?
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posted by colfax
on Dec 8, 2011 -
8 answers
I have lost all of my motivation to do even a modicum of a half-decent job at work. Has anyone dealt with this? How do I get back into the groove of things?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 1, 2011 -
23 answers
My job has a lot of responsibilities and some of them are more interesting and appealing than others. Sometimes I find myself blocked on some of the ones I like less, especially when they have stressful consequences. For example, I often need to write detailed reports for higher-ups (stressful and not enjoyable!), but I'd rather be designing new CSS stylesheets. Sometimes I just stress out about writing for a whole day and don't get anything done. I've thought of doing something more enjoyable and lower priority but I'm worried that when I'm done with that, the high-priority tasks will still be there, and they won't be any easier, appealing, or less stressful.
Has anyone had any success breaking up their work like this? Have any strategies for success? How do I know how much time I can afford to spend on the low-priority stuff? How can I avoid just procrastinating on the important stuff while doing the things that make me love my job?
posted by rwatson
on Jul 4, 2011 -
6 answers
I naturally get a strong productivity burst in the late afternoon/evening . Unfortunately, this doesn't sync up well with the actual hours of my 8-4 workday. How can I shift my biological clock to let me get stuff done earlier in the day?
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posted by gallusgallus
on Mar 24, 2011 -
4 answers
I work at a desk job where the bulk of my projects take place during the academic year. As I have ADD [ADHD inattentive type], routines and a high level of activity really help, and I've worked hard to get things where they need to be. Once again, however, the summer slump is kicking my ass. Please hope.
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posted by Madamina
on Jun 8, 2010 -
11 answers
Has anyone "cured" a bad procrastination habit by taking a new job that has strict deadlines -- i.e., one that leaves you with really no way to procrastinate while managing to keep your job?
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posted by trillian
on Jan 3, 2010 -
24 answers
I cannot seem to stop procrastinating on a work project, and the deadline is looming. I have no doubt that I can get it done if I can just make myself get the work done, but I cannot make myself concentrate and buckle down and get it done!
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posted by dumbledore69
on Aug 12, 2009 -
22 answers
I have Important Things I Have To Do, but I'm having trouble doing them. Instead, I find myself wanting to do a variety of plainly self-destructive things. This happens to me a lot-- but why, and how do I deal with it?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 13, 2009 -
21 answers
When the deadline for all of your projects was two weeks ago, everything is at priority #1, and stress levels are at an all time high, how do you step back, get things in order, and progress so you can catch up and get back on top of your life?
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posted by schroedinger
on Mar 26, 2007 -
24 answers
How do I get over my laziness, procrastination, and foot-dragging in my office job?
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posted by nevers
on Jan 31, 2007 -
32 answers
Help me control my blood pressure while getting my (young, surprisingly inexperienced) coworker to respond to my requests to improve our company's website.
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posted by deliriouscool
on Feb 8, 2006 -
16 answers
How can I break out of my 27-year-long habit of procrastination? I'm looking for tips to help me mentally as well as specific tools or methods that will help me manage my time better -- especially at work.
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posted by croutonsupafreak
on Oct 5, 2005 -
35 answers
I hate all forms of work (hence the anon. post) and the only way I've found to finish papers etc. is to stay up all day and night procrastinating until the last possible instance writing a bit here and there--an agonizing process--until, as the last chance deadline aproaches, something takes shape. These papers are usually final papers and usually earn me between a B+ and an -A... which is probably why I never learned how to do work in a painless and organized fashion... at any rate, I have two papers due on the same day and no chance of an extension on either one and am incapable of forcing myself to work. WHAT DO I DO?
posted by anonymous
on Dec 10, 2004 -
55 answers
What's the best book out there on time management? I've yet to find one that does it all: explain the key concepts of time management, provide a proven framework for gaining control of your time, and identify common mistakes and helpful tips.
Extra points if it deals specifically with any of the following contexts: entrepreneurship, running a proprietorship or small business.
posted by will
on Feb 24, 2004 -
7 answers
