by Dora Farkas, Ph.D. Founder, Finish Your Thesiswww.FinishYourThesis.com

Welcome!

Group Coaching Session:How to Keep Your Momentum During

Thesis Research and Writing

● Questions● Why is it so hard to keep up your momentum in

grad school?● Myths that lead to stop-and-go writing/research● Habits that will help you to sustain consistent

progress no matter what● Open Q&A

Outline of Today’s Presentation

● I am really good at planning out my day but sometimes my plan falls apart at work. Yesterday, for example, one of my supervisors asked me for help with a project and my plan fell through for the whole afternoon. I feel really frustrated and I don’t know whether I should stick with my plan for today, or pick up where I left off tomorrow? In general, what do you recommend when I fall behind on my plans

● Plans will help you to reach your goals faster, but you have to remain flexible● If you follow through 75% of the time you are doing awesome!

Reprioritize at the end of every evening and determine your highest priority, that will make the biggest difference.

Willpower is a limited resource. Whenever possible, start your day with your highest priority.

Question

● I have the most supportive PI you can imagine, and he is also really smart. Each time we meet he gives me a lot of feedback and I feel so bad that I hadn’t thought about all the things he suggested. This is my 6th year and he is not rushing me, but I am starting to feel like I am not mean to get my PhD done. This self-doubt goes in cycles and is keeping me stuck. Any advice?

● You are not expected to know everything. Your supervisor is paid to guide you. If you knew everything, you wouldn’t have to go to grad school.

● Your supervisor’s time is very valuable. If he didn’t think you were smart enough, he wouldn’t spend time giving you feedback.

● Almost every grad student considers dropping out - you are not aloneAt the end of every meeting think objectively about how his feedback can

help you move forward in your thesis.

Question

● Questions● Why is it so hard to keep up your momentum in

grad school?● Myths that lead to stop-and-go writing/research● Habits that will help you to sustain consistent

progress no matter what● Open Q&A

Outline of Today’s Presentation

● Lack of a structured schedule ● Lack of accountability - no one to share your progress ● Hurdles or “muddiness” in your research/writing● Feeling overwhelmed by thesis research/writing● Guilty about “feeling behind”● Too many commitments (family, job, community)● Health problems● Interruptions at work

Circumstances that make it challenging to keep your momentum

What is the #1 challenge you face in keeping your momentum in thesis research/writing?

● Questions● Why is it so hard to keep up your momentum in

grad school?● Myths that lead to stop-and-go writing/research● Habits that will help you to sustain consistent

progress no matter what● Open Q&A

Outline of Today’s Presentation

Myth #1:If you cannot work on your thesis full-time you probably will not be able to finish Myth #2:If you have a health condition, it’s not possible to finish your thesisMyth #3:If you don’t have a full hour it makes no sense to get startedMyth #4: If life keeps getting in the way, then you are probably not meant to finish your thesis. Myth #5: If your family needs you, you have to completely drop your thesis.

5 Myths That Will May Be Holding Back Your Momentum

What all of these myths have in common is that they involve circumstances that are

outside of your control

When a life circumstance is outside of your control it can be tough to stay motivated and keep your

momentum

Hundreds of thousands of students get a PhD every year

Many of them have serious health conditions and/or write their thesis part-time while taking care of a family

or working at another job

MOST LIKELY THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO

WAS IN A SITUATION SIMILAR TO YOURS AND THEY FOUND

A WAY TO FINISH THEIR THESIS

Myth #6:You “should” be super-disciplined to finish your thesis Myth #7:You “should” be able to motivate yourself to work on your thesis when you have timeMyth #8: You “should” be able to stay focused when you have all day to workMyth #9: You “should” know a lot about your topic before you start writingMyth #10: You “should” stop procrastinating and always get everything done on time

5 More Myths That Will May Be Holding Back Your Momentum (“Should” Myths)

The more you tell yourself that you “should” do something the more you will resist it

Keeping your momentum is about continuing to take action even when you feel behind, when you

feel confused, and when you feel guilty

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE SUPER-DISCIPLINED TO FINISH YOUR THESIS….YOU JUST NEED A FEW

HABITS THAT HELP YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR MOMENTUM

What is the #1 habit that helps you get back your momentum when you feel stuck?

● Questions● Why is it so hard to keep up your momentum in

grad school?● Myths that lead to stop-and-go writing/research● Habits that will help you to sustain consistent

progress no matter what● Open Q&A

Outline of Today’s Presentation

● Checking your email 1st thing in the morning● Being reactive (people, email, social media)● Multitasking: poor performance & fatigue● Distracting yourself (volunteering, house chores)● Worrying about what other people think of you

Habits that Will Hinder Your Momentum

● Being proactive, making your thesis #1 at work● Planning the day before, and prioritize your

schedule ● Single-tasking: you will get things done faster!● Simplify your life, purge time-sinks● Focus on the goals of your thesis, instead of

your feelings, or the feelings of others● Self-care: nutrition, exercise, socializing with

positive people and sleep

Habits that Will Support Your Momentum

How long does it take to develop a new habit?

Most recent suggests that on average it takes 66 days to form a new habit

Pick your new habit mindfully:

What will make the biggest impact, or make everything else easier?

What new habit will you implement starting today?

THANK YOU