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Archive for the ‘boundaries’ Category

If your goal is to finish your dissertation during this new year of 2010, be bold, be optimistic, and persevere.
Positive psychologists for several years have said that the strengths most important for happiness are curiosity, optimism, gratitude, zest, and loving and being loved.
My experience as a dissertation and writing coach tells me that perseverance is [...]

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Trying to finish a dissertation draft or an article or a chunk of writing before the holidays?
Also trying to keep on top of your daily job or finish your grading?
And don’t even mention that you have kids.
Did you mention that you’re sleep-challenged?
And struggling with the real need to eat sweets just to cope?
Remember this: 
You can [...]

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Does the end of August mean the start of a school year for you? Are you teaching this coming term?
My clients who are returning to teaching this fall are determined to learn from their past mistakes and also to build on their successes.  It’s great to hear their optimism as they plan for a productive [...]

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As you attempt to write your dissertation, do you find that your feelings sometimes get in the way?  What feelings do you find yourself dwelling on?
Among my dissertation coaching clients, guilt in various forms is high on the list:
•   Guilt for not being further along in the work
•   Guilt for taking too long to finish
•  [...]

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What does August have in common with January and New Year’s? 
If you are an  academic writer, a PhD in academia, or an ABD, the last half of summer and August, in particular, may be the calm before the storm, the last best chance to do some serious writing before classes start and maybe before your advisor  [...]

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How often have you been in the midst of a conversation with a close relative or friend and suddenly you’re asked, “When do you think you’ll finish your dissertation?” 
Or you might get this zinger: “Do you know of anyone in your field who has actually landed a job?”
When you are minutes away from a writing [...]

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Experiencing a dissertation boot camp makes great sense.
A dissertation coaching client gave an enthusiastic review of her dissertation boot camp. 
Not only was she productive, but she also gained new insights about the process of writing a dissertation.
She noted many accomplishments from dissertation boot camp, such as:
1. Drawing boundaries around the time she works and also [...]

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 I hear many people say that they can’t write their dissertation.
Is that you?  Has it been too long since you have written anything?  Or too long since you contacted your advisor?
 How about shaking things up a bit?  Where can you make a small change or even take a bold step?
 Many of my clients have taken incredibly brave [...]

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If you have been teaching this past semester and also trying to find the energy to write even the piddliest amount, then seeing the semester coming to an end must seem heaven-sent.  Just when you thought you couldn’t keep going, here suddenly are days with no classes and no students.
Now what?
When I ask my dissertation [...]

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August, for many people writing dissertations, is the month of if-not-now-when?
Other responsibilities are on the horizon, but what can you do to make use of the time August offers you?  If you use the time you have now, you’ll very likely be controlling the space where you will be working and living later on.
1.  How [...]

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