Is a non-negotiable deadline closing in on you? Has it been set by your university? Or is a job – perhaps a postdoc– resting on your finishing your dissertation soon?
As you struggle to meet the deadline, it can feel as if you are barreling downhill on an icy, bumpy slope. And you fear that at [...]
Archive for the ‘discipline’ Category
Be Inspired: Execute a Smoking-Hot Dissertation Boot Camp
Posted in acting as if, boot camp, coaching, commitment, courage, determination, discipline, dissertation boot camp, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, focus, goals, mental toughness, motivation, perseverance, showing up, using your strengths, tagged being in the zone, focusing, inspired by Winter Olympics, smoking-hot and smoking-fast athletes, smoking-hot Dissertation Boot Camp on February 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
How inspired are you by watching the Winter Olympics?
What a thrill to see the moguls skiers come down the slope so fast it seems as if the screen must be on fast-forward. Smoking fast, the commentator says.
We figured, without hearing the commentator say it, that these skiers are “on the edge of out of control.”
You have [...]
Three Quick Fixes to Jolt You into Action on Your Dissertation
Posted in Smart Tips, academic, coaching, deadline, discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, distractions, following through, mental toughness, perseverance, planning, self-sabotage, structures, take charge, television, time, time management, time theft, writing breaks, writing, dissertation, tagged dissertation, plan breaks, quick fixes, small changes, Smart Tips, take charge on February 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
This is an encore of a blog post that appeared here April 30, 2008.
Note: If you haven’t signed up for my free e-newsletter, Smart Tips For Writers, you can take care of that by going to my website at www.nancywhichard.com or www.smarttipsforwriters.com.
The next Smart Tips e-newsletter goes out this week-end. Thanks so much. I appreciate your [...]
A Timer Can Sharpen Your Focus and Increase Writing Productivity
Posted in Smart Tips, discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, distractions, focus, getting started, planning, productivity, restart writing, restarting, self-sabotage, structures, time management, write more easily, writing breaks, tagged efficient writing, make time to write, productivity, scheduling breaks, sharpen focus, time management, timers, writing tools on February 11, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Several of my dissertation coaching clients use timers on their computers to help them get started with a writing session, to stay focused, and to stick with their work.
It also helps them to stop at a pre-determined time. In that way, they don’t stay at the writing too long and yet they stay long enough [...]
What do I need in order to be a successful writer?
Posted in Happier, academic, advisor, beliefs, boundaries, courage, determination, discipline, dissertation advisors, dissertation boot camp, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, finishing the dissertation, goals, happiness, mental toughness, perseverance, positive psychology, realistic goals, self-sabotage, strategies, top strengths, using your strengths, writing, writing, dissertation, tagged boldness, character strengths, invest in hiring a dissertation coach, optimism, perseverance, successful writing on January 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
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 [...]
“Write First Thing” — Start Your Day and Your Dissertation Off Right
Posted in discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, getting started, showing up, writing habit, writing schedule, tagged make a writing schedule, stick to your schedule, write each morning, Write First Thing on November 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In order to accomplish the large amount of writing required for a dissertation in any sort of sane way, you need a schedule.
A dissertation coaching client who has been juggling job/moving/dissertation has been struggling to find a time to write, a time that she’ll stick to.
She told me this week that she decided to read [...]
Writing a Dissertation? Don’t Try This at Home
Posted in discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, distractions, getting started, perseverance, planning, productivity, self-sabotage, start writing, strategies, tagged dissertation coaching, make deals with yourself, self-sabotage, write first before getting comfortable, write first each morning, writing the dissertation at home on November 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Now that Halloween is over, it hasn’t taken long for me to eat all of the left-over chocolate-covered raisins that the trick-or-treaters rejected in favor of Snickers.
Having all of these tidy little packages of candy in my house once again reminds me of the dangers of home. It’s just tempting fate to stay in your [...]
Have You Practiced Your Dissertation Writing Yet Today?
Posted in Smart Tips, coaching, discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, getting started, habit, perseverance, practice writing, restart writing, start writing, tagged develop a writing habit, dissertation coach, fight perfectionism with practice, practice your writing, writing improves with practice on September 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I have had the same piano tuner for years. Each time he comes for the yearly tuning, he grumbles that he really should come twice a year but, nevertheless, my Yamaha, he proudly says, continues to hold its tune. When he finishes, he triumphantly plays several measures and then grandly declares, “Your piano is now ready for [...]
Re-group and Take a Big Step Forward on Your Dissertation: Re-establish Contact with Your Dissertation Advisor
Posted in Smart Tips, academic, advisor, brave, coaching, courage, discipline, dissertation advisors, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, finishing the dissertation, following through, getting started, re-group, re-start, regrouping, resilience, restart writing, restarting, self-sabotage, start writing, writing, writing, dissertation, tagged contact your dissertation advisor, dissertation coach, get on with your dissertation, maintain self-respect, re-group on September 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Have you ignored your dissertation and your dissertation advisor for some time? Entertaining the idea of restarting the project and of contacting your advisor may cause more than a few fears to surface.
Are you afraid what the lapse in time may say about you? The truth is that it doesn’t say much of anything, except [...]
Mental Toughness, Discipline, and Planning—Essentials for Taking on a Beastly Dissertation
Posted in academic, anxiety, brave, courage, discipline, dissertation coach, dissertation writing, getting started, mental toughness, planning, procrastination, re-group, re-start, self-deception, self-sabotage, writing, tagged academics self-sabotage, catastrophizing adds anxiety, dissertation coach, mental toughness takes a plan, use past successes as motivation, work ethic on August 17, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The people I coach are terrific, bright, accomplished. Each is writing a book, a dissertation, or a thesis. Many are published writers. Many have won awards for their college-level teaching.
Their intellect and accomplishments amaze me.
But . . . (yes, there’s a “but” here) . . . they are struggling with their dissertation. With dismay, they [...]
