Hi Margie,

I'm so sorry; I somehow didn't see your message from about a week ago below.

It's so good to hear from someone else whose been through both IF hell and the dissertation hell. I'm really, really sorry about your m/c. I'm glad that you were able to throw yourself into your dissertation - and get it done! Amazing! A million congratulations!

To answer your question - I'm in the writing process of my dissertation, but I have quite a bit to go. I have about 60 pages so far and I'm guessing it will be about 200-250. I basically took last year off because of IF and have spent most of this year analyzing data and writing (along with doing my research assistantships, etc.)

I do have to get it done asap though, because I was offered a postdoc fellowship that will start in September/October. Hopefully, that will be the fire under my ass that gets me going. But they are also being REALLY accommodating with the postdoc - almost too accommodating. They basically said that if I haven't defended by September that I can be a "consultant" unit January. (By advisor is going to the UK from Sept-Jan; damn him!)

I completely hear what you are saying about priorities. I really, really would like to solely focus on the dissertation and hold off on the IF treatments for awhile. Unfortunately though, I found out I have endometriosis in April when they did a lap - and they told me that I basically have about 6 months until it comes back. So DH and I started the process of getting the treatments recommended to me by Dr. Beers, which requires two trips to Mexico and are planning to do a low-stim IVF with Check in August. As much as I'd like to start this stuff after the dissertation is done, I don't think I could live with myself if I missed out on the six month window.

But maybe I'm too involved in the situation to see other possibilities. I'd be more than open to your ideas and suggestions.

Thanks so much and take care,
Sara

Isn't the whole dissertation process "too accommodating"???

I, too, took a lot of time off from my dissertation so I know how that gets! :/

I totally agree - at this point - you wouldn't want to take time off from IF treatments to work on the dissertation - especially if you have about 200 pages to go. (And didn't you defend the first three chapters yet?)

A few years ago, I went to this workshop which was actually geared toward tenure(-track) professors who were struggling to write/publish. The whole point of this workshop was to remind them to spend 1/2 hour a day working on this stuff. Half hour times 5 days a week X a week X a month X year - etc. results in a LOT of writing. Even if you write crap - get it down on paper. The next day - depending on how much you've written - either keep writing or go back and edit your stuff.

At this point - you don't want to spend 1/2 hour a day writing. So maybe you can figure out 2 hours a day. Put on your dissertation hat or something and resolve to spend 2 hours writing - whatever it is. And if you don't write - maybe "punish" yourself or take away an incentive you've been looking forward to. For example - if you put in 10 hours a week - you can reward yourself with a manicure or something special. If you don't do it - no manicure.

I am an early riser. I usually got up before DH and did my writing then. That's when I got a LOT done. When do you get the most work done?

(BTW - this philosophy/method worked so well for me that I plan to keep up with this regiment because I have another research project that I want to do! )

When I went to NJ for the IVF thing and had to stay a couple of days - my schedule was totally wacky. I brought along all my dissertation stuff and planned to spend a couple of hours each day doing it - but honestly - with DH in the hotel room (and nagging about being bored) - I couldn't get much done. (I also have a full-time job so I had to make sure my stuff was getting done along with the dissertation... ugh!) And that was bad, too - because DH and I ended up fighting about it throughout the trip. When he got in the hotel pool, I felt so guilty about joining him because I didn't have my work done so I ended up not having fun and not getting any work done.

Maybe you could make a plan - write down the X amount of hours you want to work on your dissertation before you go to Mexico. And then when you get there - only bring the basic stuff - just in case you get bored and feel like working on it - but the rest of the time - enjoy yourself.

If you have already analyzed your data - that means you're on your results chapter? Boy - that chapter was BORING for me - just a lot of data to write out - blah blah. It's not hard to write... it's harder to get over the boredom! (LOL)

It's really about time management and pushing yourself even when you're bored with the (d*mn) thing... (LOL)

I also put a poster in my office (which I pass by every time I walk in the house) with the deadlines. That was a constant reminder that I needed to get it done.

Maybe - for right now - resolve to do 2 hours a day...start with that and see where that takes you??

Best of luck...

Wow, Margie D, where do I even begin??? Thank you so much for your detailed and EXTREMELY HELPFUL message!! I have already used some of your astute suggestions! I am making myself work on the dissertation at least 3-4 hours a day (11 1/2 hrs so far this week), am planning to make a poster like you had, and am making a plan for how many hours I want to log in before we go to Mexico. Even DH is getting into it - he made me a wager; if I don't finish my current chapter by the end of the week, then I have to write a legitimate "fan letter" to a political personality I really, really don't like. And no, unfortunately, when we defend our dissertation proposal it doesn't have to be the first three chapters....it's more of "global" proposal.

It was also really great to read about your experience dealing with IF and your dissertation. I'm sorry you had a crappy experience trying to balance the two in NJ. I will try to learn from your experience for sure. I think you did an amazing job dealing with everything.

Again, thank you so so much. I feel really thankful that you reached out to me.

Take care,
Sara

And feel free to shout out if you need a nudge (or a push!)!

Don't forget to reward yourself for the small accomplishments - which will all add up to a much bigger accomplishment!

I would definitely hate to write that letter so you better get busy!