October 2016 / WhiskyandWit

Thinking Ahead To 2017

Monday, October 24, 2016

WTF, thinking ahead to 2017 sounds insane, but not joking I am looking forward to 2017.

2016 was just not my year, not saying that it was terrible just didn't go as well as I could hope for. While the year started off not so well, I am getting things back on track and things are looking up!

That is why I am excited for 2017, a year which means the last portion of my Ph.D., the last full year in Scotland, the last year where I can call myself a full-time student and lastly a year which I plan to continue working on me! With 2017 approaching faster than most of us would like I have already thought about Things that I plan on in 2017!

Personal

No Shopping in 2017- This is a MASSIVE GOAL - but I will explain about this in a later blog post.
Run a 5k. Run a 10k.
Actually, blog and share content that I love. This blog is something that makes me get out and explore, take photos and share what I think (plus it helps me get into the writing mood).
Figure out a morning routine, one that involves waking up between 6-7:30am each morning. I need to start making time in the morning to the gym and then head to uni all before 9:30ish
Set 3 weight/workout goals for the year and achieve them all! (Again another post coming)
Read 12 books.
Dress for success & myself. I am not talking about a full on business suit, but I do feel better about myself depending on the clothes that I am wearing/how I look. So stepping up from my usual leggings and t-shirt shouldn't be too much of an issue.

University

Set goals (weekly/monthly/quarterly) - in particular, writing goals to finish out my Ph.D.
Publish TWO papers before the end of the year (or at least have them in review)
Make connections in my field over the next year ---- because when it's time for a job it's all about who you know!
Head to 3 conferences.
Figure out the best Uni Work schedule for myself. Of course, this will vary depending on the events each week, but I need to figure out how to manage my time and have that include working at the University. (Hopefully at my actual desk/office if they get that all arranged)
Learn some basic coding skills. Not sure what language, but I know that the more skills that I can learn now, the easier it will be to apply in the future if needed.
Try out different working methods (Pomodoro Technique, Getting Things Done (GTD), Don't Break the Chain, Action Method) and figure out what works best for me!

Travel

Explore Paris , Vienna and Prague (trips booked for 2017)
Learn basic Spanish and French. I want to be able to communicate some of the basics!
Use my Historic Scotland pass and visit 10 sites!
Visit the Royal Yacht Britannia. Visit Holyrood Palace.
Weekend break to a new city in the UK. Any suggestions, please let me know!
Rent a car and head up to the Highlands - possibly a long weekend getaway.
Each month explore a new section of Edinburgh(ish) --- Dean Village ; Stockbridge ; Duddingston ; Royal Botanic Gardens ; Waterway of Leith ; Inchcolm ; Forth ; Scottish National Portrait Gallery/ The Georgian House ; Royal Observatory ( Blackford Hill) ; Belhaven Bay & Portobello ; Lauriston Castle.

So there you have it my 2017 Goals planned out in October (insane I know but I am glad that they are out there now!)

Does anyone else think about the next year this early, or I am the only one?

College Tips

Dissertation Writing Guide : Getting Started

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

One of the hardest things (to me anyway) during my academic career is being motivated to sit down and put words on the paper (aka writing up my research). As with any degree, and mainly postgraduate degree, one of the most critical aspects to finalising that you have enough to graduate is your dissertation/thesis. The dissertation is your defence that you have done enough to prove you know what you are talking about and that at the end your research had a 'valuable' contribution to society (or the academic world).

As for me, my biggest challenge for my masters was producing the 104-page document, better known as my thesis. It was a challenge that included multiple revisions, edited content, continually doubting my self-worth as a student, and finally, the thing that stood between me and starting my PhD.

At the end of my thesis defence, I still had revisions to do, but my committee felt confident that I had done enough and presented my research in a manner which made sense. The hard part was done, words were on the paper, chapters were formed, and my story worked.

Now I am at the point in my PhD where I need to start thinking about the writing portion. My research is still not finished, but I need to start forming 'the story' (aka the dissertation). This is the hardest part of the whole postgraduate degree to me, I love research, and I love looking into new theories, but I HATE writing it all up.

Writing is the pain in my ass, the one reason why keeping up the whole student forever situation is a doubt in my mind. Unfortunately is the one thing that you can't say 'screw it'. You have to write research reports, you need to write publications, and you most defiantly get to write a dissertation before you get to wear any fancy academic regalia and call yourself a doctor.

So starting today, I am going to really focus on writing up my research, getting words on the paper, chapters drafted out and forming my story. Along with this goal, I want to share my tips and tricks that I am using to get the dissertation drafts done, reviewed and hopefully in a little over a year submitted for review.