190 days. That is how much time I have left until I need to submit my PhD.
190 days until the beginning of the end of my time as a PhD Student/Candidate.
190 days. 5 Chapters. An introduction and paragraph. Footnotes and appendices.
190 days. 27 weeks. 200+ pages of original research. No AI.
Last week, the Coaches for the PhDone Program at Accepted Society , Polly Hember and Khalia Ii, PhD led a workshop titled “Your Dissertation Summer”.
This is not just a planning session. It is a framework for considering the practice and importance of one’s dissertation. It’s about the rhythms and process of generating substantive research. About allowing for the ebbs and flows of the writing process to align with the natural rhythm of the summer. This is inclusive of rest. Inclusive of support.
I took the framework and applied it to my plan. My own “Dissertation Summer”. Here is how to create your own:
Rather than taking the dissertation day by day, this exercise is all about the big picture. The goal we have in mind and breaking it down into manageable milestones.
After this you can break it down by week:
Week 1 (June 1-7) - 25 pages of Ch. 4
Week 2 (June 8-14) - 30-35 page draft of Ch. 4 → Advisor + Outline Ch. 5
Week 3 (June 15-21) - Meet with Advisor + Draft 5 pages of Ch. 5
Week 4 (June 22-28) - 10+ pages of Chapter 5
Time to step away is just as important as the time we read, write, and revise. This “rest” period is not just about downing tools, it is space to recharge (literally giving your brain time to heal from the amount of effort and new knowledge which has been acquired) and time to think.
As academic researchers, this time to talk organically about our work, contemplate it without immediate pressure of output, is just as crucial as an author’s “creativity walks”. We need to create space and experiences which don’t involve our dissertations while possibly allowing for new contexts in which to solve problems.
Example: Over a long weekend my partner’s mom asked about my thesis. I began explaining it but rather than the “in the weeds” approach I would take in explaining the research to my colleagues, I focused on the main threads. The argument and how it was supported provided the narrative structure. And as I voiced it, I began to imagine how I might make my writing more clear. More cohesive and direct. The time away and the context of a different environment made all the difference.
What are the systems, the supports, the routines which act as your anchors? The calm in the storm when the stress and overwhelm might inevitably creep in? What has worked in the past to bring you back to center. To bring you back to a sense of calm and focus?
Write them down.
Keep them in a note or on a post it as a reminder. Don’t rely on your brain to do the work of knowing what you need in a moment of anxiety. Create the tools now which will anchor you later. Providing the structure and support to help you maintain momentum.
Here are my anchors:
A walk with my dog
A nap
A hug from my partner
A home cooked meal
Just 15 minutes to vent to a friend
This will be the final summer I work on my PhD. The final stretch in a 6 year long marathon. The culmination of years of dedication, many long days, and hours spent agonizing over my research. I don’t want to rush it. I want to experience it. To enjoy it. And to keep reminding myself just how special an opportunity this is.
If you are also working on a big project this summer (such as a dissertation), I highly encourage you to consider joining Accepted Society (an intellectual community for lifelong learning) : https://bit.ly/acceptedscholars
And if you would like to participate, we are running: A Dissertation Summer from today, June 8-15, complete with daily email, prompts, and dedicated group writing sessions led by the team @ PhDone. Click here to receive the emails (they are free and membership to AS starts with a 7 day FREE trial). I look forward to seeing you in the community #ownbusiness
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