'Writing a PhD time/study plan and discussing strategies for when things don't go to plan'

 

#phdchat tweet log - 13th June 2012

 

@NSRiazat - Welcome to #phdchat - topic for tonight is 'writing a PhD time/study plan and discussing strategies for when things don't go to plan' #PhD

@NSRiazat - Wrote great time plan/study timetable when wrote research proposal ~ none of it has actually panned out as originally planned. :-) #phdchat

@LBA_OX12 - Developing conceptual frameworks - include in lit review chapter or separate out? Any tips? #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @jogger_writer ~ great to see you on #phdchat

@gtombs - @nsriazat colleague doing grounded theory has, yup. A lot! #phdchat

@sarahthesheepu - @LBA_OX12 it went in my methods chapter #PhDchat

@JaneDavis13 - @LizDobsonUoH brilliant new! Congratulations! #phdchat

@lizgloyn - @NSRiazat I had timeline that worked pretty well until I hit the final chapter, with more primary/2ndary material than anticipated #phdchat

@NSRiazat - How do people choose timeframes/allocate time blocks to tasks when doing the original proposal? #phdchat

@lizgloyn - @NSRiazat But having a timeline/outline made it much easier to visualise what I needed to do and when. #phdchat

@sakinasofia - @NSRiazat I HAD a plan but did x manage to follow it too..went berserk! #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat everything went wrong in mine... So i kind of stopped with the time frame. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @gtombs - grounded theory meant my research plans changed a lot since the start. Data coding threw up new concepts/categories. :) #phdchat

@lizgloyn - @NSRiazat I took a timeframe from a 'how to write thesis' book as template, then shifted it about as I got on with it #phdchat

@jogger_writer - Discovering wonderful things #phdchat #edtech

@NSRiazat - @gtombs - we write time plan/proposal in good faith but inevitably #PhD is such that it all quickly changes with data/reading etc #phdchat

@sakinasofia - I think having a plan & deciding how to achieve it is a separate thing #phdchat

@silvertje - @NSRiazat Sad to miss #phdchat but important Holland - Germany soccer game in the 2012 European Championship :)

@NSRiazat - @lizgloyn - I had too many concepts - enough for three seperate thesis. Might finish this one and then write another one (not!) :) #phdchat

@LBA_OX12 - @sarahthesheepu Thx #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @londonaesthetik - working 'with the flow' at the moment and not to timeplan. Am mre productive without deadline pressure #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat agreed. the plan has messed with my head one too many times. I'm getting everything done that CAN be done now... #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @silvertje - FOOTBALL in the same tweet as #phdchat - how could you ;-) :-) Hope you can catch up with thread later on. :)

@sakinasofia - @lizgloyn @NSRiazat Yes, I do have my schedule & targets in front of me for visualisation & also for motivation #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat @silvertje I'm doing both chat and footy! dedication to both! #phdchat

@NSRiazat - How do people cope/adjust to the constantly/ever changing and evolving research schedule? #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat I just go with the flow and evaluate if the change in schedule will be positive/negative and then go with it. #phdchat

@sakinasofia - @NSRiazat I guess you need to do what you need to do - motivation is key to adjustment #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - #phdchat when I joined this lab, it was made mandatory to have a time plan in writing. Mentor specifically makes us go over it for revisions

@EmmaBurnettx - @NSRiazat for me, most important thing is to expect an ever changing schedule. Sticking to a rigid plan throughout is unrealistic #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @NSRiazat is good to have a plan, but be realistic and expect the unexpected :) #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @sakinasofia - Resilience and persistence alongside motivation. #PhD is mainly persistence. :) #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @NSRiazat Also find it useful to work on two aims at a time, esp. helps one is not going so well or has to be changed majorly #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @EmmaBurnettx I agree Emma, I think just by acknowledging that the plan always changes, you can deal with it way better! #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - #phdchat Sorry to be late, but glad to be here :)

@NSRiazat - @EmmaBurnettx - lot of my changes to original plan came from unexpected concepts in data/literature and feedback on draft chapters. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @EmmaBurnettx - being realistic is an excellent point as most things #PhD related take twice as long as planned. :) #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @londonaesthetik agree 100%! #phdchat

@Eingang - Pear Note (mentioned in a recent @ThesisWhisper tools Storify #phdchat thingy) is 50% off today only: http://t.co/kYU03onO

@NSRiazat - @dreamyscientist - going over time plan so carefully is good to keep you focused and on task. #phdchat

@Eingang - I don't use Pear Note but I understand it synchronizes your notes with slides, audio/video recordings, etc. somehow. #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @NSRiazat which is the essence of a PhD :) #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @dreamyscientist - having said that though - I didn't follow mine as closely and would have benefited from doing so. :) #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @NSRiazat Yep - and some! :) #phdchat

@CET47 - hi everyone sorry i'm late what have I missed #phdchat #phdchat

@ICTwitz - Ooh, its Wednesday. Off over to #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - THREE!!! RT @NSRiazat: - being realistic is an excellent point as most things #PhD related take twice as long as planned. :) #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @Donna_Peach Hi Donna. Nice to see you here #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @NSRiazat This is really difficult, especially for part-timers. Have to be flexible & not beat myself up when I think I'm "behind" #phdchat

@Eingang - I thought I'd say Pear Note was on sale (http://t.co/kYU03onO) because I saw some #phdchat people mention they used it on the Mac.

@EmmaBurnettx - @EA_Holmes @NSRiazat Couldn't agree more! #phdchat

@Eingang - Oops, sorry to interrupt tonight's #phdchat.

@Donna_Peach - @EmmaBurnettx such as adding the #phdchat doh!!

@sakinasofia - Does anyone use any apps for plan? #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @EmmaBurnettx @NSRiazat I totally agree. Also you can't always predict what you will need to focus your time on as research evolves #phdchat

@almutei - @silvertje @NSRiazat You can do both! Kind of. #phdchat

@Eingang - @dreamyscientist I find it quite difficult to have a detailed time plan in writing as a PT student who works. #phdchat

@bevgibbs - @EA_Holmes is there anyone who doesnt constantly feel behind? I always do...occupational hazard! #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @londonaesthetik - Went off on tangent with my data - now refocusing back on RQ's. Keeping extra stuff for articles/papers :) #PhD #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @Donna_Peach easy to forget! #phdchat

@Eingang - @NSRiazat @gtombs I've been using grounded theory. Things I've read suggest it's not often used by grad students -- too difficult. #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat yes, keeping stuff for articles is a very good idea. everyone should have notebook for such things! #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @bevgibbs @EA_Holmes me too! #phdchat

@Eingang - @NSRiazat @gtombs I suspect that's because you don't have firm questions/goals up front with grounded theory. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @bevgibbs I feel behind all the time. Find it really difficult to get a sense of progress even though the word count goes up! #phdchat

@ICTwitz - Ok, picking up on the #phdchat thread. I use @Evernote, as it integrates with my mobile tech as well, so helps me plan/develop ideas

@NSRiazat - @EA_Holmes - agree. Part time PhD is a real challenge. I work on it in the evenings and weekend. Hard to plan for. #phdchat

@Eingang - @NSRiazat @gtombs Therefore difficult to see if you're progressing or estimate how long it will take to come up with something. #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @Eingang I've decided to use aspects of it, with others, as I want to develop some theories after looking at data. Hard in science! #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @sakinasofia - used MS Excel and http://t.co/KikQ1w64 for mindmapping and then add timescales. #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @EA_Holmes I have the same feeling as well... Words go up, confidence goes down! #phdchat

@Eingang - @sakinasofia I use a whole suite of Omni tools to plan (for the good it does me). #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @almutei @silvertje - fab :) #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat I've never been able to wrap my mind around mindmaps... can't seem to think like that. #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - I use Conqu... good for cross platform. #phdchat

@CET47 - Any ideas/pointers on how to catchup with work? I had head trauma following an RTA 9 mths ago and still trying to catch up #phdchat

@Eingang - @sakinasofia OmniOutliner to show them by milestone/date compactly, TimeLine 3D to visualize nicely. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @Eingang @gtombs - started off with a 'firm-ish' idea and then data 'told me otherwise'. Back to drawing board! :) #phdchat

@Eingang - @sakinasofia OmniFocus to manage the "to dos" of actually doing stuff from the timeline, broken down into GTD-size chunks. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - #phdchat I'm just in the planning stages of preparing to embark on a phd - is some drift in timescales avoidable?

@Eingang - @sakinasofia And I also have and have used OmniProject, a formal project planning tool with Gantt charts, but less often. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @nsriazat It's fine when I have time & space but life events can take over sometimes & I have to remember to keep things in balance #phdchat

@sakinasofia - @NSRiazat I use Google calender & Evernote #phdchat

@ICTwitz - @sakinasofia Have you been able to integrate the two? #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @londonaesthetik I feel reassured by your tweet! Why is confidence such a stumbling point?! #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @EA_Holmes think a lot of phd students need to say no to things and put phd first! #phdchat

@bevgibbs - @sakinasofia I use pen and paper for planning,only thing that works for me! I do capture for backup but use hard copy to work with #phdchat

@CET47 - @NSRiazat i'm ok now slowly on the mend just stressed about trying to catch up with everything #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @EA_Holmes no idea why... I think maybe being surrounded by other phd's... We're all a bunch of overachievers! Hard to maintain... #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @londonaesthetik @EA_Holmes Is that demands from the Uni? #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes @nsriazat Life/work/Ph.D. balance is really hard or has been for me as a PT #phdchat student, but I have additional issues too.

@ICTwitz - As for journal articles, I like using GoodReader on iPad. Would actually be great if integrated automatically with @Evernote #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - no, everywhere! RT @Donna_Peach: @londonaesthetik @EA_Holmes Is that demands from the Uni? #phdchat

@Eingang - @ICTwitz @sakinasofia If you mean TimeLine 3D and OmniOutliner, I can't remember if I can import my outline. Just a sec #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @NSRiazat Sorry to have to leave early. Will catch up on the rest of the discussion tomorrow. Night all #phdchat

@Eingang - @ICTwitz @sakinasofia Bee Docs Timeline V2 doesn't have OmniOutliner/OPML import but does import from Things, iCal, & some others. #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - sidenote, for anyone wanting to, use http://t.co/3wH2SrMh it automatically streams tweets and adds #phdchat hashtag #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @EmmaBurnettx night Em... hope you're feeling better. #phdchat

@Eingang - @ICTwitz @sakinasofia BeeDocs online docs claim tab-delimited text file import supported -- maybe newer version than mine. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @londonaesthetik Yes, definitely a sense that every word has to be a good one! I admire those who rattle words off & then edit #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @ICTwitz @Evernote I use EzPDF on android which is linked to Mendeley for journals and recently started with @scrivener for thesis #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @londonaesthetik Thanks. Getting there slowly - Whooping cough never featured in my PhD plan!!! #phdchat

@NSRiazat - "@londonaesthetik: @EA_Holmes phd students need to say no and put phd first! #phdchat" (Had to be VERY firm with distractions/people)

@Eingang - @londonaesthetik @EA_Holmes That may be true, but good luck with it. It's hard to turn opportunities down. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @EmmaBurnettx Thanks for being so welcoming Emma #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @CET47 - don't be stressed but know what you mean. It all sorts itself out in the end. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @nsriazat @londonaesthetik But then some distractions are good - eg writing papers for conferences and teaching #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @Eingang depends on evaluating things that come up, if true opportunities, don't say no! have to learn to be ruthless. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @EmmaBurnettx - see you soon. Hope the cough clears soon. X #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @Donna_Peach you are very welcome Donna. It's great to see you on #phdchat :)

@erinlpc - Lurking during this weeks #phdchat - hoping for some helpful insights and suggestions!

@EmmaBurnettx - @NSRiazat thank you! #phdchat

@ICTwitz - Sorry #phdchat folks, but I am having network/twitter problems :-(

@almutei - @CET47 @NSRiazat Surely you could get an extension if you've been ill. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @Eingang @EA_Holmes - part time PhD is a constant battle for me of changing focus between teaching and being a researcher. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @eingang It is hard to turn opportunities down & ultimately prob best to take as many as poss.Then hope for extra hours in the day! #phdchat

@CET47 - @almutei yes think I probably can, just don't like the thought of going down that route. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @ICTwitz I'm also having great delay in seeing tweets #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @almutei @CET47 - you can get an extension but it's whether you need to pay full fees again for an extra year? #phdchat

@Eingang - @NSRiazat @EA_Holmes Me too. I do a lot of teaching/chairing. It's not always predictable & can take all I can give & more! #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - necessary for well being! RT @CET47: @almutei yes think I probably can, just dont like the thought of going down that route. #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - Can you use a lit review as a source for a lit review? #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @nsriazat @eingang Me too. I have my freelance work, my phd and uni teaching. Love them all but still learning to balance #phdchat

@ICTwitz - @Donna_Peach Ill stop cursing my router then!! #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - #phdchat I forgot the #tag in my last 5 tweets :(

@NSRiazat - @EmmaBurnettx - get some rest you need your energy for the thesis. :) #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes @nsriazat As the years go by, I've been trying to do less and less of other things & more & more PhD. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @emmaburnettx Hope you're feeling much better now #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @dreamyscientist http://t.co/3wH2SrMh (add it automatically, just sign in with your twitter acoount) #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @CET47 @NSRiazat & take your time (tho easier said than done!) #phdchat

@Eingang - Just tried tab-delimited file on my older Timeline 3D. It works but isn't in the list of importers! Just "open" .txt file. #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @bevgibbs I find writing down with a pen and paper more effective too when I am planning and brainstorming. #phdchat @sakinasofia

@NSRiazat - @Eingang @EA_Holmes - my focus is mainly PhD over next few months and then seeing what it looks like in terms of progress. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - If its not a daft question how many hours a week/month do you think you average in focusing on either PT or FT PhD? #phdchat

@Eingang - See http://t.co/i4wY4650 for tab-delimited file format for BeeDocs Timeline. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @eingang I can see I'll have to do that too. I'm pleased with the experiences I've had, but I definitely predict a hermit stage! #phdchat

@CET47 - @EmmaBurnettx your right Emma, hope your doing the same :) #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @londonaesthetik I learn something about Twitter everyday :) #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @ICTwitz :) #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - Oh i missed this! Comgrats!!! RT @LizDobsonUoH: Dr Elizabeth Dobson with really minor corrections... That'll do!!! :)) #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Eingang I put more detailed times for the immediate goals, for more long term &eventual aims of the project, I keep it estimated #phdchat

@ICTwitz - @NSRiazat @Eingang @EA_Holmes Me too. I am currently playing catch-up, but hope to be fully back on track for new academic year #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @dreamyscientist what are friends for! :P #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @CET47 took me a while, but yes I definitely am now #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes I was fairly productive year this year but way overdid it & now requesting intermission. That's why so quiet for months. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @londonaesthetik - I didn't do mindmaps before PhD. Amount of data and 'stitching together' concepts meant I need to map out. :) #phdchat

@EmmaBurnettx - @EA_Holmes thank you - getting there #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Eingang No denying that!! Changed my major from bioinformatics to Experimental Microbiology. PT PhD in my case would take me ages #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @nsriazat Good luck with that. I bet having that focus will feel great! #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes In fact, this is the chattiest I've been in ages. I've withdrawn from most things/people. Bad year. #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - Oh wait, #phdchat is happening now, isn't it? I'm sorry for interrupting. And for still not having the new time right.

@londonaesthetik - @NSRiazat i really should re-examine the approach... especially as i will be writing up results after going to Bosnia. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @londonaesthetik @dreamyscientist Thats a fab link thank you #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @eingang What made you feel you overdid it? Did it get too intense? Good to see you chatting! #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - makes life easier. and pauses when you scroll down to catch up. RT @Donna_Peach:Thats a fab link thank you #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - Wish maps could just be thesis MT @NSRiazat: didn't do mindmaps b4 PhD. Amount of data and 'stitching together' concepts = map out. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - Loving this tweetchat page :) #phdchat

@CET47 - I've just downloaded Evernote, so what does everyone use it for? #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - anything! notes, lists, plans, etc. RT @CET47: Ive just downloaded Evernote, so what does everyone use it for? #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @CET47 get it also if you have smartphone. easy to use on the go. lifesaver at times. #phdchat

@Eingang - @dreamyscientist Even though I was a software engineer & project manager, I really really suck at estimating times. #phdchat

@dbaQ8 - @NSRiazat @JeffreyKeefer @ai1sa What is pecha kucha #lost :) #phdchat

@Janshs - home for a bit of #phdchat - what are we discussing?? :)

@NSRiazat - @AmandaMichelle ~ would be great if I could submit the map only at viva. :-) Am using it as a timeline of changes in the appendix. #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - @Donna_Peach I don't think I spend NEARLY enough time (prob 4-6 hrs/day in addition to class; more w/ papers). & I'm a FT student. #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Donna_Peach FT Str. Biol. here.On avg. I put in 68-70hrs/week, not necessarily in the lab though. Yeah I know, I should get a life #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @CET47 I've just downloaded it to but also scrivener which I have started to work with but not yet opened evernote #phdchat

@Janshs - @NSRiazat @AmandaMichelle will be good for viva tho - don't forget you can take notes and annotated thesis in #phdchat

@CET47 - @Donna_Peach what's scrivener all about? #phdchat

@bevgibbs - @dreamyscientist If I do it electronically I just ignore it ... need the plan to be a tangible, colourful, textured thing. #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Eingang But I am sure you earned a lot of useful skills maybe like multitasking!! #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes I collapsed mentally out of exhaustion and stress and became depressed. #phdchat

@CET47 - Are there any good websites for doing mindmaps? #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes There has been a lot of stuff going on with my PhD, teaching, and life. It's been very stressful for me. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @dreamyscientist WOW! and how many years are you expecting it will take to complete with that amount of input? #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @Donna_Peach my time per day varies. dependent on phase of phd... If you need 3 hours a day or 8, as long as it gets done!!! #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - Organization! ~> http://t.co/SDW00le6 RT @CET47: I've just downloaded Evernote, so what does everyone use it for? #phdchat

@bevgibbs - @Eingang @EA_Holmes Its a long climb back when that happens - glad to see you feeling chatty :) #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @bevgibbs I've tons of .txt files titled todo1, todo2 which were never opened. Planner on the other hand has been scribbled to bits #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @londonaesthetik - oohh is Bosnia part of your research or just a visit? Only travel in UK for mine. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @CET47 It was recomended by @thesiswhisperer its like a software package you can separate files into and add links picks etc #phdchat

@Eingang - @dreamyscientist I have tons of skills, yes, but I need to do less not more multitasking. I have attn/focus probs. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @eingang Really sorry to hear that. I hope you've got a supportive supervisor. Makes all the difference. There's only so much... #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Donna_Peach I am a 3rd yr right now, b/c I changed streams I expected to take longer learning the skills at the bench #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - @londonaesthetik @CET47 agreed! I email all my article treasures there. Also the browser clipper is a great "scrapbook". #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - I really need to use a planner more often... i have three empty ones... #phdchat

@CET47 - @AmandaMichelle wow that looks really useful! Must have a go and see #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @CET47 What I'm not sure about yet is how/if all these software packages link together #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Donna_Peach However, my plans got delayed 6months ago when a car hit me and put me on a wheelchair :( #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - @londonaesthetik @CET47 I also send any ideas I have to my evernote account. It helps me track how I've refined my research plans #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @AmandaMichelle i always forget about the email function! thx! #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - LOVE "@NSRiazat: would be great if I could submit the map only at viva. :-) Am using it as a timeline of changes in the appendix. #phdchat

@bevgibbs - @Donna_Peach @CET47 I think the answer to that is almost certainly no #phdchat

@Eingang - @Donna_Peach In tracked task hours, I put in 293 research-related Jan 1 - Mar 31 plus 207 teaching-related. #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - Life. RT @CET47: @Donna_Peach what's scrivener all about? #phdchat

@NSRiazat - @dbaQ8 @JeffreyKeefer @ai1sa - think Pecha Kucha refers to showing a number of slides for a certain number of seconds? #phdchat #lost

@Eingang - @Donna_Peach I'm PT and "tracked task time" means I timed it in my project timer & it was associated with a specific to-do item. #phdchat

@Eingang - @Donna_Peach That works out to 3.22 productive research hours every day of that period or 5.48 incl. teaching. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @Eingang Hope you have good support around you #phdchat

@bevgibbs - @AmandaMichelle This idea of Evernote tracking changes -do you all have a clear story in your heads as to how your PhD has evolved? #phdchat

@Eingang - @Donna_Peach As I was just saying to @ea_holmes, it was too much though, especially compared to prev. periods. #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - @CET47 yes! It's free, w/ limited monthly uploads. $45 for a year w/ no upload limit. Best purchase so far. @scrivenerapp up next #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes Unfortunately, part of my Ph.D. problems were/are related to my supervisory relationship. Very stressful. #phdchat

@AmandaMichelle - @Janshs @NSRiazat wait... We can do what in #phdchat?

@Donna_Peach - @dreamyscientist Sorry to hear, you must be very resilient #phdchat

@Janshs - @AmandaMichelle @NSRiazat well Nasima can - you'd need to check your regulations #phdchat

@Eingang - @Donna_Peach I err withdrew from all the people around me who might have been supportive & became quite isolated. Clever. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - I'm loving this tweetchat page but can't seem to follow 'conversations' is there a way to do this? #phdchat

@stephjanes87 - 1st #phdchat tweet, F/T PhD, working P/T. Found this hard but easier now, mainly since I started giving myself a break!

@Donna_Peach - @Eingang A natural response to the challenges you were facing at that time #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Donna_Peach I have tweetchat and Echofon open side by side for that! #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - @Donna_Peach not that i know of. #phdchat

@NSRiazat - 8.30pm brings us to end of #phdchat for this week. Thanks to all, as ever, for valued contributions/ideas - have a great week everyone :)

@AmandaMichelle - @londonaesthetik I think the email function is my fave part of @evernote! You can also tweet, but my acct is screwy now. #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @eingang Oh that is very stressful. I didn't appreciate how important that relationship is. Do you have anyone else in your team? #phdchat

@Eingang - @stephjanes87 That's the other thing about being PT -- I never really had any vacations. #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @dreamyscientist echofon- Thank you - off to look it up, I'm becoming quite a techy ;) #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Donna_Peach Thank you, I guess me being in US on an international student visa forces me more to finish the degree!!! #phdchat

@stephjanes87 - Sometimes find clocking hours counterproductive Can spend 5 hrs and achieve nothing then do 1 great hr the next day Hard to measure #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes No, which is also part of the prob. Lost second supervisor to layoffs & third committee member quit uni! #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @stephjanes87 Im also planning FT study & PT work, just need to be disciplined I guess with factoring in breaks/hols #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - Reading your experiences here I think your all amazing :) #phdchat

@Eingang - @EA_Holmes So I ended up quite isolated and in a pickle when I ran into a problem with my primary supervisor. No backups left. ): #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @stephjanes87 A labmate has a selfmade thumb rule for this. He simply leaves lab to go home if he has been sitting idle for >25min. #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @Eingang Sounds very stressful! I am sorry to hear that. A PhD is stressful as it is... #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @dreamyscientist Perhaps that offers you an extra incentive but you're clearly dedicated to the cause #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - I need to go now before hubby thinks I've got lost, loved being here and I hope I can contribute more as my own PHD begins :) #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @eingang That must be so tough. I really hope your uni sorts things out. Are you in UCU? Might they be a source of support? #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @stephjanes87 I totally agree. Clocking hours can be counterproductive. It's all progress! #phdchat

@Eingang - @dreamyscientist @Donna_Peach @EA_Holmes Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm trying to get help (for me & the Ph.D.). #phdchat

@Eingang - @dreamyscientist @ea_holmes @Donna_Peach Good luck in your own #phdchat endeavours.

@dreamyscientist - @Eingang Perhaps try finding a PhD support group? Just groups of people who have time to listen and offer a good outlet to stress #phdchat

@EA_Holmes - @nsriazat Thanks for a great chat! #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - Seconded!! RT @EA_Holmes: @nsriazat Thanks for a great chat! #phdchat

@indianscribes - 6 Tips for Conducting Successful Online Qualitative Research http://t.co/Bn1aF9Ui #mrx #phdchat

@Eingang - Thanks, #phdchat people, for helping make today a better day than most have been for ages.

@dreamyscientist - Gotta find a super exciting paper to present this Monday in Lab Journal Club!! Stupid rule says "Shouldn't be related to your work" #phdchat

@dreamyscientist - @galpod Anything that's science. In the past it has ranged from Network Analysis of Protein Function to Crabs for Logic Gates. #phdchat

@clairey_ross - Would gamifying the PhD be more rewarding? asks @OonaghTweets http://t.co/HR6G5JPJ #phdchat interesting idea

@MsFloraPoste - Latest blog on being happy as a postgrad http://t.co/JQSaLOfD #phdadvice #phdchat #pgce

@deLancretLurpak - @sakinasofia I'm using old plain notebook and a pen #classic #phdchat

@Donna_Peach - @bevgibbs @cet47 #phdchat thats what concerns me spending lots of time duplicating tasks into different software

@lizith - @NSRiazat yep I'm good - Elluminate was a pig - java probs - but went well in the end - hope #phdchat was good

@LynneStobbart - Commas, page numbers and a tiny bit of cutting and I'm done! Can hardly believe it - but Thank The Lord! #phdchat #emotional

@TimSim85 - In the name of research I have to read 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas. It's 1,462 pages long. Here we go... #PhDchat

@MsFloraPoste - Thank you to everyone who has favourited/retweeted my blog. Lots of positive comments too! http://t.co/JQSaLOfD #phdadvice #phdchat

@TimSim85 - Twenty minutes later and I'm on page 6. #PhDchat

@srossmktg - Nothing brings out the inner academic geek in you like being at a consortium with all the "stars" of your field. #phdchat

@TimSim85 - Page 6 in an I'm really confused. #help #PhDchat #countofmontecristo

@TimSim85 - Still on page six of The count of Monte Cristo #PhDchat http://t.co/xUZZk3C4

@nickblackbourn - The Emotional Challenges of Academic Writing http://t.co/037I0oDR #phdchat

@Victory_Reborn - Nice motivation! RT @nickblackbourn: The Emotional Challenges of Academic Writing http://t.co/7tu1kRCp #phdchat

@londonaesthetik - working on refining thesis statement after a day of non-productivity... not so easy. #phdchat