Finding time to complete a dissertation can be a major challenge particularly with the iterative review/revision process that is involved in preparing a research proposal and/or dissertation manuscript.
Why is this iterative review/revision process important to the preparation of a research proposal and/or dissertation manuscript?
What will you do to block out periods of time to work on iterations of your proposal and/or dissertation?
How will you get support from others to enable you to do work during these times?
What will you do to maintain your energy, passion, and commitment?
Time is always a concern for working professionals like myself. One of the things I utilize in the past is that I would dedicate the weekend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for all homework and discussions and papers.
This strategy worked during the start of my courses in the doctoral program when I started sometime December 2014. I would also work ahead and save the documents so I can upload to the discussion posts and assignment posts for papers when it came due.
However, I find for this course PSY 825-Advanced Research design, you have to dedicated time everyday 24/7 and yes it is like a full time job during the dissertation phases of the doctoral program. This process of writing the dissertation is an iterative process because you are continuing to work and make changes to the standards of the dissertation and the grading rubrics from the templates.
This will most likely be a critical challenge for me in the upcoming courses because as an adjunct professor I am working the california community colleges in my area in southern california teaching and this does not include committee and advisory roles that I am apart of.
I will probably carry my lap doc and save the drafts and documents and back it up with USB drive to transfer to my office computer and work on it everywhere I am and will probably reduce sleeping time to handle all my duties in my career, social, and academic life.
To prevent burn out and to keep the energy, passion, and committment alive, I will utilize strategies in the past where I will take a day of rest and family time to revitalize my energy and drive.
Also, the money and time spent is always in the back of my mind to keep on pushing through to complete and defend the dissertation and prevent the "ABD" (All but dissertation) status. In addition, start doing more positive self talk rather than negative self talk.
This course hit me like a ton of bricks and hit me with a big dose of reality.