Master's degree

For almost four years I've been struggling to write my master's thesis. I need it to finally finish my studies. I passed all the required exams, but lack the thesis to get the master's degree. I should have finished it almost two years ago but I just couldn't find the way to do it. My motivation was diminished by personal problems and a well paid job. Yes, I got a well paid job as a specialist without actually finishing the studies. Isn't it ironic?
Generally speaking, I am in a slump, and don't know how to get out of it. Or do I?
After spending the last few days on reading zenhabits I finally decided to do something about it.
I set my goal: I will write the Master's thesis within the next 6 months.
I'm also starting a blog (first ever) where I'll post my progress. I'm employing GTD to manage my work.
And I hope I'll find more inspiration here.

A master's thesis is something I dread having to do in my future if (WHEN! *cross fingers*) I go to grad school. I understand your not being motivated since you have a good-paying job, but think of how good it will be for yourself and your future. Heh. Mostly I just wanted to post to say good luck and it sounds like you have a great plan!!

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"May your world be full of color and your crayons never melt."
- Tymm

Good luck Lopez. My wife is in the final editing stages of completing her masters thesis now (it should have been completed a year and a half ago) and from going through that with her I really understand how you struggle to remain focused on it. One suggestion I have that worked for my wife (though I had to impose it on her) is to schedule your thesis work time as you would any other appointment and stick to it no matter what-and communicate that to everyone in your life upfront. In her case she was doing it fulltime, and I informed her and her family and friends that she would not be available between 8am and 5pm, though she would have a lunch hour between 12 and 1-just as if she was working a paid job. That really got her into gear and she has made excellent progress in the three months since it started.

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Thank's for your replies. I love the idea of scheduling my writing the thesis as I would do with my other appointments. I love simple ideas and that one is as simple as it gets. I have to try this. Everyday with GTD and ZebHabits gives me more motivation to work. I'm starting to believe that I will accomplish my goals Smile

EDIT:

I started a blog "The Quest for the Holy Master's Degree" where I'll post my progress on getting the degree. Feel free to check it and kick me in the ass if I don't post Smile

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Beacause I can.

Good luck man. May I suggest just setting aside a time every day to work on it for 30 minutes or so? It should eventually get done, lol.

I'm not sure if I ever want to get my Masters, and writing the thesis is one of the main reasons why. Fortunately, a bachelor's degree in my field makes more than enough for me to live well on. I think I also have some non-thesis options for a Masters that would just require more classes.

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ZippyGamer

Good Luck!

I just finished my Master's and the thesis really is a beast! Just make progress on it by doing a little each day. I found when I was really in the middle of things, stopping at 5pm and not thinking about it, looking at it, working on it until the next day at 9 am was for the best. Also, while this may not have been the best idea, taking the weekends off of writing/editing did help me be more productive during the week.

Just a caution....you still will have days you loathe this part of your life! All the more reason to get it done!

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http://klar4230.wordpress.com/

Be Uncommon.

Where the h*ll are you for the last 2 months? You just keep saying "I want to make it done. I'm going to make it done" or "I've read Covey's" or "I'm sure making a progress". What progress? You started your goal on April, and it means there will be 2 months left. Did you want someone kick your ass? You got me.

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0.UndergraduateThesis
1.NihonGoCourse
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You should just put aside a designated 30 minutes or so to work on it everyday. Don't let it pile up on you.

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http://www.zenishbb.com - Forum dedicated to your personal development. Smile

Check it out sometime.

Im also on to this. I very delayed and have to do hell off alot work within 25 of January. Im thinking of working half the day at university and halv the day at home. At home I will spend all my breaks stripping my apartment for stuff I dont need. Hopefully that will make me more motivated for both my tasks (and I allready feel it working Smile

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The best time to finish a thesis is when you are in the feel-no-pain mode of graduate school. Once you get out and realize how good that feels, life sometimes gets in the way! I know it is no consolation, but you are in good company. An awful lot of people out there are ABDs, too. (All but dissertation).

You might try to get some social support? Somebody who is ALSO writing and understands the grind and perseverence that it takes can be a good prop for you.

Good luck! I know that you can do it! G.

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Grace Kleppin at http://www.facetothesun.com

I completed my PhD in May 2007. It took me 10 years in total to complete grad school. I had a child in the midst of it and worked full time and took about 2 solid years entirely off. But I still managed to get it done. Not sure how really.

I had an adviser who never gave up on me. We had weekly phone meetings for months (I lived 3 hours from campus, moved away after finishing all my course work). We faxed and emailed drafts over and over. I cannot express how much editing she did, and how much re-writing I did. But her patience was sooo needed and appreciated.

I didn't set any rigid schedule for myself (hard to do that with a toddler and husband around) -- I had to work on it whenever I could.

I did do a few things that might also work for you:

Take a day of vacation or a unpaid leave (assuming you work 5 days a week?) to devote 6-8 hours on writing. If I hadn't done this, I know I wouldn't have finished. Our little one was in day care, my husband was at work, I cranked through writing as much as I could on those days.

Just repeatedly envision you with your completed thesis/dissertation. Visualize you finishing the beast.

My husband never finished his Master's. He completed all the research and data collection, but realized that he absolutely hates writing. I think he regrets it (well, I know he does because he's said so). So even if you don't NEED it for your career, it's a HUGE personal accomplishment that no one can ever take from you. I was the first person to graduate (even ATTEND) college in my family, so getting my PhD was huge for me and my family. I couldn't even get paid for it for the first year I had it because I worked in a job that didn't require such an advanced degree, so they didn't have to pay me for it. But low and behold, a new university opened in my area and I got hired to teach there, and I'm now making almost double what I made in my previous job and I am respected, appreciated and paid for my skills and talents, which feels really nice. And even if that job never had come along, I would still be grateful for the experience and wouldn't give it up for anything, despite all the stress it caused in our lives.

Keep plugging along. You can do it. Slow and steady wins the race. I also had a personally motivating song by Ani DiFranco, so much so I had to resist putting in my dissertation acknowledgments.

Quote:

swandive

cradling the softest, warmest part of you in my hand
feels like a little baby bird fallen from the nest
i think that your body is something i understand
i think that i'm happy, i think that i'm blessed

i've got a lack of inhibition
i've got a loss of perspective
i've had a little bit to drink
and it's making me think
that i can jump ship and swim
that the ocean will hold me
that there's got to be more
than this boat i'm in

'cuz they can call me crazy if i fail
all the chance that i need
is one-in-a-million
and they can call me brilliant
if i succeed
gravity is nothing to me, moving at the speed of sound
i'm just going to get my feet wet
until i drown

and i teeter between tired
and really, really tired
im wiped and im wired but i guess its just as well
because i built my own empire
out of car tires and chicken wire
and i'm queen of my own compost heap
and i'm getting used to the smell

and i've got a lack of information
but i got a little revelation
and i'm climbing up on the railing
trying not to look down
i'm going to do my best swan dive
into shark-infested waters
i'm gonna pull out my tampon
and start splashing around

'cuz i don't care if they eat me alive
i've got better things to do than survive
i've got a memory of your warm skin in my hand
and i've got a vision of blue sky and dry land

i'm cradling the hardest, heaviest part of me in my hand
the ship is pitching and heaving, my limbs are bobbing and weaving
and i think this is something i understand
i just need a couple vaccinations for my far-away vacation
i'm going to go ahead and go boldly because a little bird told me
that jumping is easy, that falling is fun
up until you hit the sidewalk, shivering and stunned

and they can call me crazy if i fail
all the chance that i need
is one-in-a-million
and they can call me brilliant
if i succeed
gravity is nothing to me
moving at the speed of sound
i'm just gonna get my feet wet
until i drown...

Cheers,

--katy

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Thank you both for you for good suggestions and the inspirational wishes. I have already taken some action and I have managed to get my adviser and my faculty's support on letting me finish in late may.

I now have 4 months which will be more than enough time if I spend my days writing, but not enough if I go skiing or spend my days without really doing much. I normally wok very good if I get in work modus. To get that state I must work very long days 8-12 hours Shocked

,2-3 days in a row. As soon as I do that, I enjoy working and my progress is amazing compared to my "normal" not-in-modus days. I find it easy to maintain modus, but very hard to reach it.

The basic need for me is therefore to get into modus as often as possible. To do that I have decided to use rewards to a much higher extend than before. I will also try to establish something like a "office time" at University. That will make me work when I'm there. I have already signed up for group where people in similar problems as me will meet. Outside the office time, I will not focus at the work at all. Perhaps with the exception of times when I stay in a cabin in the mountains and ski in the daytime and work in the evenings. Hopefully that will work.

This forum have been a great help. You people are great! Lets continue helping each other and enjoy life Very Happy

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I did two of them-- two master's degrees. Set aside one hour everyday and it should be done in less than six months. You will feel better finishing and the pain of six months work will be forgotten. The taste of success (finishing) will last a lifetime. Goodluck.

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