Thread by @verymessyjamie

EVERYONE I knew who completed their #PhD before me had a miserable time in the last stages of writing up. I dreaded having to struggle too but those last 6 months ended up being the most fulfilling, happy time of my PhD
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#phdlife #phdtips #phdchat @PhDVoice #academictwitter

I voiced my dread/fears to my supervisor. She shared that she loved writing up; that it was a wonderful time of seeing her research come together + gain confidence in her own voice/findings. She was the first person to suggest there was another way to write/wrap up the PhD...
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... that wasn't characterised by only misery, struggle, overwork, pain.

I took that vision/possibility into my writing up year and I too loved it.

I loved seeing disparate threads come together, new ideas emerge, my own voice+perspectives get stronger

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I also planned ahead + got super intentional about making that last year as focused, joyful, invigorating & in flow as it could be.

I shaped my schedule, time, physical space, support system to make my little "writing up world" as amenable + pleasurable as possible.

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I know situations vary tremendously for #PhDstudents globally + I know I have enormous privileged to have been able to do this.

But I also want to stress that misery, struggle, a horrible writing-up experience doesn't have to be inevitable/a default setting.

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It may not be like mine was but it can definitely still be made a little more pleasurable / bearable.

This starts with remembering that you are 100% ALLOWED to want every stage of your PhD experience to feel good + to take certain steps to make that more possible for you

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{Shameless plug} This is exactly what I'm about: supporting you to find ways to make that experience feel more aligned w your best way of working+being. To drop the bs that doesn't serve you. To find practical steps to enjoy the PhD more. More here: linktr.ee/jamiepei

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