Thread by @verymessyjamie

Some useful things to try to beat #writersblock in the #PhD and get back in flow. A 🧵
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#phdchat #phdlife #phdtips #AcademicTwitter @OpenAcademics @PhDVoice @PhD_Genie #thesiswriting #academicwriting #researchwriting #phdthesis #postgrad #Dissertation

1/ first: don't sit there forcing yourself to get the motivation back. Nobody in the history of ever got motivated by telling themselves to feel motivated.

Instead, acknowledge you're not feeling it & shift focus instead. Read on... 👇🏼

2/ Try reading something that usually gives you the academic equivalent of fanny flutters (!). Your favourite journo article, your fave writer, a section of your research journal, an interesting joy-giving bit of data.

That might spark some ideas to bring back into your writing

3/ Go talk to someone about why/where you're stuck (supervisor/colleague/friend/partner) and brainstorm it out. You never know what fresh ideas + inspo come pouring out when you're in a relaxed conversation about it + not forcing the writing

4/ Do something that's still academic-ish but not directly related to the PhD. Prep a conference/journo paper. Join/create department workshop/talks. Do some public engagement activity.

That way, you're still engaging in the ideas w/o getting bogged down by the thesis itself

5/ while you're doing this other academic stuff, your brain cogs are still turning, ideas/thoughts are still processing. You'll end up with lots of fresh new perspectives and ideas to bring back to your writing.

6/ can't sat this enough: MOVE YOUR BODY. Run, weightlift, gym, walk, have sex, dance, crossfit, yoga. ANYTHING. Physical movement has immense benefit. It'll literally shake you out of your stuckness. Dopamine, endorphins all uplift; you'll feel more energised to get back to it

7/ REST. Physical rest: make sure you're getting enough sleep. Sometimes you feel blocked/can't write because you're literally tired & need sleep/rest. Not just daily sleep, but regular chunks of time away. Eg full weekends, full 1-2 week vacation involving NO WORK

8/ Mental/emotional rest: do other things that you love. Hobbies, social life, family are not indulgences or luxuries. They're so necessary to give your head+heart a break. Play is so important for getting the creativity, motivation, inspo back for your writing+work.

9/ CHASE JOY not motivation. Honestly! Do the things that light you up+make you feel good. Then bring those good feelings/motivation/energy back into your work

10/ if you absolutely need to write+can't afford to take time off, try this:

Scale your writing goals down to tiny portions. Write for only 20 mins. Aim for only a 100-word para.

Taking consisten action, no matter how small, will generate motivation (not other way around)

11/ above all: be kind to yourself+find the work groove that works best for you.

Remember that productivity looks different for everyone
and
motivation isn't meant to be 100% switched on 24/7. It ebbs & flows. Allow that + move with the flow instead of resisting it

12/ {aside: #humandesign helps massively for figuring out ur best writing flow. E.g. Gens/MGs will write better when you find something to respond to/that feels joyful. Projectors work best in a 4-hour day+motivation will look very different for you than for Gens/MGs}

13/ Finally, reframe writers block from something bad to something useful. If you're blocked, procrastinating, feeling discomfort w ur writing - get curious about that. What is really beneath the writers block? What is it telling you? What are you avoiding?

14/ eg maybe you realise youre feeling shaky abt the literature+worry that writing about it will show up what you don't know.

So then you can go read more+strengthen your knowledge.

Poke beneath the discomfort + find out what's really going on so you can address it+move fwd.

n/n that's it for now, folks. Hope that helps you get back on the writing wagon!

Or! Join me & @MushtaqBilalPhD on Tues 14 June 5pmBST/12pmEST for a Space about how we wrote up our entire #thesis in just one year.

Diary it: twitter.com/i/spaces/1yNGa…