Dear Dissertation Diary

 Hello dissertation diary,  It seems that as soon as I wrote out a commitment to regularly write on this blog my entire writing schedule collapsed. My usual morning writing hasn't recovered since reading week and I've been cycling in and out of frenetic work and complete exhaustion ever since. Today was probably the first day since February that I've felt productive and energetic and it's probably because I've started eating better.  For me, eating better does not mean any particular commitment to balanced meals or healthy food but just a modest effort to eat more than an apple and some coffee in a day. Managing to get through three meals and some water is a pretty big win for me even though nothing actually stands between me and a proper eating schedule. I've also been too lazy to exercise even though I know it's the best thing for me to do to boost my mood. I went out for a walk for about ninety minutes and that really made me feel like a real person for o...

 Hello dissertation diary,  Today was the end of another week and I've been trying to get through some actual dissertation diary. I write little bits of content here and there pretty consistently, but it's only been in the last couple days that it's all started to take shape into the ten pages my supervisor wants me to complete for Monday. I'm about halfway there and while it won't be great, it'll be something by the end of the weekend and I'm glad that I have a deadline so I can motivate myself to do more detailed writing.  I can make myself write something on most days but those little somethings don't necessarily add up to any broader whole. The ideas are random and they don't stick together quite yet. I have a hard time sticking to any self-imposed deadlines so I really need the external pressure to get myself motivated to connect all the pieces I keep floating around.  I also seem to be embroiled in a conflict with one of my students. She's ...