The thesis period involves many different and comprehensive processes. Moreover, the thesis student needs to be ready for all these processes and to maintain psychological stability. Work discipline is essential for this. So, let’s see how this will happen together.
1- Planning: The first indispensable condition. As a thesis student, you must have long-medium-short term goals and plans. If you are one of those who say, “Well, the process does not always go according to our plan”, get over it. Even the worst functioning plan is better than no plan. In the basic logic of planning, there is no thought that I will control everything. On the contrary, we plan for the things we can control. There is no room for assumptions in planning.
2- Daily routines: Set daily routines within your planning. These should be activities that you will definitely do every day. For example: I will read two articles in detail every day. Set a daily time and limit for these routines. Repetition is essential to turn routines into routines. This requires motivation. Identify the sources that will motivate you for routines. What drives you to routines?
3- Getting away from toxics: Move away from anything that demotivates or disconnects you from the process by capsizing your mind and life. The most powerful toxins are usually friends who know no time and boundaries, disorganized living and working environment, social media accounts where the political agenda flows like water, unnecessary discussions, thousands of unread emails, advertisements-promotions, empty conversations that do not fill the fig tree, hours spent on TV, Netflix, shopping sites, etc… Get rid of what you can get rid of IMMEDIATELY. Minimize what you cannot escape.
4- Strong network: Unlike toxics, these are the circles that give you strength and energy and increase your motivation. Always stay in touch with them: Respected academics, idealistic thesis students, thesis writing groups, reading groups, useful social media people/institutions, coaches-mentors, participants in your research, etc. Developing close relationships with these people and groups can create great opportunities for you after the thesis period. You can talk about Israel and Palestine all day long, but they will not give you the benefit of a respected academic.
5- Return to your roots: I think this is the most important one. That’s why I put it at the end – stop blaming what’s going on outside. Blaming the advisors, complaining about the corrupt system in academia, talking about the injustices done to you with torpedoes… Yes, maybe you are right in all of them, but I ask you: Is your thesis written when you talk about these things? No. So either choose to talk about these things and leave the thesis, or if you want to continue with the thesis, then stop talking about these things. Because the two don’t work at the same time. Turn the focus on yourself. It’s easy to blame others, like a disinterested advisor. But that doesn’t help. Ask yourself this: What can I do in all these negative circumstances? When you answer this question sincerely, you will see that there is actually a lot you can do.
Maybe one thing I can add to this blog is this: Make time for yourself. If you are able to fulfill a certain daily work limit, please spend the rest of the time doing things you enjoy. Like hobbies, playing with your child or social activities.
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