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I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

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Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#81

Post by once_inc »

I spent 7 years procrastinating my master's thesis. I'd been working full time at a regular job, where I could do a project that the university allowed as a valid Master thesis subject. Between the start of the project and eventually finishing, I had 2 kids, learned all there is to know about Bitcoin, and fully renovated a new home.

Don't beat yourself up about the procrastination, but also don't beat yourself up over the lying and deflection that you did. There is a significant number of students going through the same thing. It doesn't make you a bad person, or even a very poor student. You just got derailed, and had difficulties getting back on track.

To me, it was a very educative experience. I learned a lot about myself and my abilities.

Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#83

Post by akjssdk »

KVFinn wrote: post #2

If you're not just making slow progress but literally unable to make a single bit of progress, my goto strategy is similar to what writers call a vomit draft. For writing it conventionally means means writing words without stopping to plan or edit, no corrections allowed, the rule is you just have to keep typing, no matter what. It's about something being better than nothing, creating momentum, and also avoids being…

This works wonders, especially for collaborative documents (which a thesis should be, a collaboration between you and your supervisor/other people). A first "vomit" draft allows you to at least discuss the concepts, and it forces you to align the thoughts in your head. It is how I have written all my papers/thesis, and I cannot recommended it enough!

Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#84

Post by quickthrower2 »

Apocryphon wrote: post #42

There seems to be a faint correlation between procrastination and Bear blogs. Here are two different entries from different authors that I've favorited, both because the struggle is real and relatable, and from the immense amount of discussion both sparked. I look forward to seeing the same with this one. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31285969 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31426683 Is Bear the new Xanga…

Bear is very easy to use and could feel more like journaling than blogging!

Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#85

Post by croisillon »

neodypsis wrote: post #66
croisillon wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My GF started working on her Master Thesis in 2011. A few things happened like moving to another city and some short jobs here and there. She was really dreading even thinking about it, constantly waiting for next year's updated statistics. Me trying to help also upset her, we were in a bad place in that respect. In 2015 she started going to a university help group but it still didn't really help. In 2016 I convinced…

Wow, some programs do give you a lot of time for your thesis!

as long as we paid the semester fee the university never bat an eye

Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#88

Post by diedead »

I don't have any tips to add here other than I feel you and I have dealt with similar feelings when I was doing my uni degree (I haven't done a thesis or something similar mainly because I hate writing long form stuff!)

I used to procrastinate working on assignments or watching lectures because I was afraid I wouldn't understand the content and I'd fulfill the belief that I was not smart enough to be studying comp sci, which inevitably led to not having enough time to properly study and understand the content or do assignments!

But over time it took me a little less time in order for me to get started on that assignment or watch that lecture. You're most likely not going to greatly improve your organisation overnight, but as long as you are seeing small bits of progress, that's what matters.

Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#89

Post by yannis7 »

KVFinn wrote: post #2

If you're not just making slow progress but literally unable to make a single bit of progress, my goto strategy is similar to what writers call a vomit draft. For writing it conventionally means means writing words without stopping to plan or edit, no corrections allowed, the rule is you just have to keep typing, no matter what. It's about something being better than nothing, creating momentum, and also avoids being…

This is also recommended by Donald Knuth in one of his technical writing guidelines [citation missing] so +1

Re: I've procrastinated working on my thesis for more than a year

#90

Post by neodypsis »

croisillon wrote: post #85
neodypsis wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, some programs do give you a lot of time for your thesis!

as long as we paid the semester fee the university never bat an eye

Public universities usually give you a lot less time, think months, and one may also be constrained by visa allowances. Not sure if it's also the case in the US.
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