Friday, May 13, 2016

Superstition and Your Dissertation

Today is Friday the 13th, which is famous for superstitions. Do you have any superstitions regarding your dissertation or writing? Cambridge online dictionary defines superstition as "a belief that is not based on reason or scientific thinking and that explains the causes for events in ways that are connected to magic."

Let's consider some possible superstitions with the dissertation. Perhaps you will only work on it after you have cleaned your work area (or your entire house!), or you need to have a certain type of coffee or tea to work. Maybe you feel that you can only work in certain areas of your home or at particular times. You may feel you need to follow certain steps before you can send on the paper to your chair, such as reading it through twice and having someone else read it.

I would like you to take today to consider your rituals or habits surrounding working on your dissertation and if they are helping you or hindering you. As long as they are not restricting you or they do not feel cumbersome, they may be fine. However, it is a good idea to reconsider and evaluate them occasionally, so they are not in control of you. 

Next time I will look at interviewing. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu

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