You
should consider keeping a journal of your dissertation adventure. This is
different than the research journal I have talked about previously, this is a
personal volume where you can share your hopes, dreams, and frustrations. It
can be a paper or electronic version, but the important thing is that you write
it in regularly! What to talk about? Write about what you are doing each day on
your paper, and how you feel about it. Talk about your chair, committee member,
and URR; this is where you can write out frustrations and revelations.
Keeping such a journal is empowering, it allows you safely
vent and work through problems. Your spouse/ partner, family, and friends while
supportive, probably do not really understand what you going through, you can
also burn them out through your frustrations. A journal provides a place to
share your feelings, it also lets you go back and reread entries. You will tend
to find that you have been through such events before, you survived and learned
from it; you will survive the present one too!
A journal lets you be in control; give yourself permission
to write what you want. It is a map of your dissertation experience, the
pitfalls, and the joys. You may want to consider publishing a version of the
journal when you are done or you may wish to share it with your own
dissertation students someday. It will be your map of your adventure. Use it
wisely!
Next time I will discuss finding your way. 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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