Step 3: Give yourself peace of mind. The scary thing about setbacks in grad school is that they never really go away. It seems that once he passes one, for example, now he has a plan that he discussed with his supervisor, his computer crashes and he lost the latest version of his PhD thesis many times. Here are five steps to structure your literature review and begin the writing process. for his dissertation, even if he feels completely overwhelmed. Bite only what you can chew. I'm not talking about food here, although I'm Hungarian and have a weakness for food-related metaphors. When you change your focus, your dissertation won't magically write itself. What will happen is that you will begin to act and from that action another action will develop. One of my students had very little time for her thesis between a full-time job, her young daughter, and a health problem. Imagine studying for exams shortly after finishing your PhD. If you need an interview for a position that you think is out of place. your league, or need to study to move into a new field, your PhD job search will likely involve stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks. Step 3: Follow the Instructions Once you identify and write down the specific problems you need to solve to finish your thesis, you will feel more freed to take the necessary action. 2. Determine how others can help you. Especially when dealing with someone who is uncooperative, your requests need to be already defined. Establishing a support network is the number one way to reduce anxiety and get the motivation and energy you need to finish your thesis. Additionally, make your health your number one priority by developing a regular exercise routine and eating the highest quality foods available to you. 4. Use similar articles and theses as templates. If you try to work and be efficient for long periods of time, you are creating your own burnout in grad school. A diet consistently poor and high in processed carbohydrates can also lead to exhaustion. Foods that contain high levels of processed carbohydrates (doughnuts, bagels, and pasta) cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Step 4: Get some fresh pairs of eyes. Every writer and every graduate student has certain strengths and weaknesses. To really polish your review, make sure you have a fresh set of eyes or a few to review it during the writing and revising process. Your thesis supervisor can be a great resource.