8 Steps to Motivate Yourself to Write Your Dissertation Flawlessly
Writing a dissertation is a process. It requires excellent writing style, academic prowess, or diverse knowledge in a specific area. Still, it also demands discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, and motivation to get done with the writing and, finally, the project.
So, you will need additional motivation i.e., posts on dissertation motivation. It is a series of brief slogans to write on ‘post-it notes and put all over your workspace or desk, so you can see them every time you want to sit down and work.
Motivation steps to write dissertation
- Begin with one line/ page
The thought of writing hundreds of pages may make you feel disheartened, especially if you’re starting your work. Therefore, if you find yourself stuck on a blank page, do not think about the future or ahead. Think of the present. Begin writing the one line, which will amount to a page, then later hundreds of pages to amount to your project.
- Obsessing is not progressing
This step is for perfectionists. It may be difficult for you not to be obsessed with every line/quote/passage if you’ve been doing it for years, but this is what makes you great in an academic environment.
That is why I propose ‘timed obsession.’ Set a period like three days out of the allotted time from your dissertation writing to obsess content of a particular phase or chapter of a project. Then whether your chapter/ project has reached your standards or not, after your timed obsession, let it go. Send it as it is.
- Finished is better than perfect
This step is also for the perfectionists, but it applies to the whole project rather than a chapter. Your project is not yet an academic book; hence it has to go through your dissertation committee. Keep in mind that your project is not going to be published by a prestigious publishing house. Even if that is your goal in the future, at the moment, that is not your goal.
- Interruptions happen
Factor in the amount and quality of your writing. It means that you will exceed your writing goals someday while other days you will not reach them; thus, your schedule will have to be adjusted. You should also account for your interruptions; hence your program should be flexible enough to accommodate them.
- Work backward
After you have conducted your research, you know which points you want your readers to concentrate on. So focus on that; thus, you will avoid wasting time on issues that will not meet your argument. Although this is approach may fail to apply to dissertations that require a linear process.
- Do your best
Give it your all so that you later won’t have to regret that you could have presented your argument differently or could have done much better. Your conscience will be clear hence you will be at peace because you did your best.
- Celebrate your achievements
When you have reached your writing goal, or you have finished a chapter, celebrate. Treat yourself to something that you like. It will boost your motivation and motivate you to do more.
- Why do you like it?
If you reach a point and you feel stuck. Try focusing on the part of the project that you like most or focus on how far you’ve come or what the project’s outcome will be for you. This is enough to keep you going.
Conclusion
Breaking down the work into bits will enhance your motivation for dissertation writing and finally finishing your project. Remember, there is no perfect dissertation. A good dissertation is a written/complete dissertation. Prioritize in completing your project. For success, master the tips for time management with dissertation writing.
