timing is everything

I’m going to have to seriously dedicate time to getting this thesis done. (I know, duh!) Problem is, finishing coursework and having Christmas break showed me the tempting Pandora's box of “free” time – to spend with friends, family, movies, music, restaurants…all these things I reduce significantly during schoolwork time and have for the past 18 months. So the reminder to myself is – the next four months ARE schoolwork time, even if there’s no prof, no discussion groups, no assignments – just the BIG one.

Like “they” (“they” are going to figure prominently) say with diets to have a day where you indulge rather than deny yourself all the time that just leads to overindulgence, I think setting time aside for each week might be the trick for that. Then I know I’m going to have some fun but also dedicate some time to masters work. So out of seven nights, for at least 4 I should be at my desk working on some aspect of this project. For instance looking ahead to the coming week, say Wednesday to Wednesday – I’m already planning to be out Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday evenings at various Guiding, family and social activities. Well the locking up must occur Friday, Sunday, Tuesday and some weekend time wouldn’t hurt either as I am in town. The trick is even with that schedule, not to cheat and buy time against the next week “oh I’ll go out Friday too but then work 5 nights next week” – because I won’t. I've learned that much so far.