If you’re in the thick of writing up your PhD thesis, you know how intense the final stretch can be — long hours, staying indoors, and barely any social life (sound familiar?). I went through this myself during the pandemic, and I found a blog by my colleague Kaja Milczewska that really helped structure those last weeks.
It’s from Social Metwork, the Reading University Meteorology Department’s blog:
👉 How to write a PhD thesis during a global pandemic
Even though I finished my PhD as the pandemic was winding down, the tips in Kaja’s post still ring true today — whether you’re facing external challenges or just navigating the normal ups and downs of thesis writing.
Here are three pieces of advice from Kaja that really stood out to me:
- Set a schedule — and stick to it. Kaja divided the final workload into manageable chunks, giving each thesis chapter a week for completion. Perfectionists, take note: sometimes “done” really is better than perfect.
- Limit news consumption. It’s important to stay informed, but during those last weeks of writing, you need space and energy to focus deeply on your work without distractions.
- Be honest about how you’re feeling. Opening up to someone — whether a friend or your supervisor — can be a huge relief. Sharing struggles can help you manage submission anxiety and ensure your support network understands how best to help.
If you’re working through those final months, I encourage you to give Kaja’s full blog a read. It might just make the process a little smoother.
Linda van Garderen 