Covid (again!) in final two weeks of writing up 😭

[Oxfrog]

I’m trying to finish up my thesis, it’s preeeetty much there although intro and conclusion need some serious work still. I had an extension till mid December after covid and bereavement threw me off in the summer. I have another job i need to give my attention to after Christmas, i really just want this thing done. But i seem to have covid again, high temp and feel rotten. Managed to do half an hour of work today. I’m scared this is all going to go to shit. I needed two good weeks of caffeinated final sprint and now i’m stuck in bed. I want to push through but I don’t want to wreck my health. No idea what to do… should i let the university know i might not make it or just hand in whatever I can, maybe piss off my supervisor and hope it’s good enough with corrections. One chapter is published and two other experimental chapters are publishable quality in supervisors’ opinion, although need to fiddle a little more with both of them as well. I’m so annoyed, I haven’t been slacking off but I wish I’d moved other things around to give this more attention earlier. I don’t even know if i could extend again…

@Oxfrog

Similarish situation - unfortunately the new variation of covid seems to be EXTRA bad and "doing nothing for a good few weeks or months" seems to be essential to get it healed. I tried to push through last month and my body still feels wrecked.

I'm personally used to (and enjoy) a good caffeinated last minute sprint but like you say just not worth it.

I'd personally bite the bullet, get as many delays and extensions as possible and relax. Supervisors aren't God, just tell them and move on.

Can you also get an extension or delay on your next job?

Find out the options first with the pgt office and then make a decision

Thanks for replies. Sorry to hear you’ve had similar @RonnieGonnie, hope you’re feeling better now and that you got whatever extensions or changes you needed. Ugh. My fever has finally gone down today so I’m hoping that I’ll feel really different tomorrow and be able to catch up with myself at the weekend, but I won’t push it if it feels like it’s doing me harm. On Monday then I guess I’ll know if I need to find out about further extension options. I’ve already started the next job but it’s going to ramp up after Christmas and is a one year project so there isn’t much give anywhere. I miss being in my twenties when I used to take a stack of sudafed, cocodamol and a strong coffee any time I was ill and be more productive than when well! (Although maybe that’s why my immune system is shit now…)

Good luck @Oxfrog you got this! 💪

All seems to be ok here (touch wood) slightly different timing I have let everyone know that I'm basically MIA and doing the minimum

(as otherwise I think the mindset/vibe in academia can be to push and push for people to do extra when not necessary - only to find no-one really cares anyway! I've found the overly conscientious people get targeted and made to do extra "on a whim" whereas others just treat everything casually and no-one calls them out)