Anyone got a spare kick up the arse they can give me?

[Blithereens]

Been an OU student since 2011. I've got just one more essay to complete before I'm done forever. I've got a place on an MA starting in September. This essay is all that stands between me and post-graduate study. I've got my plan and all my books, but can I settle to write the damn thing?

Can I bollocks.

I don't know why this one essay seems like more work than the whole degree seemed at the beginning, but it does!! I'm panicking and engaging in any displacement activity I can think of. Can someone tell me to focus please?

Write!

Do you ever do the pomodoro method (dunno why it's called that). You set yourself 30 minutes to write and you have to just do it, even if it's not great. Then 30 minutes to do something else, then 30 again. It can help you focus because you know there's an end in sight.

Thanks LRD. I have tried that - I tend to do 45/15s. I know it works when I sit down and do it, I've just got myself in a state of flighty panic! It's so frustrating. I also think because I have had to hand in another huge piece of work and two applications for scholarships in the last two days I am just frazzled. But I can't burn out just yet!

What's your deadline? It might be you really do need a day or at least an afternoon off - and properly off, not letting yourself fret (easier said than done, I know).

It's in 8 days. I have decided to go and meet my friends for coffee tonight and I am having Sunday off for a family thing. So close! Just want it over with.

I can imagine! But I'd still say maybe take a break if you're really struggling.

I'm in the same boat, just my final project to go and I'm done.

I'm staring at a blank screen and simply can't write a word

Aim any spare arse kicking this way please!

Oh, Summer, isn't it awful? I know this essay is really important but I feel like throwing a tantrum and shouting, 'But I've already WRITTEN all these OTHER essays!' and flinging my books out of the pram window.

Haha, I know that feeling... I've been pushing myself so hard for 5 years and it feels like I've just run out of push.

Going to try the 30 minute thing now, I'll need to switch my wifi off as I have an awful habit of saying I'll do x amount of time and ending up browsing the net instead

I'll report back in 30

GET ON WITH IT, BOTH OF YOU!!!!

Or there will be no pudding for you for the rest of the week!!!!!

The 30 minute thing worked well, can't go for another though as I have to do dinner and bring ds1 to gaelic.

I'll try again later, if I could just get this project log done I think I'd be able to crack on with the rest of it more easily. I wasn't actually keeping a log so it's a work of pure fiction and I'm struggling to do it, the literature reviews and methodology should be a piece of piss in comparison

get off mumsnet and get on with it, you silly tart!

Are you me, I have written a thousand words in 3 whole days- I have 2 days to write 3 thousand more. Four years of work now seem to mean nothing and it's all down to this one essay.

Suddenly barefoot contessa has become an unmissable programme.

Thank you River and Scooby! I actually got quite a bit done before meeting friends and I feel much more prepared to attack it again tomorrow.

Glad the 30 mins helped, Summer! I've also been using an app called Coffeetivity, it plays just enough background noise to help me concentrate. I use the 'university sounds' mode.

Hugo you can do it! Sounds like you have got quite a lot down already. I do love Barefoot Contessa though

Thanks again for all the kicks - got a really solid draft completed now. Even done the wretched bibliography! Feeling good, going to sleep on it for a couple of days before final edits and submission.

Hitting the now I think!