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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Please give a kick up the arse (final dissertation)

11 replies

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 05/05/2025 19:25

Help! Deadline looming and no motivation. The anxiety is sky high and I have ground to a halt, paralysed by fear.
I mostly know what I need to do but just cannot get started. Or if I do, I end up stopping every five minutes to faff. I'm so cross with myself. Any tips on how to progress please? Honestly, I could find distractions in an empty room.

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SiriusTheCatStar · 05/05/2025 20:53

No kick up the arse from me! I’ve found myself in your position so many times, paralysed by fear at the final furlong. You say you are cross with yourself, but you have been getting started - even working for 5 minutes at a time is progress. And you know what you need to do. And you've passed many hurdles to get to the final dissertation stage. I wish you all the best.

Have you heard of the pomodoro method? The usual procedure is set a timer to work for e.g. 25 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break, before setting the timer for another focused session. You can follow any timing pattern you like though. You could set your timer for 5 minutes, then take a 25 minute break for faffing, to ease yourself into dissertation writing. After a few sessions you could lengthen the focused time.

The pomodoro method is most helpful for me when I have a ‘body double’ to help keep me accountable. It does a lot to help me focus and keep my anxiety under control. A few years ago I took part in some Zoom co-working sessions during which we’d start by stating our goals for the session e.g. writing a paragraph, and then work in silence for an agreed time before checking in with each other and taking a break. Nowadays I use the virtual co-working platform Focusmate (the subscription is the cost of a coffee per month) - other platforms like Flow Club are available. I valued the Zoom sessions with acquaintances, but the beauty of Focusmate is that I can join a session instantly at any time when I need some extra focus and accountability, without having to set things up in advance.

The last thing I’ll share for now is the nuclear option that I used when I was really up against the deadline and needed to remove all digital distractions. I’d make sure a sufficient amount research data was downloaded onto the computer, as well as PDFs of articles I needed to refer to, before unplugging the internet router and giving it, and my phone, to my neighbours to look after for the day, or to a household member to take with them to work. Obviously this only works if no one else at home needs the internet. Alternatively, I’d take my laptop to a place with no WiFi, leaving my phone at home.

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 06/05/2025 21:45

The nuclear option sounds tempting. I like to work with headphones on in a busy environment so the fer of observers prevents me scrolling the internet too much. Have actually chucked a load of words down and drawn some diagrams today. Tomorrow, I plan to get my head round the stats as it is what's terrifying me the most...

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SiriusTheCatStar · 06/05/2025 22:00

That's brilliant progress! All the best for tomorrow - "feel the fear and do it anyway"!

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 17/06/2025 23:17

Ahem, may I update with the news I have been awarded a first class degree...

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Fizzysister · 19/06/2025 05:03

Congratulations!

ApolloandDaphne · 19/06/2025 17:59

Congratulations. I've just completed a general degree and yesterday found out I was awarded a distinction. It's such a good feeling after all the hard work, isnt it?

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 20/06/2025 18:55

ApolloandDaphne · 19/06/2025 17:59

Congratulations. I've just completed a general degree and yesterday found out I was awarded a distinction. It's such a good feeling after all the hard work, isnt it?

Yes, honestly thought I was losing the plot in the final term, so much pressure! Well done to you too.

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SiriusTheCatStar · 20/06/2025 19:18

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 17/06/2025 23:17

Ahem, may I update with the news I have been awarded a first class degree...

Fantastic news, congratulations! Very happy for you, hope you have a great weekend of celebrating :-)

mygrandchildrenrock · 20/06/2025 21:18

Congratulations to you and @ApolloandDaphne.
I came on to happily give you a give up the backside but can see I have no need to do this! Flowers Flowers

Notupmyalley · 20/06/2025 21:25

Congratulations! Such a lovely feeling when you achieve something like this as a mature student, you appreciate it and feels it's worth so much more.

Now what will you do with all that spare time you previously spent studying?

Enjoy your weekend celebrating

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 20/06/2025 21:59

Notupmyalley · 20/06/2025 21:25

Congratulations! Such a lovely feeling when you achieve something like this as a mature student, you appreciate it and feels it's worth so much more.

Now what will you do with all that spare time you previously spent studying?

Enjoy your weekend celebrating

Paint the living room and deep clean the kitchen for a start. But went for a midday swim at a local open air pool today with my bestie. Job starts in August.

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