It's just typical. No-one ever pops into the office when I'm head down in a journal article or wading my way through a sticky statistical analysis or trying to write a chapter.
The only time someone does appear unannounced is during those precious few minutes when I've allowed myself to catch up on the latest Facebook posts or I'm watching the latest, hilarious, You Tube clip (usually sent to me by a fellow PhD!).
The more you protest that you're just taking a short break, the less they believe you and they leave the office with the firm belief that you're a slacker who's never going to complete their thesis on time.
Typical.
In my defence, I find a quick browse of Facebook is crucial to keeping me vaguely productive throughout the day when I have no immediate deadline on the horizon. At the moment, any deadline is set by me and I can choose to move it/ignore it/laugh at it. Granted, I have a lot of work to do, and shoud really crack on with it, but those few minutes distraction allow me a moment to relax, after which I can refocus and start another burst of activity. It's necessary. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or not trying to write a thesis.
So, yes, if you decide to pop by my office I am probably going to be caught minimising Facebook with a guilty look on my face. Judge me all you wish but it's all part of the process of Becoming Dr Ainsworth!
Ciao for now!
Haha! Love this! I just read it because I went on facebook doing the exact same thing you are. I may not be writing a thesis (I'm desperately trying to apply for jobs with applications that might as well be a thesis) but I'm with you. Just turn your desk round so you're facing the door then you'll always minimise on time! Otherwise alt+tab is a very quick way of changing windows! Hope the thesis is going well! x
ReplyDeletealt+tab you say? hmm - this may be my new face-saver!
DeleteTHANK YOU!!
Unfortunately I can't turn the desk around due to the retarded layout of our office and mine is one of the three computer screens you can instantly see when the door opens! Gutted! Good luck with the job applications and happy procrastinating!! x