The Dissertation Diaries

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in my dissertation journey is that the work only feels overwhelming when I do not have a system. Once I found a rhythm that fits how I think and how I work, the whole process started to feel more grounded and more doable.

I am completing between ten and fifteen interviews, each one lasting sixty to ninety minutes, all within a two month window. It is a lot. Each conversation is rich and personal and full of insight. That is exactly why I needed a structure that helps me stay close to the data without burning out.

During each interview, I take handwritten notes. I do this intentionally because I want people to feel listened to. I do not want the distraction of typing or the impression that I might be multitasking. My notes are simple. Short words, phrases, and ideas that catch my attention. They help me follow the conversation in real time and give me anchor points when I revisit the interview later.

Right after every interview I make myself pause before I move on to anything else. I record an analytic memo using my phone’s voice memos. Talking through the interview in my own voice captures the energy of the conversation while it is still fresh. It reminds me what surprised me, what resonated, and what deserves more attention. This step has become one of the most grounding parts of my process.

Every few days I sit down and write. Not polished chapters. Just reflections on what is beginning to emerge across interviews. I look through my handwritten notes, listen to my memos, and notice patterns or questions that keep resurfacing. Sometimes the writing helps me see connections I missed in the moment. Sometimes it helps me shape what I want to ask next.

I also talk to my husband about the themes that are emerging. It helps to verbally process with someone who understands what this phase of research looks like. Since he recently finished his doctoral degree, he knows the kinds of questions to ask and how to push my thinking in a supportive way. These conversations help me step back from the data and see it through a different lens.

This system is what keeps everything manageable. Handwritten notes during the interview. A voice memo right after. Writing every few days to follow developing themes. Conversations with someone who understands the process. With the number and length of these interviews, this structure matters. It keeps me present with participants, organized in my thinking, and steady as the project grows.

My dissertation may be long and demanding, but this system reminds me that I can do this by building habits that support the way I work. Small pieces. Honest reflections. Consistent attention. That is what is carrying me forward.