The Dissertation Diaries

You can plan all you want. Color-code the calendar. Block the time. Take the day off. Line everything up so the next step feels clear, responsible, and earned. Planning matters, and it’s something I take seriously.

And still, you have to stay flexible, especially when your work depends on other people.

Today was a good reminder of that. I had taken the day off specifically to work through comments I’d requested from my committee three weeks ago. I had the time set aside and the mental space ready. When I opened my document, though, there were no comments waiting for me. Not because anyone didn’t care, but because life gets in the way. People are busy. Academia moves at a very human pace, not a perfectly scheduled one.

Instead of letting frustration take over, I sent a gentle nudge to my committee and then reframed the day. I asked myself what would make today still feel like a working day rather than a wasted one, even if it didn’t look the way I had planned. I decided on a few things I could move forward without waiting on anyone else.

Those choices turned into real wins. I contacted a copy editor, ordered my graduation regalia, and read through Chapters Four and Five through my own lens rather than waiting for feedback. That last part mattered more than I expected. It reminded me that I’m still working, still thinking, and still moving this project forward, and that my committee will see that progress when they return to it.

I also had the chance to talk with a cohort member, which helped me reframe the entire day. There is something grounding about sharing the moment with someone who understands the process and the pressure. It reminded me that none of this happens in isolation.

The work still happened today. The day still counted. It just unfolded differently than I had imagined.

Planning gives direction and intention. Flexibility is what keeps you steady when plans collide with real life. Both matter, and learning to hold them together has been just as important as the writing itself.