I should hurry and finish so I can get a job, but there are no jobs. But if I wait too long, I'll be too old to get a job. I should be original and innovative, but if I'm too innovative my committee won't like my work. These fears can create a mental logjam that produces anything from mild procrastination to full-blown writer's block. If you recognize yourself on this list, rest assured that you are not alone.
Many students take up the shoulds as a way of prodding themselves into action.
But only if you recognize that the task is a big and challenging one and that most people have some difficulty tackling it. Getting Something on the Page Otherwise known as writing, a word laden with unfortunate associations. I tell myself I'm just putting down my thoughts. Many students find that ultimately they use a fraction of the outline in their dissertation. But whether or not you use the entire outline in your dissertation, an outline provides a map to the body of knowledge you want to communicate.