Combatting Loneliness Associated with Writing
Writing can be enthralling, a process that enables us to articulate brilliance while communicating novel and compelling information to the masses. Writing can also be daunting and lonely, particularly when it comes to sitting down with your ideas, frameworks, and data for the dissertation. Reflecting on my dissertation writing process what I struggled most with was not the communication of ideas, the articulation of my conceptual framework, or the detailing of my precious and detailed findings, but the process of writing in what felt like isolation. In the early stages of dissertation proposal writing, I knew I needed to do something to combat that feeling of being a solo journey of scholarship and discovery. I quickly identified mechanisms of support that were available to me and activated my convoy model of scholarly support services. These are the life hacks that worked for me. I realize that we all have different styles and ways of being in the world. I encourage you to take and implement the strategies that you find potentially useful from this list.
Find Others in the Same Boat as You
Create an informal writing group by taking some time and find people in your local community who are working on dissertations and invite them to be part of a weekly writing group. Use connector tools such as Meet Up or Facebook to connect with others who may be interested in having the support of weekly meetings and organized time for writing at the local library or other community space. Create a forum to share ideas but also to commit to writing together in a shared space. The accountability helps and even though there may be little dialogue, writing at the other end of the table from an acquaintance or colleague can feel supportive.
Find Spaces that Are Conducive to Writing
Get out of the house and find a coffee shop, a room at the local library, or a corner at your favorite bar or bakery – a place where you can show up, plug in, set up shop, and write in the presence of others. Usually, the background sounds and the hustle and bustle of people work can provide a sense of community and allow us to feel that while we are writing, we are still out in the world and around people.
Create A Positive Workspace
Clean up your space, organize your desk, and make room for your creativity to flow. Remove as many distractions as possible so that when you sit down to write, you can focus on the work product rather than tidying. Find a beautiful plant to keep on your desk, burn a candle, or use aromatherapy to help stimulate your brain (I highly recommend citrus oils in a diffuser). Turn on some upbeat but benign music that can play in the background. Turn off your Wi-Fi and set boundaries to safeguard against interruptions and distractions. All these tips will help you focus.
Sign up for a Writing Workshop
Finding a writing workshop (Dissertation by Design offers these at various times throughout the year) or a writing retreat or boot camp can be a productive way to connect with others, carve out a significant amount of time to work, and combat feeling alone in the process. Workshops are in person or often online. Intensity coupled with companionship, connection, and support goes a long way.
If loneliness is plaguing you and your writing process then employ strategies that will help alleviate some the negative impact often associated with working on a dissertation. Dissertation by Design is here to help you. Just ask.
This blog post was written by Dr. Lydia Manning, Dissertation Coach at Dissertation by Design, LLC