Yikes!
Outside of ghost stories and horror movies, there’s not a lot to be scared of on Halloween. The frights are all make believe, costume and shadows serving to send shivers down our spines. For a moment, perhaps, we feel a...
viva anxiety
Do You Feel Nervous?
It’s not a bad thing if you feel nervous before the viva, or at the start. It’s probably not comfortable. Nervousness can sometimes grow into feeling overwhelmed or anxious because – but by itself it’s not a terrible state. Nervousness...
In The Way
If you feel worried or anxious before the viva then stop and ask yourself, “Why?” What is getting in the way? For example, if you feel unprepared it could be that you’re pressured with the time available. It could be...
Nervousness To Spare
You might be nervous for your viva. Your examiners could be nervous about doing a good job. Your friends and family might be nervous for you. Your supervisors could feel some nerves about the outcome. Everyone nervous because it, your viva,...
Worst & Best
It’s normal to be nervous for your viva. It’s understandable if you have worries or feel anxious about what could happen. It would be very human to think about what might go wrong – but rather than focus on the worst...
Worry
It’s Friday the 13th and I’m not worried. I’m not particularly superstitious, so when this date rolls around or a black cat crosses my path or I spill some salt I don’t worry that that means something bad is about...
The First-Year Viva
I write and publish this blog with the final PhD viva in mind, but there are other times when some of the ideas and advice might be applied. The first-year viva naturally springs to mind: a test that marks confirmation...
It’s Not Wrong To Be Nervous
Feeling nervous means you recognise that something is important. Humans feel nervous about all sorts of things, from weddings to wars, because they recognise that what is happening matters. They might be deeply involved or a bystander: if the outcome...
What Are You Holding On To?
We have a fireplace in our living room that looks like a coal fire. It’s not. It’s a gas fire. It’s not connected up. The previous owners of the house had it disconnected and we’ve never needed it. We use...
Don’t Deny Nerves
If you feel nervous about your viva there is a reason. Don’t try to put it to one side or squash it down, because that feeling is trying to draw your attention to something. If you feel nervous because you...