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...
worry
What’s Your Worry?
Don’t keep your viva worry bottled up in your brain where you can merely be anxious about it. Write it down. Tell a friend. Talk to your supervisor. Your worry could be unfounded. Talking to someone who has had their...
How Will You Feel?
I ask “How do you feel?” a lot. By my records I’ve asked this question in seminars and webinars at least 300 times, to over 5000 PhD candidates. It’s good to reflect on in a seminar but that’s one moment,...
Action Overcomes Fear
I looked back over the last three years to see how I’d been inspired by Halloween previously: Scary – confidence, weak spots and fears… Viva Horror Stories – telling tales, remembering reasons for confidence… Zombies And Vivas – a straight...
Head In The Sand
Ostriches, despite popular legend, don’t put their head in the sand to hide. It’s a common comparison to make for people avoiding problems though, I’ve used it here on the blog at least once before. In that post I encouraged...
Facing Fears
If you’re not just worried about your viva but afraid, to the point where it is having an impact, you need to stop and find help. The right person could be your supervisor, a colleague, a friend or family member....
Tensions
As I was setting up one of my last Viva Survivor sessions before social distancing (three months ago!), one of the participants piped up, “Are you here to put the fear of God into us?” The room had been quiet,...
Afraid, Nervous, Worried
What do you do if you feel something like this – afraid, nervous, worried – about the viva? Let’s ask another question: what would you do if you were unafraid, not nervous, not worried about your viva? You would prepare...
Making A Fuss
It’s not making a fuss if you ask your supervisor for help before the viva. It’s not making a fuss if you think something is wrong with your viva or the outcome and believe you need to appeal something. It’s...
You’re Not A Failure
You’re not a failure if you don’t answer every question you asked during your PhD. You’re not a failure if your thesis is smaller than your friend’s thesis. You’re not a failure if you’ve not submitted papers for publication. You’re...