Three Days
On submission day sketch out a couple of plans for getting your viva prep done. It’s unlikely that you’ll start immediately but think about how you would break up the work you need to do. Sketch out one plan giving yourself a month and one where you have only two weeks. Which seems most sensible given your circumstances? Or do you need a better third plan?
On the day you start your viva prep check that you have what you need. Download any papers you were thinking of checking, gather your resources and message any friends or colleagues who you were going to ask for help in the coming weeks. Remove friction from the work you’ll do in the near future.
On the day before your viva take ten minutes to write some notes about what you’ve done. Convince yourself that you’ve done everything you need to be ready for your viva. Reflect on all that you’ve done to get this far.
It takes more than three days to be ready for your viva. The right task at the right time can make a big difference.
PS: One activity that really helps with viva prep is rehearsal and it just so happens that Viva Survivors Select 14, The Rehearsal Issue is out now. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please check it out. It’s the latest issue in my series of curated collections of viva help: twenty posts from the blog’s archive and new help to help you get ready!