[User42]

Hi,

I'm currently on week 24 of a 30-week post-graduate project. About 3 weeks ago I recived the result of the first part of the project having been assessed and I got an 'A', and my supervisor is satisfied with my progress in the rest of the project so far.

It's about now I should be starting on my final report, but over the last week I've suddenly become very distracted and unconfident. I'm convinced my recent work isn't good enough and I'm not sure why I've suddenly started fealing like this. I'm definently going to fail the remainder of the project if I can't focus again and get back to work.

What do you think I should do?

[Emotionally Dead]

That happens sometimes. Nothing I can tell you can make you do what you need to do. It's something you have to take in stride. Think about it, you got an A on the first report so why worry now? You're at the end of it you're almost finished. Maybe finishing something is what worries you? You just have to really tell yourself that you can do this, motivate yourself and just do it. Don't even think about it but at the same time focus on that one task and get it done. You've proven you can do it, so finish it off, I am sure you will be just fine.

Best of luck.

[Perna]

I would find my own interests and center again. Why did you pick this project to do? What were you hoping to get from it? Personalize the project again and you can't do it "wrong" or not well enough. Make it about you and what you want for you and then go forward, reminding yourself of what you will get out of it internally, rather than what grade you'll get or not.

[Fresia]

The other part is that I find I need to take a complete break from it. The T recommends doing something you enjoy daily or a combination of these things, break up your work: hike/biking, movies, going out with friends, walks, baths, exercise, reading a novel or mystery, baking/cooking, etc...; something to unwind, release stress, clear your head. It also gives you time to process things in between. You clearly can do the work but this cannot be your sole focus all of the time; otherwise you do the work and yourself a disservice.

I find once I do these things, I am calmer and can come back to it with a clear head and can focus. It also builds my confidence because I remember there are things I am very good at. So once I am relaxed, I can take on the project or task one piece at a time and it starts to fall into place again.

You have shown you can do it, and not only that, you can do it well. You may just need a distraction and break from it, to "de-compress" from all your hard work.