Every single business day I speak on the phone, in person, or via email with an average of twenty clients about their dissertations. One of the first questions I ask is: When did you begin work on the project? If they have already sent me their proposal or pre-proposal or concept paper for assessment I usually know the answer in advance, because the dates of the source material will give me a solid clue. The average client has been working on the dissertation for four years, and in most cases has not progressed beyond the Proposal stage.

Procrastination comes in many forms. Most begin the dissertation process with a burst of enthusiasm and energy. Course work has been completed. Many doctoral candidates think that a dissertation is really just a long, glorified term paper. How difficult could it be to write? Perhaps it would be good to take a few months off before beginning the proposal......after all, I've earned it! The procrastination process has begun.

But delays also come from other sources. Selection of advisor and committee should be simple and straightforward, but that is rarely the case. The topic which seemed an obvious choice last year is out of scholarly fashion, or you have changed jobs and no longer have access to your population. Your advisor quits or retires. A year goes by and the Proposal you had planned to write remains nothing more than a half-formed thought.

Family pressures intervene. You feel guilty for having 'neglected' your spouse, your partner, your children, your parents, your friends, while you completed course work. They urge you to take some time off. As you move up the ladder in your profession, the demands on your time increase.

Some Solutions-

Resolve to start the dissertation-writing process today. Forget whatever time you have missed and concentrate on today and tomorrow.

Set small and achievable goals. For example, decide that you will work for thirty minutes each day, five days a week, on the beginning phases of the proposal. Set a schedule for yourself with a reasonable time frame.

Start at the beginning, with choice of advisor as your first goal.

Meet with your advisor and choose a mutually agreeable completion date for proposal submission.

Discuss topic choice with your advisor, keeping in mind that your advisor is there to guide you through the dissertation process.

Schedule regular meetings with your advisor. Tape record all meetings, and follow up each meeting or other contact with a letter outlining what was discussed and what your advisor directed you to do.

Enlist the assistance and support of your family, friends, and colleagues in the dissertation process. You cannot do this alone.

Understand that feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation and frustration are not a normal part of the process. These are danger signs that you need a more effective support system.

Examine the reasons for procrastination. Are you lacking time? Motivation?

Support? Ideas? Basic research or writing skills?

If so, get assistance.