If you’ve done 15/17 of these things you’re definitely doing a dissertation
2. You’ve never been more hydrated in your life
You’re crying in the library, crying to your supervisor, crying in the pub – yup, it’s dissertation season. You’re working at least a 9-5 in the library, nights out are out of the question, and you’re frantically refreshing your emails every five minutes to see if mitigation have approved your deferral. Feeling like a shell of your former TP loving, lecture-skipping self, if you’re doing at least 15 of these 17 things I guarantee you’re doing a dissertation.
1. Your BeReal is always on time
Unless you’re in the middle of a Forest session.
2. You’ve never been more hydrated in your life
Trip to the water fountain? Count me in.
3. You’re either meal prepping like a boss or spending your entire savings on campus lunches
There is no in between.
4. You’re drinking more coffee than ever
Oooh, another distraction? Yes please.
5. You’re getting so many other tasks done
It’s productive procrastination, duh.
6. You’ve never been more in love with JSTOR in your life
Whoever’s idea it was to add the “cite” button, I love you.
7. You’ve never heard your back clicking in so many places when you stretch
Probably researching a chiropractor appointment / booking yoga class as per point five.
8. Every day just feels like you’re getting bitch-slapped by academia
The final duel.
9. You’re planning so many activities for post-deadlines
Pretty sure FIXR thinks you’re a bot at this point.
10. You’ve made about five different plans for one essay
Plan word count: 3,000.
Essay word count: 3,500.
Actual words written for essay: 0.
11. You’re now a connoisseur of navigating the library
Including knowing what the dynamics of every floor are.
Most Read
12. You’ve worked out how to take books out of the library for the first time in your life
And are probably a little ashamed it long it took you to do.
13. You’re still yet to manage to successfully print anything though
Still a little flummoxed tbh x
14. You’ll find literally any excuse to start a conversation
“Can’t believe how busy Forum is”
“I know it was so quiet last week”
“Yeah crazy.”
15. You’re doing at least two laps of campus a day on your stupid mental health walk
Reed Hall is my best friend atm.
16. You’re getting very over-excited to see anyone you know on campus
Any potential five minute distraction is welcome by me – be it your old housemate you haven’t spoken to since first year, a dodgy one night stand, the campus cat – as long as they can distract you, you’re saying hi.
17. Your lunch break is the most exciting part of your day
Tears of joy in the dish of the day queue.
Related stories recommended by this writer:
25 things that are easier to do in Exeter than write your dissertation
23 things you can’t help but relate to if you’re mid-dissertation at Exeter
We asked ChatGPT the best way to write an 8,000 word dissertation in one week