Last week I hit a big milestone: I submitted my thesis for examination! After 3 years of writing, revising, and living with this project, it’s finally out of my hands. Now comes the strange in-between space – the waiting. As I’m in Australia, the next steps for me are two external examiners review it over a few months → I make any required changes → final submission → Conferral (Dr title time!) → graduation
The waiting is both a relief and a challenge. On one hand, I no longer need to wrangle chapters or chase down references. On the other, I can’t do anything to speed up the review process. So how do you stay grounded, motivated, and (dare I say it) even enjoy this period?
Here’s what’s in my personal “Thesis Submitters’ Toolkit” right now.
1. Writing… but differently
I’m giving myself space to write in ways that feel lighter and more creative. I’m drafting an article that grows out of my research, but the tone is different….more exploratory, less pressured. I’m also shaping an abstract for an upcoming conference. These smaller, bounded writing tasks keep me connected to my academic voice without dragging me back into thesis-mode.
2. Play as recovery
After months of serious, weighty writing, I’m deliberately making time for play. For me, that looks like building Lego botanical sets to add to my extensive collection. There’s something wonderfully grounding about following instructions, clicking pieces into place, and seeing progress in colour and shape rather than paragraphs. It’s productivity of another kind…creative, tactile, and completely non-academic.
3. Quiet space for myself
Submitting a thesis doesn’t just use brainpower; it takes an emotional toll too. I’m carving out time for walks, long cups of herbal tea, and catching up on books that have nothing to do with literacy, research methods, or thematic analysis. These pauses are as important as the projects. They remind me that rest isn’t wasted time, it’s a resource.
4. Looking ahead
Finally, I’m gently planning. I’m not diving into a huge new project, but I am sketching out what might come next eg papers, presentations, and the small seeds of new ideas. Having a loose plan helps channel the energy that used to go into the thesis, while still honouring the fact that right now is a time to wait.
Why share a toolkit?
If you’re in the post-submission limbo too, know that the waiting doesn’t have to feel like a void. Filling it with small, meaningful activities can make the weeks ahead feel less like “time lost” and more like part of the journey.
And if you’ve been through this stage, I’d love to know: what was in your toolkit while you waited?
Melissa Smith 