edbutson

Thanks Cookie. That is great advice. I need to get in shape anyway. It is difficult for me to make friends as I am a pretty shy person ( I really need to work on that too). It doesn't help that I am the only theorist in my group ( it is really a surface chem group but I do theoretical stuff ) and I don't have a seat in the lab. There isn't room for all the grad students so I am stuck in another part of the building. I talk to them from time to time when I see them at department seminars, but I haven't developed any real friendship with them. I just feel like I'm the odd man out and that every one is doing better than I am. I do have another project I am working on and it does help to break the monotony. Again, thanks for the great advice! I will have a tough time with number 3 but I am going to do my best.

Hello all, I am new to this forum and this will be my first post. The reason for the post is that I am having a huge issue with staying motivated. I am a computational chemist at the end of my second year in grad school and it is time for me to begin working on a proposal that must be outside of my immediate area of research ( Si(100) surface chemistry ). I am wondering if anyone has any input on how to stay motivated and also, how do you formulate ideas? As far as motivation goes, I'd rather watch Netflix than come to work most days. I used to love chemistry but now it feels like a chore. My fiance dropped out of college last year and has not been the best influence as all she wants to do after work is watch Netflix. She is trying to get into vocational school for computer repair and I hope this changes. But I can't blame it all on her. I should have the will power to just work, right? What helps you stay motivated? Formulating ideas has never been my strong suit. Up until this point, my advisers have always given me a project. I can drive the research forward, but starting from square one is terrifying. I have been reading journal articles, but I just can't seem to find a suitable topic, or maybe it's right in front of my eyes and I just can't see it. In general, I feel like I'm drowning. I wonder if I am even cut out for the Ph.D. program. I have no one to talk to about this so I have come to this forum. I know that many of you have had the same issues that I have and I would be grateful for any and all advice.