The Momentum Monthly September Newsletter

Back-to-School, Back to Dissertation: Your September Reset Strategy

September energy hits differently when you're a PhD student. While undergrads are buying new backpacks, you're staring at that dissertation document you haven't opened since May, wondering how to bridge the gap between summer 'me' and fall 'me' who actually makes progress.

The September Reality Check

Many PhD students treat September like they're starting fresh, creating unrealistic expectations that lead to October burnout. The better approach: September is about rebuilding momentum, not creating it from scratch.

📅 The Three-Week Re-entry Strategy

Rather than diving headfirst into intensive writing, use these three weeks to rebuild your dissertation relationship:

Week 1: Reconnect

Read your last 10 pages written (don't edit, just absorb)
Review summer notes/ideas without judgment
Set up your workspace again
Reacquaint yourself with your argument

Action Item: Spend 15 minutes daily researching or reading your existing work

Week 2: Recalibrate

Assess what changed over summer (insights, interests, circumstances)
Update your timeline to reflect fall realities
Choose ONE small project to complete this week
Reconnect with your advisor or accountability partner

Action Item: Write a "summer insights" memo to yourself

Week 3: Rebuild

Establish your sustainable fall writing rhythm
Schedule your first accountability check-in
Start tracking small wins again
Complete one concrete, meaningful task

Action Item: Complete one concrete task that moves you forward

Setting Dissertation Boundaries with Fall Demands

Fall brings competing priorities – new courses, teaching responsibilities, conference deadlines. Here's how to protect your dissertation progress:

⏰ Time Boundaries

Treat dissertation time like a scheduled class – non-negotiable blocks that don't get moved for "urgent" but non-critical tasks.

🧠 Mental Boundaries

Create transition rituals between dissertation and other work – close all other browser tabs, change locations, or use specific playlists.

⚡ Energy Boundaries

Schedule dissertation work during your peak cognitive hours, not leftover time when you're mentally exhausted.

Practical Tip: Use your course syllabi to identify "dissertation-friendly" weeks in advance – lighter grading periods, no major deadlines. Mark these on your calendar as potential intensive writing weeks.

✓ September Dissertation Restart Checklist

Physical setup: Clean workspace, supplies ready, comfortable chair adjusted

Digital setup: Files organized, backup current, distracting apps removed

Mental setup: Reviewed recent work, identified next steps, cleared mental clutter

Schedule setup: Writing blocks scheduled for next month, conflicts identified

Support setup: Accountability partner contacted, advisor meeting scheduled

Boundary setup: Dissertation time protected from other demands

🎯 This Month's Focus: Small Wins, Big Picture

September Goal: Don't try to solve everything. Focus on rebuilding the habit of regular dissertation engagement.

Progress isn't about sprinting out of the gate – it's about consistent forward movement.

Suggested September Wins:

Reconnected with dissertation content ✓
Updated timeline to reflect fall realities ✓
Established sustainable weekly writing schedule ✓
Completed one concrete task (started drafting, coded data, etc.) ✓

📚 This Month's Resource

Book: "Atomic Habits" by James Clear – particularly Chapter 1 on the power of small, consistent changes. Perfect for rebuilding dissertation habits after a summer break.

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