This post begins a series on how to be a full-time PhD student while also working full time and being a single parent. This series may continue, maybe even to a logical conclusion. But, like most of my great ideas, it will either whither away in the back of my brain to die or force me to commit to something else I really don’t have time for. I will start with your workspace.

Now, your workspace is an expression of your mind. So it should be organised. So this is how my workspace looks. It’s important to have a space that nobody else uses, so you can leave the room knowing when you get back everything is where you left it   and you can start from where you left off and nobody gets hurt. A good idea then is not to leave the kids’ DVDs on your desk. Leads to a whole new kind of woe for the family.

Secondly, I have a pile of journal articles on the floor. It’s a good idea to read what you collect from online library and other data sources, and not just amass the information. I therefore try to keep the pile no higher than my son’s height. A good way to make sure of this is, either to read the bloody stuff, or not print it out at all but save it on your computer. I choose periodically to move the pile around, say like having some on the desk and stuff.

And lastly, always a good idea to have pics of your kids on the desk or on your putey’s desktop, so you can remember what they look like, so when they sneak up on you from behind when they’re hungry or bored you don’t do something you might regret. No, no. No need to call DHS just yet.