ABSTRACT
Doctoral candidates and their institutions put too much pressure on themselves when they set unrealistic completion deadlines. International studies suggest that it is taking longer for candidates to complete. There are discussions at policy level on ways to address this issue and understand the context and changing profile of doctoral candidates. This chapter is focused on staying on track, meeting deadlines, and recognising where you are in the doctoral process. Several strategies, scenarios, exercises, and self-reflection tasks are given, as well as suggestions on alternative actions, when there are delays in feedback, information, or approval and the original work plan differs from lived experience.
The chapter closes with a summary of key concepts and recommended exercises. The discussion then dovetails into Chapter 10: Feedback and setbacks, which examines strategies to undertake when the unexpected occurs.
