At some point in your academic life you will be expected to write a dissertation. If you have done one already then you will know that it's no easy task and if you are about to do one then you are probably a little apprehensive about the workload ahead.

The truth is that the dissertation can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. There will be some areas of the work that you will find difficult and others not so. This guide will attempt to look at four of the major problems that students typically have when writing a dissertation and how you can make it a little bit easier.

Problem One: The Task is Just Too Big

Many students can get quite hung up on the size of a dissertation. The thought of writing over ten thousand words on one topic can be a source of nervousness about the project. Consequently the student does not get anything done and spends their time worrying instead.

The solution is to break down the entire project in to more manageable sections. By doing this, you will be more responsive to the research and the write up. It is simply easier to write one thousand words ten times over then to have to complete it all in one attempt.

Problem Two: You Have No Deadline Except The Big One

Typically the start of a dissertation project occurs at the start of an academic year and does not need to be completed until the end of it. This presents a problem because the tendency is to relax, procrastinate and generally put off the dissertation for long periods of time. The only possible way to solve this issue is to set your own personal deadlines to complete certain tasks at different times. You will need to be very disciplined for this to work though.

Problem Three: You Feel The Need To Get It Perfect

A common problem that occurs during the dissertation process is an obsession to make the paper absolutely perfect. Most students are understandably aware of the importance of the dissertation and so feel compelled to get it spot on.

This drive for perfectionism can actually stop you from getting it done as you are never quite happy with the work that you have written. To solve this problem you need to recognize that it firstly is not necessary to write the perfect dissertation in order to achieve a high grade and secondly it is okay to write a poor first draft and then improve on it during the editing stage.

Problem Four: You Feel Alone

No matter how much passion you have for a topic, during the dissertation process you can be sure that it will become tedious and slow. It is during this time that you can become lonely and lost within the work and this can lead to procrastination.

To solve this it is best to develop a social network at the start of the semester. By regularly socializing with people who are doing similar pieces of work will not only help you to feel more inclusive but it is bound to stimulate ideas that can help you to develop your dissertation.