A bit of a funk

I had another day working in the lab and this evening I went to a PGSA Interactive Forum.  Also, today there were a few emails and I had a quick meeting with the PGSA Executive Assistant.  All-in-all I could say I made progress on numerous fronts, but unfortunately I am in a bit of a funk.

I suppose studying towards your PhD is like many other jobs in the sense that there are few milestones.  Sure every 6 months we submit a progress report, but otherwise, day to day, there's little in the way of external management.  For the most part I am happy with this and when it comes to my work, my supervisor and I have found an agreeable balance between conference and independence.  What I find difficult about this arrangement is continually evaluating my output to say whether my studies are moving in the right direction.  Add in the fact that my days are split between research and other activities (e.g. teaching, sitting on boards/committees, and working with students' associations) and it's all the more difficult to know I am on the right track.

And this leads to my current situation.  After days like today, where I've had my nose stuck in code for hours on end, I have to wonder if I am making progress and if I am making it fast enough?