The hardest part of writing my literature review was balancing endless research with actually shaping it into something coherent. I’d spend hours digging through sources, only to feel drained before I even started writing. What helped was setting small goals—like tackling one section at a time instead of the whole review at once. I also made sure to take breaks so I wouldn’t burn out.
Sometimes, I’d relax by sharing a few
naughty riddles
with friends to clear my head and laugh a little. Those moments gave me the mental reset I needed to come back and write with focus. Breaking the work up like that made the entire process feel manageable instead of overwhelming.
I can totally relate to this! Writing a literature review really does feel overwhelming until you break it into smaller steps. I like your idea of taking breaks—sometimes even a quick laugh helps reset the brain. For me, it’s been things like sharing silly memes or even lighthearted
orphan jokes
with friends. A little humor makes the tough parts of research feel less stressful and keeps the energy up.