I've been in academia for years, but this is the first time I've been in a situation where I set my own deadlines and if I don't, the work won't get done. I'm worried about this, since I work too well to deadlines. But my dissertation proposal was approved about a month ago (hurrray!) and I now have all my exams and coursework and even a week's vacation out of the way.
I'm currently reading a vaguely related b ook: Christopher Dyer's Everyday Life in the Middle Ages. I'm sure it'll come in handy along the way. My new computer should arrive in the next few days and I'll be building my research database on that. Meanwhile, tomorrow's goal: put together a list on and notes about medieval inventions.