You work hard. You deserve to play. I find that many PhDs forget to enjoy themselves. And I do not just mean taking a spring or winter break off (which many PhDs fail to take advantage of anyway). I mean throwing a mini-celebration for every little small or big thing you achieve.
By mini-celebration, I mean just something that is small that you enjoy doing as a small treat for reading your emails, meeting with your advisor, grading papers. These may seem like small tasks, but when you have to do them often and you have larger things on your plate, even these tasks can be a mountain.
Maybe riding your bike, skateboarding, trashy romance novels, youtubing, social media, a comic book store is your treat. Or it's possibly just checking your favorite website online, but whatever counts to you as a mini-celebration is worth partaking in.
As for each and every milestone--whether it's a defense, a qual or a publication--you absolutely must celebrate. Whether you take a large or small celebration for these milestones is completely up to you, but it's worthwhile to get you balanced and focused to do more. A weekend vacation or a trip to the beach...or a favorite, a weekend of sleep may be in order.
Just for taking the qual you should be celebrating. Regardless of the result, you took that mammoth exam, right? Pat yourself on the back buddy. Go to the bar tonight. Eat an ice cream cake. Dance all night. You deserve it.
In fact, I am so gung-ho about celebrating every little thing you do that I would congratulate yourself just for doing a PhD. Which is cause for celebration....everyday.
Friday, February 27, 2015
1. Take Your Conferences as a Mini-Vacay
One of the best ways to relax during your PhD is repurposing or multi-purposing your work experiences. The truth is that you can make even work fun, and by doing so you can get your heart, mind and body to relax. One way to do this is taking a break from your conference either at night or right after your own presentation and schmoozing in celebration of a job well done.
Conferences can be quite busy and hectic, waking you up early in the morning with a crazy schedule all day until the evening, but do take those evenings to explore the city or town that the conference is held in. There are always little gems you can find in these areas. And you do not have to spend a ton of money. If you are a wanderlust like me, just walking around the city or taking the train back and forth is enough to give me a feel of the city and make my heart happy. This sets my heart at ease.
For others maybe a walk in the park or reading in the bookstore or even going to an event, meeting up with colleagues, or joining a meetup group for the night may spark your interest.
If you really want to treat it like a mini-vacay, go sightseeing, shopping, visit a museum or landmarks, go to a spa or pool. The options are endless, Find hidden gems in the city or learn the culture of the new town.
Even if you can not find a super fun activity to do in west bubble, for example, you can find a mini-vacay in mandating yourself to do something other than work right in your hotel room that will boost your mood and energy. Excessive sleep is FREE and wonderful. I like to read a novel and would definitely bring one if the city was not so interesting.
It is critical to psychologically turn everything that you are doing into fun, whether that be finding fun things to do in or around the area, right where you are or just having fun while you are working. Your brain needs that release. Take this is a public health announcement for PhDs.
Conferences can be quite busy and hectic, waking you up early in the morning with a crazy schedule all day until the evening, but do take those evenings to explore the city or town that the conference is held in. There are always little gems you can find in these areas. And you do not have to spend a ton of money. If you are a wanderlust like me, just walking around the city or taking the train back and forth is enough to give me a feel of the city and make my heart happy. This sets my heart at ease.
For others maybe a walk in the park or reading in the bookstore or even going to an event, meeting up with colleagues, or joining a meetup group for the night may spark your interest.
If you really want to treat it like a mini-vacay, go sightseeing, shopping, visit a museum or landmarks, go to a spa or pool. The options are endless, Find hidden gems in the city or learn the culture of the new town.
Even if you can not find a super fun activity to do in west bubble, for example, you can find a mini-vacay in mandating yourself to do something other than work right in your hotel room that will boost your mood and energy. Excessive sleep is FREE and wonderful. I like to read a novel and would definitely bring one if the city was not so interesting.
It is critical to psychologically turn everything that you are doing into fun, whether that be finding fun things to do in or around the area, right where you are or just having fun while you are working. Your brain needs that release. Take this is a public health announcement for PhDs.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Finding Your pHd Balance
Your body needs to achieve pH balance when you have gone too far to extremes.
Your PhD has the ability to tip your scales not only in the wrong direction but in directions not previously charted.
Jumping through constant, concurrent hoops of fire--whether it be coursework and committees, qualifying exams and teaching responsibilities, research and conferences, dissertations and departmental politics--increases the likelihood of scorching your body and melting your brain.
The inferno called your life is out of hand and out of order. Your life thirsts for water to neutralize the acidic demands upon it.Work-life balance is a beautiful concept that needs practical application. And it needs to be applied to the PhD. The problem is: You don't have a life. In the very practical sense.Your work has become your life.
And that is the crux of the problem. The first step to change is realizing that you have a problem. And before you get to the solution, it is important to remember why you have this problem.
First, it is your choice. You desire this. You want this. You want that PhD. It's your dream. Second, you have forgotten that you are not your PhD. You had a life before this, will have a life after this, and this is not the end of life.
This blog addresses finding balance and putting things in perspective as you pursue your PhD. Relax, and get a life.
Your PhD has the ability to tip your scales not only in the wrong direction but in directions not previously charted.
Jumping through constant, concurrent hoops of fire--whether it be coursework and committees, qualifying exams and teaching responsibilities, research and conferences, dissertations and departmental politics--increases the likelihood of scorching your body and melting your brain.
The inferno called your life is out of hand and out of order. Your life thirsts for water to neutralize the acidic demands upon it.Work-life balance is a beautiful concept that needs practical application. And it needs to be applied to the PhD. The problem is: You don't have a life. In the very practical sense.Your work has become your life.
And that is the crux of the problem. The first step to change is realizing that you have a problem. And before you get to the solution, it is important to remember why you have this problem.
First, it is your choice. You desire this. You want this. You want that PhD. It's your dream. Second, you have forgotten that you are not your PhD. You had a life before this, will have a life after this, and this is not the end of life.
This blog addresses finding balance and putting things in perspective as you pursue your PhD. Relax, and get a life.
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