Summer is rapidly coming to an end. Disturbingly quickly, actually. The end of summer means starting back to classes and teaching, and also mean brand new grad students ready to jump right in. Right? Right.
Some time ago, I stumbled across a call for submissions for the zomg grad skool carnival!!! offering advice to the newbies. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit, and a conversation I had this evening brought several of my thoughts to the forefront again. So, in list form:
1. Don’t forget who you are. Sounds cheesy, right? Oh, but I mean it. There are reasons you decided to go to grad school and things you like to do with your time. One thing I’ve learned in the past 2 years at PhDland has been to keep doing those things, and to keep in mind the reasons I’m here. I wish I’d known that a few years ago in MAville, it would have made for a more pleasant experience.
2. Take care of yourself – mentally and physically. Part of that comes from continuing to do the things you love, whether it’s reading, knitting, watching 80s horror movies, whatever. I’ve learned that taking a break in the middle of a long day of studying helps me accomplish more, not less. Sometimes we’re much more productive when our minds are clear and not overwhelmed by our to-do lists. And really. One can only read about enzyme kinetics for so many hours in a day, I promise. For me, the mental health break is often also the physical health break – a little time for exercise. I’m not suggesting that you train for an ultramarathon or spend hours a day in the gym, do whatever it is you enjoy. If you’re overwhelmed and can’t even think about taking more than a 10 minute break that’s fine, but take it. Trust me.
Just as importantly, sleep! A rested mind is a clear, alert mind, and a rested immune system is a functioning immune system. And at the risk of channeling mom, “Eat your vegetables, dear”
3. Get out of your department. Make friends you won’t be staring at every hour of every day. If your program is anything like mine, you’ll spend a lot of time with your cohort. You’ll all be in the same classes, attend the same seminars, have weekly lab meetings (often several), and work side-by-side on a daily basis. You’ll probably even like some of them! But get involved in some other activities and make some other friends – if nothing else, if gives you someone outside the department to complain to when your office mate drives you up the wall.
4. Go outside! Even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Hot, cold, effing frigid, windy, raining, snowing….get out anyway. Breathe some fresh air, it’s good for you.
5. Make lists on paper. It’s so much more satisfying to cross things off with vigor. Seriously.
6. Always carry your calendar. Always.
7. Find out where you work the best. It might not be the same place it was during undergrad. Back then I worked really well in the union…no idea where that ever came from. Libraries don’t work at all for me. Coffee shops do…but only specific ones. Explore, and (unless required by your department), don’t feel like you have to be in your office/cube all the time.
8. Help other grad students out – but don’t be afraid to say no. Helping other students collect data is a great thing. You can learn new techniques, see how they interact with subjects (if you do human subjects research), learn how people work and what your style is, and you might even get some publications out of the deal. Not to mention all the good grad student karma (not to be underestimated!). But remember that everyone has a limit and you shouldn’t feel obligated to say yes to every single request. A burned out grad student isn’t much help to anyone.
9. If you have a significant other/spouse/family, carve out time for them, no matter how busy you may be. This has been absolutely vital to my relationship. Some weeks are crazy and all I can manage is a 10 minute chat in bed with The Boy before we both crash. Lately, I’ve been able to work and study until he gets home from work (usually around 10:30 PM) and then I can shut the computer, put away my books, and spend time with him. We both know the crazy days will be back so we’re enjoying this slightly-slower time while we have it – you should too. Communication has been key and we’ve learned that if either of us feels overwhelmed, we need to talk about it before everything comes to a head. It’s taken two years, but we’re getting into a groove.
10. Remember who you are and why you’re doing this. And yes, I realize I repeated this one. It’s so, so important and covers so many of my other points. Grad school is hard and there will be times you don’t want to do it any more. Take a short break, do something you love, and remind yourself why you’re here. Then get back to work.
Sigh. It had to happen eventually, right? I finally managed to submit the manuscript I was having trouble pulling the trigger on. That was 2 days ago I think, maybe 3. In record time, the decision came today – decent paper, worthwhile research question, intriguing results…wrong for this journal.
