Happy New Year, Everyone! This is TWENTY TWENTY. Not quite a new decade – contrary to what everyone is saying – but still a fantastic excuse for new beginnings and positive energy.
SONG INSPIRATION
I’ve been listening to a lot of throwbacks recently. This blog is inspired by T-Pain’s “I’m n Luv (Wit a Stripper)”.
NEW SEMESTER – NEW YEAR
Bolstered by a flavorful trip to New Orleans, I’m energized and excited for the new year. It’s the first week of the new semester and it’s already at a TEN. Thankfully, I’m only commuting to campus one day per week for meetings. Not only does that save gas and time, but it produces a reliable schedule for writing. Plus, it’s a good thing I’m hardly on campus anymore. The growing frustration of dealing with grad student shenanigans was becoming detrimental to my mood. This semester it’s all about dissertating, defending, friendshipping, job hunting, and coping.
THE JOB HUNT
The hunt for what to do after graduate school is in full swing. Now that I’ve made the decision to step back from research following graduate school – and thus removing research-based post docs from table – it’s imperative that I apply to jobs that provide experience in lieu of a post-doc, pique my interest, and offer an opportunity to do something meaningful. Current job application status: 4 submitted, 1 in progress, and 2 to-be-started. Of course, positions will continue to pop up throughout the semester and I will apply as I go. After submitting a few applications, I’ve fallen into a rhythm. Not only am I – and my rec letter writers – faster, but I’ve also found that the quality of my applications continues to improve. This efficiency is just what I need. The less time I spend on applications, the more time I can devote to my dissertation. I have already been declined for 2 positions, but I’m not letting that dampen my mood. There’s still a lot of opportunity out there!
Advice: Don’t let preferred qualifications, etc. get in your head. Just apply. And keep applying. The wider you cast your net, the more likely you’ll find something. The job process is just another process of growth and introspection. You’ll learn more about yourself, including your potential.
DISSERTATION – COPING
It’s no secret that your last semester(s) in graduate school are a stressful time. I have so much time and so little to do. Stop. Wait. Reverse that. Work-life balance has increased in importance. I could easily fall into 12-hour days, anxiety, lack of sleep, and poor eating habits. But I’m determined to mitigate that as much as possible. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and standard work day, I’ve picked up a few hobbies. I’ve returned to my childhood pastime of Legos & other compatible bricks (because Legos are expensive and I’m a grad student). A lot of people prefer Lego sets, but I prefer to build freeform. I like building anything from ancient buildings (i.e. Greek temples and pyramids) to skyscrapers and casinos. Building with Legos and their knockoffs sparks my creativity and relaxes me – perfect for little breaks during the workday when I get stressed or need time away from a screen. At-home movie nights are another tool in the de-stress bag. I’ve started watching action movie franchises that I couldn’t appreciate when I was younger. I wasn’t interested in action movies, especially the grittier variety, until after I went off to college. I finally watched Terminator I and II and Mission Impossible I & II. Next on the agenda: Bad Boys and John Wick. In the spirit of the Great British Baking Show, I’ve also started trying new desserts at a local patisserie. I know that flies in the face of “healthy eating and exercise”, but I’m only trying 2 new desserts per month and the portion sizes are un-Americanly small (hahaha). All of these things, no matter how banal, will keep me sane over the next few months.
Advice: Work-life balance, even in the face of large, looming deadlines, is extremely important. It can also take many forms. For some, it’s sleep. For others, it’s a spa day. For you, maybe it’s baking cookies every Friday night. Do what you have to do to keep going.
CURRENT SHOWS
Recently finished: Criminal (UK); Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (s1); Lost in Space (s2); Occupied (s3); The Boys (s1); Veep (s7)
Currently watching: Roman Empire (s1); Detective Conan (s27); Great British Baking Show: Masterclass (s4); Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (s2); The Planets on NOVA
Thank you very much for reading! My next post is scheduled for Thursday, February 13th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 