One of the things that scared me about starting a PhD was the prospect of not having a healthy work-life balance. I would talk to other PhD students, read blogs, and see posts on social media about how demanding a PhD is and that you barely have time for anything else. It was a little anxiety-inducing because I knew that would be my life for three years. However, I’ve found a routine that works for me.
Review your schedule
What has really helped me is being strict with myself about my “working hours” and my “relaxation hours” (with some flexibility, of course).
What I mean is that every week I review my schedule and to-do list to see what I need to prioritise. Every week is different, which is why I always take care to leave space in my work schedule for things I hadn’t planned for.
Doing the work
As an English literature PhD, I spend a lot of time reading and researching. Luckily, I can read anywhere, so I take this as an opportunity to explore different spots on campus and in the city while getting some work done. I have visited many cute cafes and parks around York. Doing so gives me a break from my usual working spots in office, my room and the library, and I find it really helps keep me inspired.
Having designated spaces for your writing is also really important. If I go to my office, I know I have to focus on drafting my chapters, and when that doesn’t work, changing location to the library, for instance, helps. Another thing I have found is that there are days when the creative juices just aren’t flowing. So instead of being hard on myself for not doing what I had planned that day, I pivot.
Feeling uninspired? Do some mindless admin work (which surprisingly takes a lot of time): answer emails, schedule your supervision meetings, fill in your SkillsForge forms, and keep an eye out for calls for papers you might be interested in and conferences you’d like to attend. A whole morning can pass just doing this, and you’re still productive, even if it isn’t what you initially set out to do.
Take breaks
One thing I really want to emphasise is the importance of taking breaks and time away from your work. There have been weeks when it feels like the only thing I can think about from sunup to sundown is my project, and I feel most overwhelmed then.
I started swimming and doing yoga to decompress. I also take long walks, and, funnily enough, that’s when I get my best ideas. And…sleep! I can be very bad at maintaining a good sleep schedule, but a good night-time routine sets me up for a great day.
Seeing friends
Perhaps most importantly, don’t underestimate how good it can be to socialise. Hanging out with friends, getting together to share a meal, going to the cinema, and doing non-academic things always help replenish my creative well. After that, going back to work doesn’t seem like a struggle.
These are just a few things that work for me – every PhD is different; find the routine that suits you best and makes your time at York as enjoyable as possible!
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