Minor changes during your graduate school to redirect your journey for the better-Part one

Graduate school is underestimated, but it is overwhelming even with a to-do list because you have no idea where to start most of the time. Small is significant-positive thoughts.

Morning routines; waking up and starting the day with any of your favorite shots of caffeine; coffee or tea doesn’t matter; it is a good energy boost; I love mine, sugarless. Also, taking this time to plan my schedule for the day takes five to seven minutes. Sometimes take time to prepare this weekly because it reduces scrambling and last-minute compromises.

Sometimes, taking a step back to focus and realign towards what is most practical for the day. Admit that you cannot do everything, but it is possible to slice your activities into portions and consistently get you closer to the end goal. In addition, taking a step back could mean engaging in an activity that is not school-related and refreshing in the process. I love to hike, run, or long walks. Sometimes I hang out with friends over a drink or food, watch movies or do nothing. It is okay as long as it helps you get the motivation back.

Please pick up a hobby; lately, I have been obsessed with chess and spend most of my breaks reading or practicing chess moves alone or online. I also watch NatGeo. It helps to recharge.

Turning off email notifications, I am not suggesting you ignore your emails, but notifications from emails or messages can be disruptive and prevent you from concentrating on your academic activities.

Live one day at a time; a routine is good sometimes; try everything. Some may fail, some may work; most important, remain intentional. Part of your routine must incorporate daily exercise because it is a game-changer.

Take time to read more about topics, research, and anything else in your field of study. It will keep your sanity in place, broaden your view of the world and give you new and better ways to present. Reading improves your writing skills -only if you practice writing.

Social media is a good break -I mostly stick to academic, social media, but sometimes I deviate and check other social things such as photos, trends, etc. I read LinkedIn posts, tweets, and Facebook mostly about what other academicians are doing. I read medium digest blogs too.

Keeping a positive attitude or mindset goes a long way. There are countless times when the project or assignment you have been working on for hours doesn’t make sense; this is where the positive energy saves your day. Being optimistic has helped me to fix glitches and get projects working again.

Watch out for part two………………………………..