Because at the end of the day you work to live, not live to work!
1. Make time for myself in the morning
This has been a game changer for me. Before I started doing this, I really felt that my weekdays were exclusively reserved for work and I dreaded them. Now that I have an hour before leaving for work to workout, study for the GRE or do a pamper session, I feel like work is a nice addition to my day, rather than the ruler of it!
2. Move my body at least 2x/week and 10k+ steps daily
I know everyone talks about how important exercise is, so instead of harping on that I’ll give you my hacks for actually doing it so you get the health benefits and the endorphins! First, I book a workout class that I cannot cancel– nothing motivates me more than a cancellation fee😂. If booking a class is not an option, I like to plan a run or workout with a friend– this makes it fun and holds me accountable. Also, I try to move in ways I enjoy– otherwise I’ll never stick to it! Finally, I try to walk instead of drive, climb up the escalators instead of stand, and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
3. Find a song to obsess over and learn on multiple instruments
Every few weeks I stumble across a new song with a beautiful melody that is complex enough that I can’t quite master it the first few times. This always inspires me to immerse myself in the song for a few nights until I can play it on multiple instruments. When I am so excited by a creative pursuit, I find that my inspiration leaks into all aspects of my life, including my research.
4. Start or continue a creative passion project
In the same vein, I have been so much happier and more inspired since starting this blog! Not only has it encouraged me to organize and write down my thoughts, but having a creative outlet has helped me overcome my research burnout.
5. Plan/work towards my future
This is a big one for me. In research things can get stuck very often, and that can be pretty discouraging. If my research feels stagnant, it really helps knowing that I’m still making progress towards the life I want! Right now, working towards my future means studying for the GRE and writing PhD applications, but it can mean working towards any long-term goal.
6. Say yes to at least 1 social plan a week, even when I don’t feel like it in the moment
I don’t know if you are all like me, but I’m the type of person who dreads making plans but is always so thankful she made them in the end. When I’m feeling really tired after a long day of work, the idea of planning an outing is miserable. When the day actually arrives though, I always have the best time and feel revitalized. So if I tell myself I have to say yes to 1 social plan a week, then I make sure to maintain my relationships while also leaving time to decompress.
7. Read on my commute
I love reading but I rarely have time to do it. Setting my metro ride as my designated reading hour makes me excited by the commute rather than worn out by it. In general I love pairing something I don’t like to do with something I love to do, that way I am more excited to do it.
8. Sleep 8 hours
There’s not much to say about this, except I am a zombie if I don’t, and it’s not fair to expose the world to that!
Thanks for staying sane with me🤍