Self-Care for Graduates Students

I was casually telling my bestie that I want to come up with a work titled "Self-Care for Graduate Students". Last year, I gave a workshop called "Demystifying the Publication Process". Writing, to me, is a very important research skill that can be taught and learned. And being able to write well, helps so much in every stage of the graduate students' life from writing the thesis to publishing.

Another topic closed to my heart is how we take care of ourselves as graduate students. Important to this topic is our mindset and the perspective in which we view our studies. For example, if the PhD is a very important area of my life, if I take it too seriously, if I care too much where I will end up, whether I publish, how fast can I complete it... the PhD journey may become an uneasy and stressful one. But if I see it as just one area of my life, among many other important areas, and I focus on the process of doing it and learning it, giving myself time and space to learn... the PhD journey will become more bearable and enjoyable.

Topics to cover include:

• What to do when your mind is not clear or working at maximal efficiency? Do I continue working or do I take a break? What kind of breaks help with mind?
• Are you giving yourself enough time to rest? Is it alright to rest? Did you know your mind continues working in the background even as you rest? Don't view times you are not working as wasted time.
• What to do with a writer's block? Or what do you do when you run out of ideas? What resources do you have? Can you watch a video/movie related to it? Read some articles? Speak to a friend/colleague/professor?
• Are you too dependent on your supervisor? Do you have anyone else to go to for academic help?
• Do you have someone who understands what the PhD is about to share your troubles, burdens, and worries, and help you problem solve when you meet with difficulties?
• Are you taking care of your health in general? Are you eating well, sleeping well, exercising? PhD work uses a lot of your intellect, but very little of your body, it is important to move it in other ways. The mind and body are connected.

Just some preliminary ideas. Maybe I need to go for a swim now. My mind is not working as it should...