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Continue reading →: How to Actually Enjoy Your Grad School SummerMany academics treat the summer like a chance to finally catch up and get ahead. We set ambitious goals and create elaborate time-blocked to-do lists. This may only be my second grad school summer, but I’m already starting to realize something I suspect many academics never learn: the catch-up never…
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Continue reading →: Using Dopamine Menus in Grad SchoolYou just finished a demanding task – a section of writing, a long meeting, a stretch of focused work. You have 20 minutes before your next commitment. What do you do? If you’re like me, it’s easy to reach for your phone and start scrolling. You’ll tell yourself it will…
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Continue reading →: The Transition Week: What to Do When the Semester EndsThe semester is finally over. After weeks of deadlines, tunnel vision, and just trying to make it through, you’ve made it to the other side. But when you’ve been so caught up in the rush of a semester, the sudden stop can feel disorienting. So now that you’ve made it…
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Continue reading →: How I Spent My First Grad School Summer & What I Would do DifferentlyNobody tells you what to do during your first summer of graduate school. Sure, I knew about the structured commitments – one class, two placements, weekly lab work, regular meetings. But beyond that? I had no idea how to fill the vast stretches of unscheduled time. My supervisor’s guidance was…
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Continue reading →: End of Semester Survival Guide: How to Finish Without Burning OutAt this point in the semester, it’s normal to feel like things are starting to slip. The end of the winter semester has a unique kind of exhaustion to it – you’re reaching the point where your energy is running low, but the work hasn’t slowed down to match it.…
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Continue reading →: The Small Things That Make Grad School WorthwhileGraduate school is often associated with stress and burnout, but it also offers meaningful experiences. Key positives include the freedom to explore personal curiosity, structured semesters that provide fresh starts, and in-depth discussions about ideas that can energize and inspire. The flexibility of academic schedules allows for personalized work patterns…
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Continue reading →: Why It’s Hard to Relax in Grad School (Even When You’re Not Busy)There’s nothing better than reaching the end of a busy stretch and realizing there are no immediate deadlines on the horizon. You finally have a little space to breathe. You make plans with a friend, schedule a quiet evening for yourself, put on a favourite show – things that are…
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Continue reading →: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Grad SchoolThere’s a lot of advice out there about how to get into grad school and how to “do it right” once you’re there. Most of this advice focuses on productivity systems, motivation, or having a perfect CV. What I didn’t expect when I started was how much of grad school…
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Continue reading →: A January Gentle ReminderIt’s the time of the year when the internet is full of “new year, new routine” content. Five workouts a week. Perfect morning rituals. Colour-coded planner. Expensive supplements. Entire lives seemingly reset overnight. Here’s a gentle reminder: what you’re seeing online is not the full picture. Nobody is suddenly maintaining…
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Continue reading →: How I’m Planning My First Full Week Back (Without Overdoing It)The first full week back after a break can feel overwhelming. Even if you rested, even if you’re motivated, there’s often pressure to “get back on track” immediately – to catch up, reset everything, and hit the ground running. This new year, I’m trying to resist that urge. Instead of…
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This is Balanced Academic
A blog written by a busy grad student learning how to build a healthier & more intentional academic life. This is a space for academics who want to stay productive without burning out. Real tools. Real talk. Real balance.
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