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Continue reading →: The 1% Reset: Small Shifts for a Smoother WeekMy Sunday Reset this week is quick and simple. Instead of trying to reset everything today, I’m just focusing on 1%. Here’s the idea: you don’t always need a full overhaul to improve your week. Sometimes, a tiny adjustment is all it takes to create momentum. A 1% shift today…
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Continue reading →: Why You Don’t Need to Feel Motivated to Make ProgressMotivation often gets talked about like it’s the golden ticket to productivity. Social media is full of advice on how to “find” or “boost” your motivation. But the truth is, motivation is unreliable – it comes and goes, often at the worst times. The good news? You don’t actually need…
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Continue reading →: Sunday Reset: A Values Check-InThis week I wanted to cover some new ground with the Sunday Reset and talk about values. Living through your values means consistently and consciously aligning your decisions, actions, and way of life with what you believe is most important. So for this week’s reset, instead of focusing only on…
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Continue reading →: Midweek Check-In: How to Reset When You Hit the SlumpIt’s Wednesday afternoon and you’re staring at your to-do list with absolutely no desire to check anything off. You’ve made some progress today, but your energy is nowhere near where it was on Monday. Suddenly, even opening that article or dataset feels impossible. If this sounds familiar, you’ve hit the…
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Continue reading →: A Gentle ReminderEvery week I’ve been sharing a Sunday reset, but life got full yesterday and I didn’t make it to the blog. Instead of beating myself up about it, I’m pivoting to share a gentle reminder for your Monday- something you can carry through the week. Small steps count. That one…
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Continue reading →: The 20-Minute Rule: How to start a big task when you feel overwhelmedWe’ve all been there: staring at a massive paper, dataset, or application and thinking, I don’t even know where to start. The bigger and more important the task feels, the more likely it is to sit untouched on our to-do list while we do… literally anything else. That’s been my…
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Continue reading →: Sunday Reset: The Emotional Check-InLast week marked the start of the Fall semester for many of us. If your week was like mine, it was an emotional whirlwind – highs and lows, excitement and stress, motivational bursts and moments of feeling drained. When I’ve had a week like that, I like to use my…
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Continue reading →: The Importance of Movement: How Exercise Supports Productivity and Balance in Grad SchoolThe life of a grad student is often spent buried in books and staring at screens, and taking time for movement might feel like a luxury. When days get fuller and to-do lists get longer, exercise is usually the first thing to go, sacrificed to make space for everything else.…
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Continue reading →: Sunday Reset: The Calm Before the SemesterThe Fall semester officially kicks off this week, and today feels like the calm before the storm. Instead of cramming in last-minute summer tasks, I’m using today as a reset in the truest sense: slowing down, grounding myself, and choosing how I want to step into this semester. Letting Go…
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Continue reading →: The Balanced Fall Semester Guide: Reflections, Routines, and Realistic HabitsThe start of the Fall semester is like the January 1st of academia. It carries that same sense of fresh starts and big ambitions. The energy is exciting – you feel motivated, ready to set new goals, and eager to jump back in. But that excitement can also be overwhelming.…
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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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