REALISTIC PHD VLOG: 6am self-care, come to lab with me, grading, modifying my daily goals

Lauren Mason - Lauren Finds a Way
19 Oct 202209:12
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe transcript offers a glimpse into the daily life of a PhD student, highlighting the balance between academic responsibilities and self-care. It covers the student's routine, including attending meetings, conducting experiments, grading papers, and managing personal goals. The narrative emphasizes the importance of productivity without overwhelming oneself and the need for moments of relaxation, like enjoying a book that blends science with heartwarming stories. The student's attire and preference for comfort amidst rainy weather also add a personal touch to the account, making it relatable to viewers.

Takeaways
  • 🌞 The speaker starts their day early, around 5:45 AM, allowing time for personal activities like reading.
  • πŸ“š They recently finished a heartwarming book backed by scientific research and recommend it to others.
  • 🀝 The day involves a meeting with an advisor, highlighting the importance of professional communication.
  • πŸ§ͺ A visit to the lab is scheduled to prepare for an upcoming experiment, showing the practical aspects of their work.
  • 🌧 The speaker's attire is influenced by the rainy weather, emphasizing adaptability in daily life.
  • β˜• Two cups of coffee and a comfortable environment are part of their routine for productivity.
  • πŸ“ The speaker is working on upgrading papers for a class and emphasizes the importance of academic responsibilities.
  • πŸŽ“ They discuss the challenges of balancing multiple goals and the strategy of focusing on fewer tasks to reduce stress.
  • 🍌 A goal to make banana muffins represents the speaker's attempt to incorporate enjoyable activities into their schedule.
  • πŸŽ₯ The vlog provides a glimpse into the realistic day-to-day life of a PhD student, which includes both work and self-care.
  • πŸ™ The speaker expresses gratitude for the audience's engagement and invites them to share their own experiences.
Q & A

  • What is the speaker's mood at the beginning of the transcript?

    -The speaker describes the day as dark and dreary, but maintains a positive attitude, expressing gratitude for the little bit of sunshine outside.

  • What activity was the speaker preparing for at 9 A.M?

    -The speaker was preparing for a meeting with one of their advisors.

  • How early did the speaker wake up and what did they do after waking up?

    -The speaker woke up around 5:45 A.M and spent time reading after waking up.

  • What was the speaker's reaction to the book they recently finished?

    -The speaker was deeply moved by the book, to the point of crying several times while reading it.

  • What is the main characteristic of the book the speaker recommends?

    -The book is heartwarming and backed by scientific research, with numerous references to research studies throughout the text.

  • What was the speaker's outfit of the day?

    -The speaker wore a trench from Sam Edelman, a colorful long-sleeved top from Target, jeans from Target, and comfortable Hunter rain boots.

  • What did the speaker do after returning from the lab?

    -After returning from the lab, the speaker changed into cozy clothes, had lunch, and enjoyed their second cup of coffee while working on upgrading some papers for a class they are taking.

  • How does the speaker feel about their progress on the review paper?

    -The speaker feels good about their progress, having written around seven pages of content to add to the review paper.

  • What is the speaker's strategy for managing their workload and stress?

    -The speaker aims to limit their daily goals and focus on doing fewer things well to reduce stress and promote productivity.

  • What did the speaker plan to do after grading student papers?

    -After grading student papers, the speaker planned to prep for a class the following week and work on a multi-level modeling assignment.

  • What personal goal did the speaker set for the end of the vlog?

    -The speaker intended to make banana spice muffins, as they had initially planned to make banana bread but hadn't gotten around to it.

Outlines
00:00
🌧️ Morning Routine and Productive Day Ahead

The speaker starts their day with a mix of emotions, feeling both gratitude and a sense of melancholy due to the dark, dreary weather. Despite the lack of sunshine, they manage to find a silver lining in the form of a little bit of morning sunshine. They share their morning routine, which includes getting up early, engaging in some reading, and finishing a book that had a profound emotional impact on them. The book is described as heartwarming and scientifically backed, with numerous research studies referenced. The speaker then transitions into their plans for the day, which involve a meeting with an advisor and lab preparations for an upcoming experiment. They also briefly discuss their outfitηš„ι€‰ζ‹©, emphasizing comfort and practicality for the rainy weather, and express their readiness to tackle the day ahead.

05:12
πŸ“š Productivity and Self-Care on a Rainy Day

The speaker reflects on their day, which was filled with a mix of work and self-care activities. They had a morning meeting and then dedicated their time to reviewing paper edits, managing to write seven pages of content. After lunch and a second cup of coffee, they shifted their focus to administrative tasks and email management. The speaker also mentions sending off a draft of their review paper to an advisor, which included their response to reviewers' comments. Despite the workload, they made an effort to refresh their day by changing into more comfortable clothing. They also discuss their plans to prepare for an upcoming class and work on a multi-level modeling assignment. The speaker emphasizes the importance of setting realistic goals and focusing on doing fewer things well to avoid stress and promote productivity. They end their day with the intention of making banana muffins, highlighting the need for a balance between work and personal enjoyment.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Advisor
An advisor is someone who provides guidance or advice in a specific field or area. In the context of the video, the speaker is preparing for a meeting with one of their advisors, which suggests that they are likely a student or researcher seeking professional guidance related to their academic or research work.
πŸ’‘Lab
A laboratory, or 'lab,' is a place where scientific research, experiments, and measurements are conducted. In the video, the speaker mentions heading into the lab to set up for an experiment, indicating that they are involved in scientific research and are preparing for future experimental work.
πŸ’‘Experiment
An experiment is a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. The speaker in the video is preparing for an upcoming experiment, which is a core component of the scientific method and is essential for advancing knowledge in their field.
πŸ’‘Research
Research refers to the systematic investigation or study aimed at discovering new information, understanding a particular subject, or testing a hypothesis. In the video, the speaker mentions a book that is backed by scientific research, indicating the importance of evidence-based knowledge in their field of study.
πŸ’‘PhD
A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree that can be earned in many fields. It often involves original research and a significant contribution to the academic field. The speaker's mention of 'PhD days' suggests that they are either a PhD student or a professional in an academic or research-oriented role.
πŸ’‘Productivity
Productivity refers to the efficiency and effectiveness with which tasks are completed or goals are achieved. In the video, the speaker discusses limiting their daily goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed and to promote productivity, highlighting the importance of balancing workload and mental well-being.
πŸ’‘Multi-level Modeling
Multi-level modeling, also known as hierarchical modeling, is a statistical method used to analyze data that has a nested structure, such as data collected from individuals within groups. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions working on a multi-level modeling assignment, indicating that they are involved in advanced statistical analysis as part of their academic or research work.
πŸ’‘Dissertation
A dissertation is a substantial piece of writing that presents original research and is typically required to earn a doctoral degree. In the video, the speaker mentions focusing on dissertation planning, which suggests that they are in the process of developing and organizing their research project, a critical step in the pursuit of a PhD.
πŸ’‘Self-care
Self-care refers to the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health, including mental and emotional well-being. The speaker in the video emphasizes the importance of self-care time, which is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, especially in demanding roles such as a PhD student or researcher.
πŸ’‘Banana Muffins
Banana muffins are a type of baked good made with bananas as a primary ingredient. In the video, the speaker expresses a desire to make banana muffins, which serves as an example of their personal life and the everyday activities that provide a break from their academic and research responsibilities.
πŸ’‘Vlog
A vlog, short for video blog, is a form of blog where the content is presented in video format. The speaker is creating a vlog to share their experiences and daily life as a PhD student or researcher, providing an insight into their routine and the realities of their academic lifestyle.
Highlights

Good morning and setting up for a meeting with an advisor at 9 A.M.

Finished a heartwarming book backed by scientific research, which caused several emotional moments.

Preparation for a lab experiment set to launch the following week.

Rainy weather outfit details, including Sam Edelman trench and Target clothing.

Comfortable Hunter rain boots highly recommended.

Returned from the lab with plans to upgrade papers for a class.

Cozy, second cup of coffee enjoyed after lunch.

Successfully wrote seven pages of content for a review paper.

Sent off the current draft of the review paper and response to reviewers.

Efforts to refresh the day by changing from sweatpants to more put-together attire.

Long hours spent grading student papers, leaving no time for other tasks.

Plans to focus on dissertation planning on Mondays.

Intention to reduce daily goals to promote productivity and reduce stress.

Recipe goal to make banana spice muffins with remaining bananas.

Reflection on the realistic and often monotonous nature of PhD life and 9-to-5 lifestyle.

Acknowledgment of the importance of self-care and taking unapologetic moments for oneself.

Transcripts

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PhD LifeResearch LabAdvisor MeetingsEmotional ReadingRainy DayWork-Life BalanceAcademic WritingGrading PapersDissertationsTime Management