Bubbles and Whimsy

Instead of "not sweating the small (bad) stuff" (where does that saying come from?) celebrate the small (good) stuff. Use any excuse you can think of to be happy and make an occasion of it. Get up from your desk and do a happy dance/punch the air if your analysis/code/reference manager/sentence works - this will help with the carpal tunnel syndrome too. For me, celebrations require bubbles which, in South Africa (on a PhD budget), means SPARKLING WINE!

Robben Island sunset moment +Sally Hofmeyr 

So, if it is because the sun is shining, you have submitted a chapter, you found a new kind of tea (*watch this space for a blog post on the importance of tea*) or you saw a beautiful sunset - celebrate. These small moments of joy and triumph need to be noticed and respected because, when you look back on the drudgery of how ever many years you have spent working on the PhD, it is these shining moments of happiness that you will remember and cherish. (These moments will also allow you to not have to lie when you try encourage the future generation in to doing science).

Appreciate the little things

Along with this unapologetic encouragement to drink alcohol (a persistent theme you will probably notice - but if you don't drink champagne then celebrate in what ever way works for you) I suggest you embrace whimsy. Make some space in that PhD-obsessed head of yours to notice just how fabulous that Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow tree smells (go on, stick your nose right in there), run your fingers across the lavender flowers or sing-a-long loudly (and badly) to Guns'n Roses "Paradise City (this came to mind because that's exactly what I did this morning). Wear pink (pink always makes me feel frivolous). Smile when you have a stand-off with a pigeon in your path, or pull a funny face at those kids in the car next to yours. Giggle - unapologetically, manically (although maybe avoid doing this with strangers or someone you are trying to impress). These little things really will lift your spirits - and see you through a day working on coding or corrections.

Whine and wine

This is not a blog about how using a reference manager or 'R' will change your life, although I have heard rumours that this is true. This is a blog about how to survive your PhD with your sense of humour and self confidence intact. And what gives me the authority to write about this? Nothing, I have been doing my PhD for a long time so I have some experience in the associated ups and downs, but really, it's a blog - so you can't stop me...

A group of friends, all currently doing PhDs, and I have decided to start a "PhD Support Group" to remind ourselves that we are not alone and we are all going through similar angst, anger, frustration and occasionally those small triumphs that make it worth while. It is a great idea really, because then you are more likely to keep your 'normal', non-PhD friends by not boring them with your whinging. Anyway, so I was telling one of my clever post-doc friends I couldn't meet him that day because of the support group, and that Whatsapp chat is how this blog came about...

OK, I had intentions to talk more about our 2nd (of 2) support group meeting, but it turns out that when we got there, actually we just wanted to NOT talk about our PhDs - which I think is an important thing to do too. So remember to take time to think about things other than your PhD...

No idea where this is from, but it is true nonetheless

(and massive apologies to wherever it was stolen from)