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.