thephdpensieve
The PhD pensieve
Physics PhD student | machine learning & chaos theory | messy desks & meticuluos plans
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Favorite kind of week: Zoom calls, books and checklists
Update for week 18th Nov - 24th Nov
Started my visa application for my upcoming Europe trip (the Workshop is for a week and the location is lovely!). Made a checklist and applied for permission from the university, printed all the forms and collecting other documents. I love the task, but it drains me a bit!
I'm working on a collaborative project with quite an international team and we had our first discussion meeting this week. Excited!
Met with my mentor from the Supernova Foundation (a mentoring network for women in Physics). She's ao insightful and conversing with her always gives me a big picture and a lot of clarity. So grateful for her ♥️
Read a book after a loooong time. It's The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith. I've been waiting for the book's release but couldn't get my hands on a copy sooner. Absolutely enjoyed the read and felt so alive (I missed reading!)
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#dark academia#100 days of productivity#phd life#gradblr#gradschool aesthetic#chaotic academia#phd aesthetic#phdjourney#phdblr#Mentoring program#mentorship#zoom calls#project management#Project discussion#research process#research journal#research writing#scientific research
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A bit of everything: festivals, journals, rage scribbling and a hospital visit
Update for the week of 11th (Sun) - 17th (Sat) November
Uneventful on a large scale, but filled with tiny events.
My flu had gotten worse this week and I had fever. So I went to the university clinic to get a nebulizer dose (that's me in the picture with the mask) and some cough drops.
Sunday was Deepavali (or Diwali), the Indian festival of lights. I and my friend went to our other friend's home for celebrations. We had a great time with their family - my friend, her husband, in-laws, aunts, uncles and a cute fluffy doggy! It was so good, but I still had fever and I was napping at their home all throughout the day. We came back to the hostel watching fireworks all along the way. A wonderful evening <3
Great news: I got selected for a workshop in Europe!! They also awarded me a full Registration Grant and a partial travel grant! I just feel so happy (still can't believe it though) and I'll share more details with you guys soon.
#dark academia#gradblr#chaotic academia#gradschool aesthetic#phdblr#phd aesthetic#phd life#phdjourney#100 days of productivity#Building consistency#grad school motivation#I had this in my drafts since two weeks ago#Couldn't post because I was busy and also stuck in my head ironically
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16/100 days of productivity • 09-11-23, Thursday
--- A very late post ----
It's been 13 days since I last updated here. My flu got worse and I was so tired for three days since my last post here. And for the next few days I was fatigued and maybe a bit lazy to open my laptop to write a post. I had made this draft on the 14th of November and had not posted.
I am sharing this post today, without making any chnage except for adding this note, because I want to continue where I left off. I did have a few productive days is the past two weeks, but I could not follow my #NoZeroDays rule. I would remember to take a picture for Tumblr but I felt too tired to post them here.
So I will try to catch up for the lost days with two posts - one for a week and update everything that happened. I do actually have a LOT to share here. Lots of exciting news! I missed posting here, I missed talking to the people here.
About 9th November:
Meeting with Stender @ 2:45pm - 3:45pm
Made timeline for upcoming projects
Went to the health center again. Got an injection. Hope this cold goes away soon
Made fried idly for dinner with Pra
Slept by 10:30 pm
#gradblr#phdblr#gradschool aesthetic#dark academia#chaotic academia#phd life#phdjourney#grad school motivation#100 days of productivity#phd aesthetic
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Whatever is learned with satisfaction and enjoyment stays with you forever.
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CREATE AMBITIOUS PIECES OF ART EVEN IF YOU DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF ARTISTIC SKILL IT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL IMPROVE IT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL ACHIEVE THAT LEVEL
#I'm going to take this advice and apply it to my PhD#I'm gonna get over my fear of coding with this#Let's get ambitious!#mindset
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that comment about how you should not borrow grief from the future has saved me multiple times from spiraling into an inescapable state of anxiety. like every time i find myself thinking about how something in the future could go wrong i remember that comment and i think to myself: well i never know, it might get better. it might not even happen the way i think it will and if it does happen and it is sad and bad ill be sad about it then, when it happens. and it’s somehow soo freeing
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Untangling articles and Noodles
15/100 days of productivity • 8-11-23, Wednesday
I am a teaching assistant for an MSc Computational Physics Practicals class and they have their final exams today. So I was in the exam hall supervising the students and also having a conversation with the external examiner who had come from a nearby university. My advisor had told him about my final PhD plans and we were discussing how to best do them.
Had a long, intellectual discussion with my friend about a paper - especially about what's wrong in that paper. It's been a long time since such a stimulating conversation. I was trying understand the equations (you can see them in the picture of the white board), which describe a global network of wastes: how countries export and import, and manage waste.
Made soupy pepper noodles for dinner. Was so good and soothing for my cold. Do you guys have a favourite sick-food?
Tasks for today
Main task: Invigilation for MSc Computational Physics Practicals
Plan for the upcoming projects and research visits
Mail People
• Irene - funds
• Merten - set up a zoom call for discussion
• Aleta - project update
• Leah - Supernova Foundation Webinar Ideas
#gradblr#dark academia#chaotic academia#gradschool aesthetic#phdblr#phd aesthetic#phd life#comfort food#maggi#noodles#100 days of productivity#100dop#waste management#scientific research#journal reading#how to read a journal article
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14/100 days of productivity • 07-11-23, Tuesday
Today was most definitely a #zeroDay :(
Consistency is a work in progress. You can't just wake up one day and decide to be consistent. There will be ups and downs. And the whole point is to go through all of them without dwindling out. I am glad that I was able to get past the second day slump and go through to the second week! Going strong <3
(Just a bit late in posting)
About Today
Stayed up all night and couldn't wake up
Went to the Campus health center and got some meds for my cold
Get parcel from main office
Dinner with girls
#gradblr#phd life#phdjourney#PhD process#ups and downs#consistency#100 days of productivity#Unproductive day#gradschool aesthetic#dark academia#chaotic academia
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13/100 days of productivity • 06-11-23, Monday
Main, only task for today: Figure out forecasting the time series
Write first thing in the morning - define paper structure
WWCS results 🤞🏼
Leave lab by 5:15pm. 6-7pm cycling/dance
Laundry: one batch of light washing
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12/100 days of productivity • 05-11-23, Sunday
Today is for rest, reflection and rejuvenation. I was flicking through my old journal and founf this sage wisdom about anxiety and PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Probably a good time for the reminder! XD
Meeting about the GTR/Astro classes @12 noon
Learn German
Clean room
Go out. Get fresh air. Cycle around the campus. Get a burger.
Go to the doctor, get the cough checked
Cook dinner: Try cacio e pepe
I've missed my sleep cycle consistency in the past three days. I need to get it back on track again. I blame my coughs, which wakes my up at night and the cough syrup is making me drowsy in the morning and so I wake up late.
Tomorrow has an interesting thing coming up. Hopeful that it turns out good. Will update you all as soon as I get the information ❤️
#sunday vibes#weekend#dark academia#chaotic academia#gradblr#phd aesthetic#phd life#100 days of productivity#100 dop#productivity
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Supervision /Shepherding
11/100 days of productivity • 04-11-23, Saturday
Today was a rather slow day. I was just roaming around the uni campus in my bicycle (that's when I met this cute bleating goat with his tired shepherd).
Started learning a new language: German! Did some preparatory tasks and set up my learning goals.
Spent the day with my friend, talking (read:whining) about PhD life.
Did a little bit of mindfulness exercises
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PhD tips
My Final Year PhD Motto: "Do the Bare Minimum"
10/100 days of productivity • 03-11-23, Friday
I've got a radical motto to share with you all: "Do the Bare Minimum."
Bare Minimum Beyond Your PhD
Here's the deal: the final year of your PhD is like a marathon, and you've been sprinting for far too long. It's easy to burn out if you keep pushing yourself to the max in all aspects of life. So, consider doing the bare minimum when it comes to anything other than your research.
Why?
Your PhD is the star of the show. You need to conserve your energy for research, and ensure that you're giving it your best shot.
Instead of spreading yourself too thin, focus on the quality of your work, than quantity of things on your CV. Doing less elsewhere allows you to excel where it counts the most.
Overcommitting can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Doing the bare minimum in other areas helps protect your mental and physical well-being.
But how to do that without feeling guilty?
Remind yourself that your PhD is a major commitment and a unique opportunity. It's okay to prioritize it above other things right now.
Just for the next few months, please please, forget "if not me, then who?" when it comes to admin tasks or anything that doesn't directly contribute to your PhD.
Ask yourself "if no one else is doing it, why me?". It's okay to prioritize yourself, it's not selfish. "No" is your new friend. If you can't say no, then go ahead and do the barest of the bare minimums.
Let go of perfectionism. Do just what you are asked to do. don't do above and beyond to design a workshop flyer that you won't even be acknowledged for.
In the final year of your PhD, it's not about doing less because you're lazy; it's about strategically allocating your resources where they will have the greatest impact. So, I am embracing "Do the Bare Minimum"
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About today
Exam supervision duty - MSc practicals
Mail Merten, ask for next meeting ✔️
Post the parcel home✔️
Enquire bank about transfer, ask PM for ✔️
Update Irene on details ✔️
Check if the encoding process is right
#Admin Friday#phd life#chaotic academia#dark academia#gradschool aesthetic#gradblr#phdjourney#academics#grad student#phd student#100 days of productivity#100 dop#palestine#gaza genocide#phd tips#do the bare minimum
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reblog this to put a leaf on your mutuals head
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9/100 days of productivity • 02-11-23, Thursday
Finish off hyperchaos - first thing in the morning ✓
Try for MLC and one other system✓
Get results: diff dynamical regions
Review for 15 mins about yesterday's meeting with Manish ✓
Think about the manuscript structure for 15 mins after lunch ✓
If you're in flow state, keep going. If you need a break, paint the lavender sunshine
#Caramel gelato and kara idli#dark academia#gradblr#foodinspiration#phd aesthetic#100 dop#100 days of productivity#consistency#productivity#phdblr
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PhD Tips
Finding Motivation in Small Steps✨
8/100 days of productivity • 01-11-23, Wednesday
I wanted to share with you a realization that dawned upon me after weeks (6, to be exact) of being stuck and wallowing in the land of motivation. Let's talk about that rollercoaster ride called "PhD Motivation".
✨ Motivation: The Spark
We all know that feeling when inspiration strikes, and we're fueled by an intense burst of motivation. It's like a spark, igniting the fire within us, and we're ready to conquer the academic world. But, here's the thing: that spark is fleeting, and it's not always around when you need it.
✨ Momentum: The Sustainer
That's where momentum comes into play. Think of it as the gentle breeze that keeps your fire burning. It's that sense of progress, accomplishment, and consistency that pulls you through even on the toughest days. Momentum is what keeps you going long after the initial motivation has faded.
✨ The Secret Sauce: Small Tasks
So, how do you harness this momentum magic? It's simple: start with small tasks. When the mountain of research, writing, and analysis seems overwhelming, break it down into manageable chunks. It's like eating an elephant—one bite at a time! Tell yourself to finish just one tiny task (like writing just 100 words in a manuscript or debug just one block of code), and then most certainly you'll continue the task.
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨
About today
Write first thing in the morning
Mail the draft to PM before 10 am
Meeting with Manish @ 3:30pm - went well. excited about new opportunities!
Continue the forecasting code
Try different system as RC: explore options - Found a new system
Laundry evening - did two batches
Call with Sesh about the GTR course
Clean room, at least one corner - managed to clean a lot
Mindfulness course homework with study buddy
Felt grateful for my advisor - he's sooo supportive
#dark academia#chaotic academia#gradblr#gradschool aesthetic#phd aesthetic#phd life#phdjourney#accountability#accountability partner#100 days of productivity#100dop#studyblr#study motivation#studyspo#phd buddy#nanowrimo
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Does NaNoWriMo work for a PhD thesis? I like the vibe and the community, so I'm thinking if I should try writing my thesis with this challenge.
FINISHED MY MANUSCRIPT AND YEETED IT AT MY LIT AGENT time to get some slee - oh shit NaNoWriMo is here.
Erm.
Right, so if you're like me and you have the opening line of your NaNo project and a vague idea, I'd still like to encourage you to take part in NaNoWriMo. A large number of responses I get at this time are people who drop out in the first week. You have a whole month! If you need some nudging to stay in the game, please consider:
Any writing done by the end of the month is more writing than you had before. The biggest benefit of NaNoWriMo is having accomplished something, be it 50000 words or a couple of chapters. Using NaNo as a tool to carve out writing time can be really useful, and it's worth giving a try if you've had trouble figuring out how to get things done.
You don't have to write a book. You don't even have to work on the same project every day! Whatever needs writing - those fanfic drabbles, that personal essay you really want to publish, those three ideas you can't pick between - can be written during NaNoWriMo.
NaNoWriMo is a great way to connect with other writers, both local and online. Listen, it's hard to find other writers. My current group is spread across the world and we have trouble pinning down Discord meetups. Sometimes finding an in-person group can really help, but how to do that is hard. NaNoWriMo can be a chance to find people you vibe with - or don't vibe with, but can sit next to for an hour to write in silence. Anything helps.
No writing is bad writing. Even if you never look at it again, sitting down to write is like working out. You are practicing and improving your skills, even if you don't realize it. The only way to get better is to keep doing it.
You don't have to win. You don't have to write every day. You can even lower your goals to 300 words a day and still being doing NaNo, because you're putting in the work.
You can jump back into NaNoWriMo at any time. Have a bad day? A bad week? A final exam you must spend all your time and energy on? Don't give up on Day 3, Day 15, or Day 25. Every day of the month can be a new opportunity to write, no matter how many setbacks you have.
If you've never done NaNoWriMo before, give it a try! If you've tried it before and pounding out a novel in a month doesn't work for you, make NaNoWriMo your own thing. A paragraph a day, a drabble a week - whatever keeps your words flowing, this is the perfect month to set goals and try things out to figure out your writing styles.
Good luck!
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maya angelou in a 2010 facebook post / lori preusch - one thousand stories high, 2016 / vintage library card from the public library of toronto / ta-nehisi coates, between the world and me / matilda (1996) / two pictures from “why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming”, a 2018 photo essay with words by neil gaiman & art by chris riddell / caitlin moran, moranthology / istanbul modern library, turkey / tianjin binhai library, china / real biblioteca del monastario de el escorial, spain / jean-paul sartre, the words / lemony snicket, horseradish / ekua holmes - girl - literature, 2015
i was made for the library
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