Finding Balance: Juggling Life and Academia

Image source: AI-generated

 Living life in and of itself is not easy. Imagine doing that while pursuing a Ph.D. at the same time. However, I am not writing to complain about my life or anything because one, I am grateful for the opportunity I have, and I am sure there is someone out there who has it harder, and tougher in life, but as a fellow graduate student, I strongly believe that anyone who has the same experience would totally understand how tough it is to have a work/life balance when there are always projects, assignments, or readings to do. Therefore, I am glad that I have enrolled in one of the seminar classes (EDCI 62800) at Purdue University, a course that I do not have to take, but was recommended by my advisor.

Since one of our assignments is to focus on readings on important topics in graduate school, I chose to write and read a few articles in order to reflect on the topic that is related to balancing life and working when doing a Ph.D. One of the reasons is that this is a topic that is often overlooked by many graduate students, including myself. Since there are many things to focus on such as taking courses, working on projects, reading papers, and finishing assignments on time and doing it in a way that is acceptable by our standards and the school’s, we are likely to forget that we should have a life outside of school too. Therefore, I am going to choose two articles that are also tackling this topic while including information such as a summary of each article, my assessment, concerns, and a synthesis of both articles at the end. Hopefully, the information below will help.

First article: Seven work-life balance tips from a part-time PhD student

Summary: This article discusses the experiences of Simone Willis. Simone Willis shares her journey as a part-time PhD student, focusing on the strategies that helped her maintain a healthy balance between her studies and her job as a music tutor. Enrolling in a PhD program allowed her to explore important topics such as workplace stress among musicians while still managing her financial needs. She emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries between work and study, treating her PhD as a job, and regularly evaluating her goals to manage time effectively. By blocking out specific hours for both her teaching and research, she was able to ensure that her academic pursuits did not overshadow her personal life or well-being.

Additionally, Willis highlights the value of connecting with peers and maintaining open lines of communication with her supervisors. These relationships provided her with support and encouragement throughout her PhD journey. She also advocates for writing consistently rather than waiting until the end of the program, as it helps in organizing thoughts and clarifying ideas around her research. Through her experiences, she offers practical advice that can benefit graduate students across various fields, helping them navigate the challenges of advanced study while prioritizing their mental health and personal lives.

Assessment: The article by Simone Willis on balancing part-time PhD work appears reliable as it's published in Nature, a highly respected scientific journal known for quality peer-reviewed content. Willis's personal insights reflect practical, lived experiences, which adds to the article's credibility.

Second article: PhD Work-Life Balance: It’s All About Balance as a PhD! 

Summary: Achieving a work-life balance during a PhD program is possible with patience and effective strategies. This guide offers practical tips for graduate students to manage their time better, set achievable goals, schedule breaks, and prioritize self-care, ultimately enhancing both academic performance and personal well-being. One important key point in this article is Quality Over Quantity. This means that working longer doesn’t always equate to better quality work. Focusing on specific tasks can enhance efficiency and output. This emphasizes the importance of effective time management. Even though this article highlights a lot of important points, there is another point that I believe is great for graduate students to know, which is Prioritizing Health. Physical health impacts academic performance: maintaining good nutrition and exercise should be a priority for students to sustain energy and focus.

Assessment: The reliability of the articles on work-life balance for PhD students appears high because the advice is practical, widely applicable, and based on real-world PhD experiences. The recommendations such as setting clear work hours, taking regular breaks, and maintaining self-care are well-documented in research on productivity and mental health. The website where the article is found also focuses on academic and personal growth, adding credibility. However, individual experiences may vary, so it's essential to personalize these strategies.

A synthesis

Time Management: Both articles stress the critical role of time management, but the first article by Simone Willis emphasizes setting specific work hours and treating the PhD as a job, with clear boundaries between work and personal life. The second article takes a more general approach, advocating for time management as a means to enhance productivity and mental well-being, suggesting achievable goals and structured breaks to avoid burnout.

Prioritizing Health and Well-being: Both articles acknowledge the importance of physical and mental well-being, emphasizing that good health directly impacts academic performance. Willis suggests writing consistently to manage stress and organize ideas, whereas the second article highlights the significance of prioritizing health through good nutrition and exercise. Both approaches come together on the idea that maintaining health is integral to academic success.

Support Systems and Communication: The first article uniquely stresses the importance of peer support and regular communication with supervisors, framing these as essential to academic progress and personal well-being. While the second article doesn't focus as much on external support, it offers self-care strategies, implying that a healthy balance involves both personal and communal support structures.

Quality over Quantity: Both emphasize that effective work is not about the number of hours spent but the quality of output. While Willis focuses on regularly evaluating goals and output during the PhD journey, the second article argues for focusing on specific tasks to achieve more in less time.

References

R3ciprocity_Team. (2020, May 5). Phd work-life balance: It’s all about balance as a Phd!

R3ciprocity Blog. https://blog.r3ciprocity.com/phd-work-life-balance-its-all-about-balance-as-a-phd/

Willis, S. (2024, September 24). Seven work–life balance tips from a part-time Phd student.

Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02693-y