(1) Learning how to read on my own, rather than for a class. I’m in the part of my PhD program where I’ve met my course requirements, and I need to start preparing for designing my dissertation study. What this translates to is reading more on my own, rather than reading with the external motivation of a class.
This has been challenging for me.
With classes, I know I’ll be held accountable to having done the readings, because I’ll have to discuss them coherently when we meet together in class. With independent readings, I have to stay accountable to myself, which can be a harder task. Luckily, I have fellow students and colleagues to help me keep up with my readings.
It’s funny–I was able to do a LOT of independent reading as an undergrad. What’s different, now? Well I was incredibly lucking as an undergrad to be able to focus only on school, without work or really any other obligations. I had long swaths of time every day to read books, articles, and whatever I was drawn to for my independent study.
As a PhD student, I find myself with fewer of those large swaths of open time. I find myself feeling obligated to email, which breaks up my attention, focus–shifts me away from focusing just on reading. Honestly the weekends become the time that’s best for long stretches of uninterrupted reading, and I think I need to be okay with that.
(2) Having fun with my makeup. At various times in my life, I’ve worn lots of makeup, no makeup at all, and everything in between. I’ve read studies about how women who don’t wear makeup are paid less. On the other side of the continuum, I’ve been openly judged for wearing lipstick and chosen to wear less of it because of that judgment.
What’s nice now is that I think I’ve just decided not to care so much about all of that. Right now, doing my makeup makes me happy. It doesn’t feel like an obligation, or like something I’m doing so the world sees me a certain way. I’m doing it for myself. (Though I know there’s an argument to be made that I’ve been programmed by the patriarchy to think this way.)
As with having more fun with color and form in my wardrobe, I’m enjoying playing with makeup and trying to worry less what the world thinks of it.
(3) The ritual of lighting a candle at night. I love the way the days shorten as fall comes on. Darkness comes earlier at night and later in the morning. This helps me rest and sleep more, I’ve noticed. To mark the transition to a darker season, I’ve been lighting a candle at night as it gets dark in the evenings. I’ll enjoy reading by it for a bit before heading to bed.
The Lazy PhD 