The weekday routine of a Ph.D. scholar

Hello, everyone! I trust you're all doing well. In this blog, I'll provide you with a glimpse into the daily life of a Ph.D. scholar. Out of our 24-hour day, a substantial 10 to 12 hours are dedicated to the lab, where we engage in experiments, paper writing, article reading, and data analysis, all while fervently wishing each passing minute brings us closer to successfully meeting those haunting deadlines.

Let's start with the early morning routine. The need to rise early isn't for exercise or meditation, although I have immense respect for those who manage it. Instead, it's to prepare breakfast and lunch,😒😒 taking approximately an hour. While the mess and tiffin facilities are options, many of us prefer at least one homemade meal a day, considering the ongoing battle on the health front. Therefore, a significant amount of time is invested in scrutinizing the food we eat.

Following the morning routine, including the daily bathing ritual, everyone rushes to the lab with a plan in mind, primarily focusing on avoiding scolding's from supervisors😷. Daily progress and future plans must be reported to them.

Transitioning to the mid-morning to evening routine, upon reaching the lab, we declutter the mess from the previous day and proceed with the scheduled experiments. Personally, a day without planned experiments leaves me feeling aimless, while an overwhelming workload induces a sense of being overburdened and anxious. There seems to be no in-between. Other paperwork is part of the equation but is typically completed just moments before the deadline. The reality is that many people may be well-managed, but they are certainly not Ph.D. scholars. Ph.D. entails mastering the art of procrastination.😢😢😟

Every scholar faces unique problems, and our Indian way of dealing with them is summed up as "Just have a cup of tea," or more accurately, a "cutting chai." We willingly invest significant sums—over hundreds of rupees at times—in caffeine intake to boost morale and alleviate anxiety. Tea breaks become a crucial coping mechanism, whether during crucial experiments or with someone fetching it for us to withstand the pressure of work. So, chai is a major component of our daily life, and I personally cannot survive without it. 💕

By evening, the results of our experiments surface, and that's when the real roller coaster of emotions kicks in. If the results are favorable, it's a triumphant moment, feeling like we can conquer the world. However, if they're not in our favor, we start questioning our existence. We wrap up our work and leave the labs by 7 pm, praying to survive the path we've chosen.

Moving on to the night routine, after ample rest, we consider dinner options and ways to feel good about a challenging or average day. As girls, we must daily ensure to talk with our parents, addressing safety concerns since we are away from home. Constant efforts are made to reassure our parents about our health and safety, making it a crucial part of our day. With that, we set our beds and go to sleep, ready to face another day as a research scholar.

So, this is a snapshot of our weekdays. You might be wondering about our productivity, but the reality is that we're striving to be productive every day in our thoughts and actions. In Ph.D., productivity is measured after years of constant struggle.😐😑 So, never question our efforts and productivity. See you all in the next blog. Until then, stay happy!