A Study Day In The Life of a PhD Student on a Sunday!

7:00am

The day begins with my phone alarm waking me up. Groggy, tired, and my vision blurry, I get up and start my coffee. The kids are sleeping and the books are wide open waiting for me to dive in and start my PhD work.

8:00am

Coffee and a light toast seem to do the work to give me the energy and resilience to start my paper. Thankfully, I had an opportunity to gather information and prepare earlier in the week so I can make the final adjustments on my work today. I sit in front of my lap top, ready to start.

9-11am

The kids come running down the stairs, "Mommy, we are hungry, what are we having for breakfast?" This is my cue to stop and make sure I take care of my family. Dad is working virtually.

1-3pm

Once breakfast is done, the table is clear, the family is fed, I retreat to my desk and take a moment to reorganize my thoughts and start to look for the " mental zone" the zone of focus that I luckily find to get my work done and find the inspiration to help me complete the work that I need to turn in.

4-5pm

"Mom, what are we having for dinner? When will you spend time with us? Are you almost done yet?" I kindly let them know that I will be done in a bit, but to please give me a second. I pause my work, and come back to my family. It is lunch time. I prepare them lunch share a few hugs and kisses and also follow up with, "have you done your homework, prepared for school tomorrow? Let's go read a book!" Miraculously, I manage to get my little ones to follow directions. I once again retreat to my study space.

6-8pm

I have spent two wonderful hours of studying and productively focusing on my content. "Mom, we are hungry and what are we having for dinner?" Luckily, my husband is back and I get help with dinner!" After dinner, getting the kids bathed and prepared for bed is a triumphant accomplishment in itself. As I lay them to bed, I feel guilty that I did not spend time with my babies, that I was too busy to give them more hugs or do something with them to make their time at home more meaningful with me. I give each of them a kiss and lay down next to them for a few minutes as I help them settle into their sleep.

8:30-11:00pm

I come back downstairs and luckily my beautiful husband is helping me with putting all the dishes away and packing up school lunches for the kids. I quietly retreat back to my office and keep writing until I feel the weight of the day come over me and realize I too, must go and prepare for another long week of administrative, teaching, and school work, amongst the responsibilities of being a parent.