Academic Pursuits: How to Stay Productive and Inspired This Fall

Hi everyone! It’s been a long time, but I’m excited to have a new article up and ready for you all. I am writing as I’m on fall break, and I have enjoyed having time to write and be in touch with all of you once again! I’m hoping things will be a little more consistent from now and I’m looking forward to posting on more of a schedule. On that note, I’m excited to talk about the subject for this week’s article, and that is essentially how to be the girl who does it all this fall! For those of you who are new, I am a neuroscientist. I am writing my thesis at the moment, and I am still able to make time to write for this blog at least once a month, go to the gym regularly, have a social life, and stay on top of the rest of my schoolwork. It’s a lot to juggle, and there are times where some moments where things are a little chaotic, but I believe that self-discipline is so key to reaching all your goals. With that, I want to give you my top tips for juggling all the aspects of your life so you can shine and feel like your best self!

It genuinely feels like just yesterday that I got my acceptance letter to the school I go to now. Over the last 3 years, I have met my best friends, I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I can’t help but be a little proud of the woman I’ve become in such a short time. As a neuroscientist, my responsibilities involve being in the lab, reading up-and-coming research, and still making sure my mental and physical health is intact.

You need a routine

The backbone of my life is my routine. I have a set list of non-negotiables that I have to meet every single day. I make an effort to move my body, take a shower, maintain my oral hygiene, and get a least 7 hours of sleep every night to feel my best. This list of non-negotiables can change based on your personal goals. Going to the gym or doing yoga or mat pilates in my room helps me feel productive early in the day. Taking a shower at the end of my day helps me unwind after a long day of classes and time in the library. I love having a set routine and then basing my extra habits on top of my non-negotiables, knowing that it is okay to complete my non-negotiables less often as long as I am still consistent.

You need a plan

If it’s not on my Google Calendar, it does not exist to me. This includes the occasional babysitting job I might take on throughout my week, thesis meetings, classes, social activities with my friends— everything. I have a few color-coded calendars to make planning easy, and coupled with my planner, I feel really organized and clear-minded when I know what is on my to-do list. Planning in detail alleviates my anxiety, allows me to coordinate easily with the people in my life, and allows me to focus more on being productive each day.

When You Look good, you feel good

I always notice that when I don’t give myself breaks to take care of myself, my appearance suffers. To me, looking presentable is really important, and when I don’t look my best, I start to feel pretty crappy. Having neatly styled hair, clipped nails, and moisturized skin makes me feel more confident and prepared to take on a busy day. I maintain my appearance by doing my best to make sure I stay on top of my hygiene routines, getting facials regularly, doing my skincare routine, and more recently, oiling my hair or doing a hair mask weekly to keep my hair healthy. Invest in high-quality products, invest in yourself, and make an effort to wear the cute outfits you’ve been hoarding. It will make you feel better, I promise.

Take Care of your mind

As someone who has struggled with seasonal depression, I do my best to make sure I’m taking care of my mental health. Whether it’s seeing a therapist regularly, taking medication, or having good coping strategies, it’s so important to do what you can to keep negative thoughts at bay so you can put your energy into creating the life (or academic comeback) of your dreams. I recently started journaling and doing affirmations, and doing this in the morning or before bed makes me feel so grounded and ready to tackle my day or wind down in preparation for a new day.

You Are Capable of success

Lastly, I want to remind you all that you are capable of being successful and doing whatever you put your mind to. By thinking about what strategies work best for you, you might find that staying disciplined and accomplishing your academic goals is easier than you thought!

On that note, let us know how you stay productive and focused when the weather gets cooler! We would love to hear your thoughts @itgrlarchive_ on Instagram. See you next week!