Phdblr - Blog Posts

03/21/2025

I had a medical appointment this morning so I didn't start my part-time job until the afternoon, which also delayed my time to complete some schoolwork.

I find myself gravitating toward tasks that involve clinical work and blissfully neglecting my class assignments like 10-page papers and group presentations 😅 I haven't even looked at my thesis progress and created a new timeline yet. I don't think I have the mental energy to do any of this right now.

Maybe working with my energy and passion right now is the way to go ~

Completed

✅ medical appointment

✅ part-time work

✅ walk my dog

That's it for now, but I might come back and update this before the end of the day if I finish more tasks =)

Have a wonderful weekend, lovely humans 🩵

~**~ Pinterest Inspirations ~**~

This graphic is so real lol. I would also add "adulting" which takes up 10-20% of my life depending on the time of the year...

I had to go to a medical appointment this morning and it feels like I have already used up most of my motivation and energy for the day 🫠. But I know I can't (or should I say I recently decided that I won't) give up this easily, so I am hopeful that it will be another day I can celebrate at the end.

Sending love to all you wonderful humans 🩵

03/18/2025

I've never been a person who studies or works on her couch, but I finally understand why people love it. It feels so wonderful and heartwarming to be cozied up next to my dog who is having his little dreams while I try to finish my assignments close to midnight. I feel so much like a doting mom enjoying the simple presence of her kids. After everything that has happened in the past week, I cannot be more grateful to be relaxing on the couch with my dog by my side =)

Completed

✅ First day back to school (the anxiety and anticipation almost killed me the night before lol)

✅ Completed work tasks at my part-time job

✅ Organized my work desk

✅ Cleaned up the mess my dog made at home while I was at school

✅ Randomly called my parents to say hi =)

✅ Revised 2 client notes based on feedback

✅ Finished writing 2 client notes

I am finally wrapping up my schoolwork at 1:17am! Now I just need to pack my lunch for tomorrow and then wake up at 6:30am for school at 8am =") Wish me luck 🍀

Have a restful night, lovely humans 🩵

03/17/2025

Proud of myself!

I started working on school stuff again after everything that's been going on. It was nerve-wracking at first, having to go through a lot of emails and reply to some from weeks ago. BUT... I got through them all!

Completed Tasks:

✅ Read (and organized) my school emails

✅ Research team meeting

✅ Review weekly task list

✅ Eat

✅ Take care of my dog

✅ Therapy session

✅ Finish 1 exam

✅ Added article summaries to class notes

What a relief! Now I can hop on Xbox to play with my partner and enjoy my dinner!!

Introductions ~ take two ~

Hello stranger! Glad you found me and I hope you get what you need from here (encouragement, inspiration, rant, etc.). If you don't find my content interesting, I hope you picked up some good vibes and have a wonderful day =)

Original Idea:

My initial idea for this blr was to keep track of my master's thesis writing progress. Unfortunately, within a week, I got injured in a car accident over the holidays and things are no longer the same.

Updated Content:

I decided today that this blr will now be a mesh of things. I will continue to post about my thesis writing progress while adding other studying stuff here (i.e., a studyblr). I will also talk about things I do in a psychology PhD program in the US (i.e., a phdblr). The part that I am most excited about to start posting here is my reflections and inspirations! I pick up on a lot of meaning and wisdom from daily life so I hope to share this with y'all and maybe help others who are struggling like me 🩵 (maybe I can call it a growthblr?) A random idea that popped up is to use this as my 2025 vision board! I have been having a hard time creating an entire vision board at the beginning of the year, so maybe this would be a place where I can add pictures and quotes that inspire me and lead me toward a new direction and be in flow this year =) (so exciting!!)

A Little About Me:

Nice to meet you, lovely humans! I am a PhD student in psychology, in my 20s, a dog mom, an astrology/tarot lover (I'm a ♉ sun), a couch potato during breaks, in my healing/spiritual journey, and have ADHD/depression.

I'm usually a private person, but I love sharing my inspirations and wisdom with others =) I hope that this will be a safe and non-judgmental space for all of us, and to be authentic while respecting each other.

Given that I am in a psychology program and I see clients, I do not plan to post anything identifiable here, including my real name. That means that unless you know me irl, you will not know the people I mentioned in this blr. If you have concerns about identifiable information of your own or someone you know being posted here, I strongly encourage you to reach out using the "AMA" button on this blr so I can correct my mistake.

Disclaimer: There is a chance that I will not consistently write here. If I have not been active for over a month, I might take longer to respond to posts and AMAs. That is just the nature of my life rn.

✨Sending lots of love and light ✨

Day 1 ~ in recovery ~

A friend came over today to talk about my feelings and maybe get some work done for myself.

It's been 2 days since I last turned on my laptop and looked at my semester to-do list. I still haven't done it yet, and I feel intimidated by the potential workload I have waiting for me once this break ends and everything should go back to "normal." Is there even going to be a "normal"? I don't know. I feel very conflicted right now, but maybe this shows that I need a reality check. To ground me, not terrify me.

Day 4

On days like this, I feel like I'm stepping backward, unwinding all the hard work I've put forward in the past few days. It hasn't even been a week yet...

My dog has been whining right before I go to bed to be taken out. Having presentations and essays back-to-back for my classes. Group projects are due soon. Spring break is in a few days. My thesis work is ongoing but not where I need it to be. - Things just aren't right.

I want to feel excited again. I want to feel alive again. I want to be free.

When I got home from school today, I laid down on the couch and started reading a webnovel. I ended up napping for two hours, and then realize that I still need to make food and it'll be time for bed. But I still have my daily assignments I need to get done, and my notes, and my thesis, and... My mind is going in a spiral but my body is moving like a turtle. All I want to do is read my webnovel and escape my stressful reality at the moment.

I'm going to muster the little strength that I still have to complete the essentials for tomorrow, and then call it a night. Maybe it is a day of necessary rest today.

Day 3 End

School days feel like a blur sometimes. Waking up to my alarm while I'm still half asleep; rushing to take my dog out before class; hurrying to class so I'm not late - just speeding through the day until it gets dark outside and I'm still on my laptop by midnight.

I did most of what I planned to accomplish, but somehow I still feel like I should have done more. Probably expressed by the part of me that needs to overachieve.

Tomorrow's a new day, and I have a new goal. Will check back in again for continued progress =)

Day 2 End

Wow... what a day.

I'm finally calling it and getting ready for bed (maybe quietly read a couple chapters of my new fated lovers book on my phone).

I feel like I did quite a bit but also not writing enough to meet my schedule. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Am I overestimating how much I can do each day or week to meet my goal at the end of the semester? I really hope not. I really need to finish this thesis proposal so I am not behind (also not having to pay for another semester of thesis credits...) Money is definitely on the line.

My hope is that I can start tracking my wins and knowing that it will be ok in the end.

Transitions are hard...

Like I know I got diagnosed last year with ADHD, but I haven't felt like this in so long? Seriously, I don't know how I've functioned so well in college, and now in PhD, my brain is starting to give up on me.

I wish my school or someone had taught me how to use a neurodivergent brain growing up. Maybe it would be less difficult right now.

It feels like I make a plan, and then the next thing I know, my brain chooses not to follow it cause it's not exciting enough. I wish I could just work 4 hours a day and then rest and recharge using the remaining time. I know this is impossible with my current workload and commitment, but I can't wait for that day to come when I can create my schedule and I don't have to worry about not having enough income each month.

Good luck my pals who are also neurodivergent ~

Middle of Day 2

I can't believe I actually did it. I actually started working on my thesis writing in the middle of the day!

Usually, I wait until it is dark, and I use guilt to motivate me to start writing until midnight. Then, I end up feeling exhausted and groggy the next day. But it seems like that's not today. And I am grateful for myself for this =)

3/3/2025 Day 2

I changed my schedule yesterday and created a new plan. Seems to be working so far!

It feels a little weird to start doing my main task at 3pm, but I feel less pressured to wake up early and speed through my morning routine. Also, I noticed that I don't like checking my phone when I want to focus on my day. I feel slightly guilty for people who text me on a Monday, but seriously, I just want to be in my own head all day and focus on what I want to finish.

Side tangent: My dog was snoring and making growling sounds while he was napping today lol. He makes me feel alive 😂

This looks like my dog but is not my dog. Close enough =P

Day 1 End

I'm so proud of myself!

I actually did some thesis writing tonight. It took me a little bit to start, but I think I have a clearer direction now that I know it is just small blocks that build up my entire paragraph, and then making up a section.

Tracking my progress is nice. Thanks for this space!

Energy Periods

OK, I have to note this down because I just recognized an energy pattern that I have! What a win!

3-6pm: my peak productivity time

when it is easier for me to focus and concentrate

especially on days when I have not done anything at this point, I feel like doing something so the day doesn't slip away completely

helps when I have time to ease into a slow morning and make food for myself (and exercise on some days)

12-2pm: potential medium to medium-high energy

I know that it is possible for me to start doing tasks at 12pm, so this might be a period where I can start with easier tasks and feel good about some small wins

I think this will be a good time where I build up the momentum to do my higher tasks later in the day

9-11pm: medium energy

there have been days when I can still complete school tasks or even write parts of my thesis during this period (tbh I can push until 12am but I really need to get some sleep before a full day of classes)

hopefully this will be a period where if I have not been able to get to my thesis tasks during the week, I can save 2 hours just working on it before I go to bed

I usually sleep better the next day if I do work on my thesis task the day before

My schedule doesn't always allow a ful-day of research/thesis work, so hopefully this will help me organize my time based on my energy instead of what I feel like people keep telling me to do. I'm definitely not an early bird, and I think it makes sense to follow my own energy/rhythm at this point so I can actually reach my goal of proposing my thesis by the end of April.

Middle of Day 1

The day didn't go as bad as I had imagined. Started working on some school assignments on my to-do list after eating a nice breakfast (more like lunch) and watching an episode of A Sign of Affection =)

Here's to the possibility that I will face the more daunting task of continuing to write the literature review part of my thesis. Cross my fingers that I finish the day strong and satisfied!

3/1/2025 Day 1

I feel like yesterday wasn't that bad, so today should start pretty well too... Guess I was wrong / not as accurate as thought about my own behaviors.

I ended up waking up and checking social media, and it sent me down a spiral of starting this new online novel about werewolves and fated mates. They know me too well lol.

Now it's past 3pm and I have a long list of to-dos, combined with what I didn't get to yesterday. Will this kind of life ever end? Will I ever decide to not push away what I need to do right now and enjoy the instant gratification that causes me long-term despair?