3. Read for leisure
Being a scientist means that there’s always something new to read, whether it’s the latest release of a periodical journal or a newspaper article. But just like any food craving, having too much of the ‘dish’ in the context of reading is a sure-fire way to acquire taste aversion.
This year, put aside some time to read something unrelated to work or worldly events. Was there a novel that you never dared to pick up from the bookstore, lest it cannibalized the time you spent reading more practical things? Or perhaps there was that hobbyist magazine that you always wanted to subscribe to but never got around to submitting your billing and mailing details. Give these literary whims a chance in 2017! For all you know, a little distraction from the usual reading material will allow you to look back on the scientific literature with fresh eyes, maybe even granting you some much-needed insight.
4. Move that body
Now, this may seem like stating the obvious, but exercise is among the best stress-relieving activities of all. Scientists (raise your hands if you’re one of them) have shown that during exercise, the release of chemicals called endorphins in the brain helps to suppress feelings of anxiety and discomfort.
Essentially, endorphins are your body’s home-brewed morphine, and the same reward circuit that fuels addiction is being triggered by your workout. This is the reason why an exercise routine may be difficult to follow at first, but becomes easier and easier to sustain the more frequently you perform physical activity.
Having said this, listen to your body and don’t overstrain it to the point of injury. For starters, consider scheduling some exercise during experiment incubation times. Waiting for that gel electrophoresis to get done? Staring at the power pack won’t make it go any faster, so why not head out for a jog instead? You’ll accomplish more in a day and feel better-off for it.
5. Seek novelty
When was the last time you tried something new? If your answer to this question is “When my experiment required a new protocol or reagent,” you might want to re-evaluate your notion of novelty. Self-reflection aside, you could think about engaging in a new hobby.
In this information age where knowledge and skills are freely shared and readily accessible via the internet, anyone can learn a new instrument, pick up a foreign language or fulfill culinary ambitions—the list of possibilities goes on endlessly, and when spoilt for choice, the only regret you’ll have is not making one. Sure, the search for novelty in the laboratory is important, but to restrict that search to the laboratory is to deny yourself room for personal growth and enjoyment.
With these five tips in mind, may you have a productive and fulfilling 2017!
This article is from a monthly column called Hacking a PhD. Click here to see the other articles in this series.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
