Step 1). Do no pre-PhD reading. Yes, use your breaks to watch all the Rick & Morty you want justified by the notion that its basically carbo-loading for a brain marathon. You still have to train for said marathon. Reading= weekly 40 mile runs. Not to put too fine a point on it but I’m American and I like to over ‘splain things sometimes.
Step 2). Get off a plane and walk into school. Give yourself a break- I didn’t, and I’m pretty sure that Reception, the Librarians and the entire I.T. Department are throwing darts at my shitty, jet lagged, confused emails.
Step 3). Wonder about your partner/spouse. Maybe they got their visa rejected. Maybe you have no idea when you’re going to see them again. Maybe you have to start teaching, going to classes of your own, researching, meetings, flat hunting and traveling from work to airbnb to hostel to school to friends couch to new airbnb rinse repeat all at the same time and ALONE for 4 weeks. Do whatever the fuck you can to avoid this. Nothing personal here. I’m not mad. You’re mad.
Step 4). Go to Ikea on a school night. Just don’t. Or have a designated ‘we’re done here’ person to police your frantic activity. Thanks Drew.
Step 5). Panic. It will get better and easier. And if you need to switch to decaf because your 9 cups a day are sending you to new and unexplored territories of anxiety, let it happen.
Step 6). Complain all the time- this is a huge, wonderful and rare opportunity. Suck it up, Buttercup. This shit is happening, in good times and bad, for better or worse, for the next three years. It’s up to you to make it better, and good. No matter how your PhD did or did not start.
Love ya!
Actress Academic 