A Day in the Life of a PhD Student
Ita is currently studying for a PhD in Archaeology. This is a typical day:
6:30 AM
Time to get up. Maybe the time seems extremely early (if we consider
A photo of me exploring the Craiglockhart and Colinton Dells taken by my friend.
the stereotypical ideas about student life), but I do find that starting the day early works better for me. So, what do I do after getting up? Of course, first things first. Splashing cold water on my face (to properly get rid of the remnants of sleep), brushing my teeth, etc. The next necessary step (at least for me, otherwise I find it difficult to function throughout the day) is a short (20-30 minutes) yoga and stretching session. The last step before I set off, is just making sure I’m dressed appropriately for the weather (it is Scotland after all) and have everything I need for the day in my bag.
7:30 AM
So, what happens next? A long walk (whatever the weather), preferably in one of the Edinburgh’s parks or nature reserves. I find it very soothing to see the natural world waking up as well and, to be honest, I just enjoy the slow, tranquil morning moments in nature. There is something magical about them, you can lose yourself in them, forget about everything and just for a little while simply be there. One of my favourite spots is the Craiglockhart and Colinton Dells – pretty convenient for when I need to be at the Central Campus later in the day (walking towards the Central Campus means walking through Morningside – a lovely Edinburgh neighbourhood with many cosy cafes and bakeries, suffused in the morning with delicious smells of freshly baked goods and freshly brewed coffee; what could possibly be better for bridging the gap between the magical, carefree moments in nature and the slow return to duties and occasionally “stern” reality of adult life?) Usually, these walks are solitary, but on this occasion, I was joined by a friend and we shared those tranquil, magical moments together.
My favourite cappuccino – is there a better, more delicious way to get ready for a demanding study session? 😉
10-10:30 AM
Time to fuel up for the day. My preference is grabbing a warm, perfectly crafted cappuccino with dark chocolate sprinkles and cinnamon, usually from one of my favourite places around the Meadows. The baristas know me quite well and we usually chat for a bit while they prepare my drink. The bonus of being a “regular” is that they know my preferences and generally, make my day so to speak 😉 Then, coffee in hand, I just stroll around the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, slowly getting ready to start my daily study session.
11-11:30 AM
Once the coffee is finished, I head to the Main Library or the Postgraduate Research Room at HCA. There I sit down and crack on with my studies. I always make a plan of what I need to do on a particular day, just to make sure I stay on track and split my workload into more easily manageable chunks. So, what is the plan for today? Making notes and trying to fully understand the biology of vitamin D. Surprised? Well, I’m in the very first year of my PhD, so there’s a lot of background reading and just making sure that I have a proper understanding of the various themes my research is going to explore. As bioarchaeology is a complex field spanning humanities, physical, social, and medical sciences, I need to make sure I am well versed in all these disciplines (of course, within the specific context of my research). Well, today is the “medical” day…
Lunch to keep me going for the rest of the afternoon.
2:30 PM
Time for some lunch. This time somewhere around the central area as I am going to attend a seminar later in the afternoon. Normally, I would just go back home in the early afternoon and cook something for myself. But if there’s anything happening in the late afternoon/early evening, I do tend to opt for a “treat” at one of my favourite spots. Today it’s a “sandwich day” – not for any particular reason, I just feel like eating a sandwich… Well, it’s poached eggs with spinach and yogurt-based sauce. Simply delicious and very filling. It should keep me going for the rest of the day😋 Generally, I try to efficiently use my time and depending on how I get on with my work throughout the day, I either continue studying during lunch or read for pleasure. Today, it’s reading for pleasure (lucky me).
4 PM
Time for the seminar. These usually happen in the late afternoon and cover various themes. I usually inspect the HCA Event Calendar on the University’s website at the beginning of each new semester to see what happens when. I try to go to as many events as I can, but sometimes you do need to prioritise which one you attend. Being spoiled for choice is not always a good thing…🤔
7 PM
The seminar and post-seminar reception are over. Now is the time to head back home. Time to make some tea, eat some cookies and generally unwind. I also prepare everything for the next day in the evening, just to be on the safe side (although I do plan my schedule on both monthly and weekly basis, it’s still a good idea to double check everything is up to date – after all, you can’t always plan for the unexpected 😉). Then there’s some time to watch a movie or listen to a podcast before bed.
10 PM
Time to go to sleep. The day has been productive and to a certain degree exhausting, but overall, it’s been a good day. Now it’s time to recuperate. After all, tomorrow’s another fairly busy day.
Share
