Monday Motivation #183 (4/29/24)

Happy Monday!

Last week was bittersweet: we celebrated our graduating students with ceremonies and lunches and commencements. We got to meet their loved ones, and take photos, and hear about what they’re planning next. Our new alums are headed to universities and companies and research facilities around the world, and we’re excited for them — but also trying to figure out how to continue our work on campus without them.

There will be new students, of course, but most won’t arrive for several months. In the meantime, we will adjust our routines and reassign the tasks that had been overseen by our graduates. Summer is often a good time for these transitions, as campus shifts to a less hectic cadence.

So next week, once the Symposium is over, I’ll sit down and make my summer to-do list and timeline. I’m sharing some resources this week to help you plan your own summer.

Katy

Three Things to Try This Week

Make a Timeline — As we head into May, it’s a good time to pause and think about what you’d like to accomplish this summer. Spend some time making a detailed timeline of (reasonable!) academic/research goals, starting with a general overview of the months, and then adding a few more details for each week, and then filling in the daily tasks as you go. This is meant to be a flexible guideline, not a rigid agenda, so build in time to reflect on and revise the timeline throughout the semester. Pick a format and level of detail that will help you stay organized and motivated, but not make you feel overwhelmed or constrained. And be sure to include time to rest, relax, and recharge regularly!

Expand Your Focus — while summer is a great time to make progress on your research or gain experience for your future career, it’s also a good opportunity to try new things or check a few more items off your “bucket list” of life goals. Here are some examples for inspiration: https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/what-do-gradhackers-do-all-summer#

Consider your Future — early summer is a good time to revise (or create) and individual development plan to help guide your professional development and career preparation. Learn more and build an IDP for free here: https://myidp.sciencecareers.org/

More Resources

• Join us Thursday, May 2, for the annual Engineering Graduate Research Symposium. While registration has closed, the poster presentations and awards ceremony in EB are open to the public: https://engineering.msu.edu/academics/graduate-studies/symposium
• Save the date! We will have a welcome picnic in the EB courtyard on Tuesday, August 20 to celebrate with our incoming graduate students, and on August 24 the Council of Graduate Students is hosting a fall welcome event for all grads on campus. Watch your email in early August for more details!

Want to add a little greenery to your home or office? The annual MSU Plant Sale is a chance to get flowers, veggies, and decorative items: https://www.canr.msu.edu/hrt/our_gardens/Garden-Programs-and-Events/index