The Dissertation Diaries

🌿 Taking Care of the Person Behind the Dissertation

Somewhere along the dissertation journey, I realized I had become a human doing instead of a human being.

I was managing outlines, citations, deadlines, committee feedback, and life responsibilities all with a smile that said, “I’ve got this.” But underneath it, I was running on caffeine, adrenaline, and guilt every time I wasn’t working.

We don’t talk enough about how the dissertation can take over your sense of self.

It’s not just a research project, it’s a test of endurance, patience, and identity. It asks you to question what you know, what you believe, and who you are without the structure of coursework or grades. It’s exciting and deeply meaningful, but it can also be isolating and exhausting.

I’ve learned that self-care isn’t indulgent…it’s survival.

For me, self-care during the dissertation has looked like small, quiet things.

• Closing my laptop at the end of the day, even when I feel like I “should” keep going. I actually limit my writing each day.
• Lighting a candle before writing to remind myself that this work is sacred.
• Taking a walk without listening to a podcast so my brain can rest. This is where having a dog comes in handy. We go out to walk without a goal in mind. Just us and some fresh air.
• Calling a friend or my sister who knows how to remind me that I’m still me, still a partner, a mom, a friend, a scholar, no matter what my word count says. I will say in this area, I am incredibly lucky to have such a great friend group and supportive sisters.
• Self-care has also meant giving myself permission to not be productive every second of the day. There are days where I do NO work at all.

There’s a strange guilt that comes with rest in academia, as if slowing down means you’re falling behind. But the truth is, my best writing happens after I’ve given myself space to breathe, think, and live.

The dissertation is a chapter of life, not your whole story.

It’s important. It matters. But so do you.

If you’re in the thick of it right now, please remember that you deserve care, not just completion. The best version of your dissertation will come from the healthiest version of you.

So tonight, maybe close your laptop a little earlier.

Step outside. Stretch. Breathe. Play with your dog.

You’re still moving forward, even in rest.

✨ Write it. Track it. Defend it. But take care of yourself while you do.