The Dissertation Diaries

Today I am starting something I have not allowed myself to do in a long time. I am taking a full week off with no work tasks, no dissertation writing, no interview scheduling, no coding, and no academic responsibilities at all. Just rest.

It feels strange to type that because, like many of us in this doctoral world, I am used to filling every spare moment with something productive. But I reached a point where I could tell I was running on empty. I have been deep in interviews, memos, notes, teaching, leading, and holding more than one mind should reasonably hold at once. Instead of pushing harder, I am choosing something different.

I am choosing one week to refill myself.

It also happens to be Thanksgiving week. We host a big gathering on Friday for a football game, and the entire week can easily turn into one long to do list if I let it. This year, I am intentionally deciding not to let that happen. I want to enjoy the holiday, enjoy the people in my home, and enjoy the traditions we love without juggling dissertation drafts in the back of my mind.

There is no guilt here. I am not behind. I am not avoiding anything. I know that stepping back is exactly what will help me come back stronger. Rest is not the opposite of progress. Rest is how I protect my ability to keep going. It is how I make space for better writing, clearer thinking, and a dissertation that reflects the level of care this project deserves.

So this week is for reading books that have nothing to do with work or research. It is for cuddling with my puppy on the couch in front of the Christmas tree. It is for slow and purposeful breakfasts that are not rushed or squeezed between tasks. It is for cooking for the holiday, preparing for the football day after party, long walks, time with my people, and giving myself breathing room.

When I return to my dissertation, I want to bring fresh eyes and full energy, not the last scraps of what I have left. I know that this week, this pause, is exactly what will make that possible.

Here is to rest. Here is to resetting. And here is to trusting that the break itself is part of the work.