As we move into the new academic year, wellbeing is at the forefront of my mind. I try to maintain a fairly strong level of work-life balance, but also appreciate that this is not always easy. I therefore wanted to outline my tips for making sure you can keep the balance as much as possible, and make the research process manageable.
- Feed your Body
This may sound really obvious, but one thing to remember when in the midst of your research is to fuel your body. Making sure you’re taking time out to eat, keep hydrated and move your body is really important. I’m not a fitness expert, but I know I feel a lot better in myself when I ensure I have meals with variety, go for a walk and drink water. This doesn’t need to be an additional thing to your to do list, and I often find I have my best ideas when I don’t sit at my desk willing the useful thoughts to come to me!
2. Take Time to Relax
Taking time to relax is vital to good research. Sometimes, you may wish to work on a project all hours – maybe you have a deadline, or you could be really enjoying the project. If this is you, listen to your body and enjoy the energy! If, however, you’re feeling a bit tired or low and you have some wriggle room with deadlines take that time for you. Whether it’s having an evening to binge-watch a new show or spending time with friends, all of this is vital for the writing process.
3. Set the Scene
For me, scene-setting is really important in my writing set-up. I can’t work in total silence usually, but I find speech tricky to concentrate within so if I really need to focus I play some instrumental music. Play around with what works for you, but make sure you’re giving yourself a positive writing space!
These are my top tips for creating balance when researching; while your ways of creating balance may be different, I hope these ideas can help you if you too. Let me know how you keep balance when writing, as I’d love to know your thoughts!
Dr Megan Wang (née Kelleher) 
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