By Sophie Almond |
As the summer months come to a close and September fast approaches, a new academic year is upon us once again. Whilst some people immediately transition between the end of their MA studies and the start of their PhD, others, like myself and fellow committee member Louise, decide to take what I like to call an academic gap year. This can be for a number of reasons: to consider options, to apply for funding, to work, or to rest. It can feel incredibly daunting to take a step back from academia, but it can also be a liberating experience, and an opportunity to take some time to prepare yourself for your PhD.
Louise’s post last week offered a thoughtful insight into how to overcome the disappointment associated with having to take an inadvertent break from academia. Regardless of whether your gap year is planned or not, you are still faced with the scary reality of having to survive a period of academic stasis. Once the dust has settled, and you are officially no longer a student, it’s important to think about what you’re going to do with the time that you have ahead of you. I wish that someone had given me some advice before I embarked on my twelve-month hiatus, so as I enter the final-countdown to starting my PhD in October, here are my top five tips for making the most of your academic gap year:
- Rest and recover
Writing a 25,000 word MA dissertation on how menstruation was viewed in Victorian culture and society was emotionally and physically draining. When it finally came to handing it in, I was very glad to see it go. I relished the opportunity to take a step back from the accumulated stress of the past year, and re-charge my batteries. Allowing myself some time to address my emotional and physical wellbeing was something that was very important for me, as I wanted to be in the best possible mind-set before starting my PhD. I accessed some free counselling through my employer, and took advantage of my workplace gym. Spend some time doing the things that make you happy, practice some self-love, and celebrate the amazing achievement of finishing your MA.
My MA graduation – the smile says it all!
- Read for pleasure
Cast the academic books aside, and brush the dust off the long-neglected novels that are hiding sheepishly on your book shelf. Reading for pleasure is something that I find immensely difficult to do when I have academic work on-the-go, as I struggle to switch off and actually enjoy what I am reading. My academic gap year has allowed me to satiate my craving for easy-to-read books which have zero citations– guilt free! Treat yourself to some new titles, and rediscover your love of reading.
My secret stash
- Challenge yourself
Despite working full-time after finishing my MA, I felt like I lacked a sense of purpose as I didn’t have a specific goal or deadline to work towards. I needed a challenge, and wanted to find something that would push me completely out of my comfort zone. I discovered the Wolf Run – a 10km cross country obstacle course based in the East Midlands which incorporates woods, obstacles, lakes, and fields. And mud … lots and lots of mud. I signed up with my partner to take part in all four events this year, and having completed three already, I can honestly say that they are amazing. Nothing beats the mixed feelings of happiness and exhaustion as I cross the finish line!
Before and After!
- Prepare your workspace
I am fortunate enough to be in the position that I have a spare bedroom to commandeer for my PhD office/prison/crying chamber. I found it really important during my gap year to spend some time preparing my workspace so that my future PhD felt like a reality, rather than a pie-in-the-sky dream. This gave me an excuse to make a number of trips to Ikea (one is never quite enough), and to treat myself to a large amount of very-pretty-but-very-expensive stationary. However small or big your prospective workspace is, try and make it feel homely ahead of time. This will help you to avoid feeling stressed once your research begins.
My office
- Fall in love with your PhD
After you have rested-up and settled into your gap year routine, it’s important that you get to know your PhD project a little better. You’ll be spending a considerable amount of time together over the next few years, so preparation is key. Initially I did a little background reading in my spare time (often on my lunch breaks) and noted down anything that seemed relevant or interesting. I also organised some visits to the archive where all of my primary sources are held. For me, doing a small amount of initial research has meant that I feel a lot more excited and confident about officially starting in October. Fall in love with your PhD and I can assure you that your time away from university will fly by.
My academic gap year has been a whirlwind introduction into the daunting world of proper ‘adulting’. It has involved working full-time, moving in with my partner, saying a painful ‘goodbye’ to student discounts, and worst of all – having to pay council tax. Whilst it hasn’t always been easy, it is definitely something that I would recommend doing. You’ll come out of it feeling refreshed and ready to take your PhD by storm (although you may have forgotten how to properly reference …).
Good luck!
Sophie Almond is a Contributions Editor at Pubs and Publications and is due to begin her PhD in October 2018. You can follow the inevitable ups and downs of her journey on Twitter.
Images 1-4: Sophie Almond.
Image 5: Pexels.
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