I’ve been saying yes to things I wouldn’t have imagined a year ago, one of them being running. When one of the PhDs sent out an email asking if anyone would be interested in doing some regular running together, I replied saying yes. Being the least competitive runner in the group, my main concern was not being able to keep up with the others. Turns out, the group is super supportive, and they continuously motivate me to keep running when all I want to do is stop! We’ve been running once a week to (and in) Centennial Park. It was difficult at first, because I felt worn out quite fast. During our runs we share our PhD woes and discuss random fun stuff too! Eight weeks after, I have become more comfortable (and slightly fitter I hope!) and today I did my first run to Coogee Beach with the group. It was tougher as it wasn’t on flat ground, but the views were worth it! In addition to helping me stay fit, running has also helped me boost my mental energy levels. When I feel like I can’t run any more, I push myself to keep going and this makes me feel good about myself. It’s the same with your PhD if you really think about it – there will be moments when you don’t want to keep going but sometimes all you need is a little push and you can get some work done. Of course, you need to know when it’s time to take a break from your work… And that brings me to the next thing I said YES to – boardgames! One evening as one of my supervisors was heading out of her office, she asked me if I’d like to play boardgames with a few others. I hadn’t met them before, but I was keen to play, so I agreed. That’s how I stumbled upon the boardgames gang! Keeping our minds fit is as equally important as keeping our bodies fit. Boardgames are a fun way to exercise your thinking skills, because there’s quite a bit of strategic thinking in play. We’ve played a few games thus far, including Ticket to Ride, Powergrid, Seven Wonders and Codenames, none of which I had played before. This has not stopped me from enjoying our boardgame nights (which have always included pizza too!). It has been nice getting to know more people at the CCRC through these sessions 😊 I also said yes to some paid outreach work. Demonstrating simple science experiments at Science in the Swamp and talking to kids and their parents about climate change courses during the UNSW Open Day were great experiences for me. I was hesitant at first as I had to communicate science to a young audience as a non-native speaker, but I gave it a shot and it was such a fun experience to engage with the community. I feel blessed to be surrounded by individuals who motivate me and encourage me to try new things. It’s so much easier to take a first step, knowing that there are people who support you. But I’ve also learnt the importance of self-motivation. You can’t rely on others during every step of the way. In the end, it comes down to how motivated you are to make the most of an opportunity. Afterall, the thing about opportunity is that you don’t know when you’ll get your next one! I’ve also signed up for an 8-week swimming course which begins next week. This is a HUGE step for me because when I was younger, I accidentally drifted into the deep end of the pool during a lesson and I haven’t been to a lesson since. However, when I moved to Australia, I was determined to learn swimming. Fingers crossed I live to tell the tale :D
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AuthorBudding climate scientist from Sri Lanka, currently pursuing a PhD on heatwaves, at the Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC) at UNSW, Sydney. Believes in using effective science communication to bridge the gap between science and society :) Archives
June 2021
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