So, here’s the deal: if you’re thinking about diving into a PhD, you might be wondering what your day-to-day will look like. For most people, it’s hard to predict, but not for me! Back when I was doing my MSc in South Africa, I had the genius idea of collecting data from the PhD students around me. I wasn’t just curious about their research—I wanted to know the why behind how they spent their time to hit their project goals.

But, let’s get real for a second: I couldn’t have predicted the wild, one-of-a-kind ride that would be my post-grad experience in a foreign country. The first few weeks were all about adjusting—finding my new groove, figuring out everything from where to live to how to spend my weekends (and, let’s be honest, how to deal with the not-so-small task of managing my work-life balance).

 

 

 

This “Day in the Life” didn’t just happen by accident, and I’m actually pretty happy it didn’t.

 

One big takeaway from my early stage researcher journey is how it continues to shape my perspective on my career. It’s not just about the research anymore—it’s about being an experimentalist, trying stuff out, learning from my mistakes, and customizing my PhD path into something that feels true to me. And let’s be honest, it’s shaping me into a better human, too. I dig it.

So, what does my day look like?

First, the Morning Madness (Aka, The Commute)
I aim to get to campus between 08:00 and 08:45, depending on the bus traffic

(shoutout to my fellow public transport warriors). I must commend the regularity that the bus services provide in Kent compared to other places I’ve lived in.

Only on the rare occasion is there a report that there is a delay or an unexpected no-show. For the most parts, I appreciate the flow with which my mornings take the form of because of the straightforward travels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I finally get to my desk and unpack my bags (and stash my pre-packed lunch in the fridge), my first stop is always the coffee room. But here’s a plot twist: I don’t go for coffee first thing. Nope, I kick off the morning with a nice, hot cup of tea. (Coffee is for later!).

 

I also keep a little gratitude jar at my desk. Every day, I jot down a key lesson from the previous day, slap a sticker on it, and pop it into the jar.

It’s my way of staying grounded while I tackle my to-do list. Speaking of which, I then make a list of everything that needs to get done that day. (This usually involves leftover tasks from the day before and notes from my supervisor’s data analysis meetings. Good times.)

 

Then, it’s full on engagement in the Lab Life

Around 09:30, I head to the lab, where I can usually be found for a solid 3-4 hours (depending on the task). Here’s a tiny snippet on what I got up to the day this blog was written – Thin Layer Chromatography.

 

 

 

 

Thin layer chromatography (TLC as it is commonly known) is a technique that separates the components of a mixture based on their polarity. It’s a versatile method that can be used to analyse many different types of substances, including pesticides, lipids, and carbohydrates.

Here’s how TLC works:

• A non-reactive solid, like glass, plastic, or aluminium, is coated with a thin layer of an adsorbent material, called the stationary phase.
• A drop of the mixture to be separated is placed on the plate.
• The plate is placed in a solvent, called the mobile phase, which travels up the plate by capillary action.
• The rate at which each compound moves up the plate depends on how attracted it is to the stationary and mobile phases.
• The plate is removed when the solvent has almost reached the top, and the solvent front is marked with a pencil.
• The solvent is allowed to evaporate, and the spots can be observed

Just before lunch, I take my chemistry samples to get analyzed – that is code for ‘assess whether I have separated the specific compound I am looking for’ –  which means I head to the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) machine.

Now, if you’re wondering what NMR is all about—Google describes it as a non-destructive technique that uses magnetic fields to study molecules. It’s cool, trust me. You’d probably want to know more about it if you saw it in action (I’ll make a plan about making that happen).

Lunch Break: The Real Deal

I try to avoid the classic academic habit of eating lunch at my desk (but hey, no judgment if that’s your thing). I’ll be honest, I’m still working on this one. But thankfully, my research group has got my back—there’s always someone who shouts out “110!” (That’s code for “Let’s go eat!”) And I’m all in when the time comes. I look forward to those lunch breaks more than I care to admit.

Afternoon-Grind
After lunch, I get back to my desk to process my NMR data, update my Friday data analysis presentation, and—if I’m feeling super productive—read a paper or two. If it’s a good one, I highlight a gem or two for my thesis’ Literature Review. (Thanks to my PhD friends who gave me the heads-up to start this early. Trust me, it’s harder to squeeze in during the final year.)

And, of course, around this time, I’ll treat myself to a cup of coffee (because caffeine, obviously). But here’s a thought: Did you know that our brains actually work best in the morning, right after a good night’s sleep? So, maybe you don’t need that first coffee quite as much as you think. (I know, I know—trust me, I’ve been there.) But it’s something to think about for your heart and health. Just a little challenge for you. 😊

 

Wrapping Up the Day

The final stretch usually consists of admin, emails, and—if it’s teaching season—grading or prepping for lab demonstrations. On a chill day, though, it’s just me, my tasks, and my brain, doing their thing until around 5pm. That’s when I make a conscious effort to leave campus and mentally check out for the day. (Because let’s face it, sometimes that’s easier said than done.)

 

What’s Your Day Like?

So, that’s a wrap on my typical day. Now I’m curious—how do you roll? Is your day super structured and intentional, or are you more of a “go with the flow” kind of person? Let me know in the comments!

 

P.S. Here’s a snippet of me and my samples (in tubes) at the NMR room near the AV-NMR 😊