Balance for Graduate Students & New Professionals

Balance is attainable, but it's not easy. Here are some paths to get there:

Focus on prevention through exercise, sleep, nutrition, and support.Be grateful if your department supports work/life balance.Assertively let your supervisor know if you need a little break or some help.Ask successful colleagues how they do it, and learn from them.Don't buy everything the media sells about achieving balance.Recognize "ebbs and flows" of balance, rather than expecting a constant state.Track the hours you spend on each activity, and then make changes.Breathe slowly and consciously a few times a day.