Supporting the wellbeing of doctoral researchers who study at a distance

Some students may live and work far away from their campuses; others may be physically nearby but work remotely for a portion or all of their candidature, whether by preference, by force. This guest post by Dr Katrina McChesney (University of Waikato, New Zealand) and Dr Jamie Burford (University of Warwick, UK) offers timely advice and illuminates five principles for doctoral wellbeing.

twc, wellbeing, supervision, networking, productivityNarelle LemonMay 21, 2022Comment

Thank you for your message but I’m on leave…what to do and not do next

This post is relevant for personal leave, annual leave, weekends, and after hours - all moments of rest, our time, but time that can present boundary issues and a lack of mutual respect for each other.

twc, wellbeing, networkingNarelle LemonApril 8, 2022Comment

Festive Five: Celebrating 1 Year of Wellbeing Whisperer

Wellbeing Whisperer has just turned one. Thanks for your support, for sharing and for reaching out with what has resonated with you. As we move into the end of year and to mark this celebration I’ve collated the top five posts from the past 12 months as a Festive Five gift to you. Read them individually or as a set in an act of care for you and our colleagues.

wellbeing, productivity, networking, supervisionNarelle LemonDecember 20, 2021wellbeing whisperer, wellbeing, academic care, academic reciprocityComment

Collaboration and the PhD experience (Part 3): Collaborating up, across and passing it on

In this third part to the series on collaboration and the PhD experience we focus on collaborating up, across and passing it on.

Collaboration and the PhD experience (Part 4): Mentorship and nurturing your supervisor relationship

Mentorship and nurturing your supervisor relationship are hot topics in the PhD journey. Part 4 of the Collaboration and the PhD experience series focuses on some reflective questions to support these relationships.

Rest as our companion to productivity: And who knew there are different types!

Rest and sleep. We know we need both. Some of us need more than others. And at different times we need more than at others. They are different, but what exactly are they and how can they help us?

The care in requests

I love receiving email requests to collaborate, speak, or run workshops. I especially like emails, tweets and DMs that share an appreciation. I honestly love hearing from others, it brings me joy. I love ideas. I love being generous. But, there is an art to communication and showing care to those you are reaching out to. Here are my 9 flips that place care at the centre of the cold call or new connection with a busy person.

Collaboration and the PhD experience (Part 2): Connecting to your why and job crafting

Connecting to your why is an important first step to working out how to achieve the goals that excite you. Let’s talk about how this may be possible with your PhD.

Caring for ourselves and each other as we return to campus

Teaching 2021 is starting back again here in Australia. It will be a year and one week since I last taught in a room that is not my lounge or spare bedroom and on campus! I’m pretty excited actually. I love the energy in a room and the additional layer of social connection that is achievable away from screens. But, I know my excitement is not experienced by others.

When there is no promotion shine, just deflation...

The feedback floats around in my mind, blurring together, I hear them but I don’t register them. But there is one louder comment that gets stronger and stronger in my mind, playing like a bad song I’ve heard in the foyer of a building that for some reason I remember and keep playing again and again in my mind: "On this occasion, we regret to inform you that your application for promotion, has been unsuccessful".