Thesis & life updates

As I near the end of my studies, I am filled with a mix of emotions. On one hand, I am excited for what life will bring next. The world is full of possibilities, and I am eager to explore them all. But on the other hand, it is scary to stand at the beginning again and start anew. I have spent so many years working towards this moment, and the thought of starting over is overwhelming.

Despite feeling a mix of emotions, things are going well with my thesis. I have just over a week left to hand in a draft of the entire thing, and all parts should be finished by then. As a result, I’m pretty busy at the moment, but thankfully not too overwhelmed for once! During my time studying in Sweden, I’ve learned how to balance my workload and personal life, which makes things a lot easier.

The fact that the days are getting longer and there’s more sunshine has massively helped with my motivation. I’m excited for spring and all the possibilities it brings. I feel re-energized and ready to tackle all the work that’s coming my way. Some of you might remember that I was struggling to stay motivated and excited about my work in November and December. But I wanted to show you that if you’re struggling, don’t despair – lows are temporary and things will get better again, even if it might not feel like it at the moment.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been working on the writing part of my thesis. It’s been a bit of a challenge getting back into the flow of writing after months of data collection on Gotland and then several more of statistical analysis in Linköping. Thankfully, I’ve found something that has massively helped me with focus and motivation – going to the gym with a couple of friends a few times a week during the day. Sometimes, my friends and I take lunch breaks and hit the gym in-between writing sessions. Other times, we’d go in the evening after working on campus. Either way, it’s been incredibly helpful for my concentration. Plus, I don’t feel unproductive during breaks since I’m doing something that’s good for me. If you’re dealing with intense study or work weeks, I highly recommend getting together with some friends and going for a workout or walk together several times a week. It can make a big difference!

In April, I will have my last university course, and I am curious to see how that will go and what exactly it will be about. Although I am stressed with everything that I will have to organise and do in the next couple of months, I am doing well and am in a good mindset. I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and all the people that make this process so much more fun and easier. I also realised how much I value working together with my friends and how important it is to balance out your work with social time also. So overall, I would say, things are going well. I am excited about my thesis and I enjoy working on it (most of the time lol), and I am very glad to be out of my slump and excited for all things once again.

I hope you are well? At what stage in your studies are you, and how is it going? Anyways, I’m sending you all lots of energy and spring feelings. Talk to you again soon, M.