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Grad school is intense. Some weeks feel like I am running on fumes, juggling deadlines, projects, and the constant pressure to prove myself. I am still in the middle of it, learning what actually works, failing sometimes, and figuring out how to keep moving forward. These are five strategies that are helping me survive and sometimes even thrive while I navigate this chaos.
1. Planning without overthinking
I have always loved to plan, but in grad school, I have realized that rigid plans can actually stress me out. Last week, I had three deadlines, a client meeting for my business, and a test all in one day. I mapped out every hour, but even then, things did not go according to plan. Instead of panicking, I adapted, shifted my priorities, moved assignments around, and focused on one task at a time. Planning gives me structure, but flexibility keeps me sane.
2. Checking in with my mental health
There are days when I feel completely drained and like I am just going through the motions. One night, I was staring at my laptop for two hours, trying to finish a paper, and I realized I could not focus. I stepped away, took a short walk, and changed my scenery for a few minutes. It sounds small, but it reset my brain enough to come back and actually finish the work. I am learning that mental health is not optional…it is the foundation for getting anything done.
3. Leaning on my support system
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I have learned that trying to do everything alone does not work. I had a research assignment recently that I felt completely stuck on. I reached out to a classmate, and we spent an hour brainstorming. Their perspective helped me untangle my ideas, and it reminded me that asking for help is not a weakness. Having people I trust, whether it be classmates, mentors, friends, or family, makes grad school feel less isolating, and it actually improves my work.
4. Learning to say no
Opportunities are everywhere in grad school, but I am realizing I do not have to say yes to all of them. One time, I was invited to work on a project that sounded exciting, but it did not align with my current workload or goals. I hesitated because I did not want to miss out or seem unmotivated, but I said no. It was uncomfortable, but it gave me the time and energy to focus on my own research, which ended up being more productive and fulfilling. Saying no is still hard, but I am seeing that it is helping me protect my time and energy.
5. Breaking work into manageable chunks
Big projects in grad school can feel impossible if you look at them all at once. I have started breaking everything down into smaller steps. For example, a 15-page paper I was dreading became five mini-tasks: research, outline, first draft, edit, final draft. Checking off each step gave me momentum and a sense of progress I did not have when I was trying to tackle it all at once. It is a small change, but it keeps me moving forward without feeling paralyzed.
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Grad school is still hard. Some days, I question if I am capable or if I am moving fast enough. But I am learning that part of surviving and thriving is figuring out what works for me in real time, leaning on support when I need it, and giving myself permission to fail, rest, and reset. There is no perfect formula, but these strategies are helping me keep my head above water, stay grounded, and remind myself that I am capable, even when it does not feel like it.
Kyrah Page is currently a student at Lincoln University. She is also the CEO and founder of her own brand called “Keepin’ It Kultured.” Where she combines art with activism to empower, inspire and educate the Black community. She advocates for change, promotes black positivity, and addresses controversial issues. Kyrah is many things but most importantly she is an activist.
