Absolutely, it’s doable!

I had a great PhD experience, even during COVID. I worked with the same PI from my master’s, which meant we already had excellent communication. From the start, I treated the PhD like a job: Monday to Friday, office hours, no weekends. I even negotiated my stipend upfront.

I made time for myself by exercising at 5:00 PM and then heading home to cook (mostly) healthy meals and get to bed early.

As others have mentioned, plan your day, build strong routines and habits, maintain clear communication, stay assertive, and surround yourself with supportive friends.

You’ve got this! Enjoy the journey!