Laël Ngangmeni's Day

Morning:
7:30am: Although a big perk of grad school is flexibility with your schedule, I like to start my day early when possible to enjoy the sunlight. To help me get up and be productive, I like to do the 7:30am workout classes at our school gym.
9:00am: I am settled at my cubicle by ~9am and can read articles, write, go through emails, or attend meetings as needed.

Afternoon: Now that I no longer have classes to attend and am working fully on my dissertation aims, I spend most of my time at my cubicle--eating, working, snacking, attending meetings, repeat. There are wide windows, great views, and kind people around, which makes my time here enjoyable. When I need a break, I may go visit my friends at their cubicles and lab spaces or take a walk down to the lake across from our campus. I got into the habit of walking to and from campus, which helps me meet my step count goals and also gives me time to mentally decompress or call family to catch up. Since I walk, my daily on-campus schedule is dictated by sunrise and sunset.

Evening: I like to reserve my evenings for non-academic interests. However, since I am very involved in student leadership, I often have meetings to attend here and there. I sometimes get a second wind in the evening--read a big deadline or important work that I procrastinated on--and may do some work in the evening as well. Nevertheless, after having dinner, I may go out with friends, attend a Bible Study, read a book, watch Youtube/C-dramas, or mindlessly scroll through Instagram.

I wrap up my day with a video call to my family back home in Maryland, before falling asleep.