I am finally beginning to feel warmth in the air, and I can finally walk out onto my tiny balcony in the mornings, breathe it in, express my gratitude for being here, for having the best support system, and that I get to do what I do; thank you! September is my birthday month, and I am thrilled to embrace my inner Spring girl again.

A key benefit of being back in South Africa is that I can go home to the Eastern Cape (E.C.) whenever I feel like it. You may have gathered from my previous posts that my parents are a significant source of support for me during my PhD journey and my life in general. Following the trip you took with me from Gauteng to E.C., I spent quality time at home by engaging in chats with my parents, resting, braaiing, resetting, and trust me; it was just what I needed.

The schedule on August 16th was typical of my weekday.

Mornings

I believe that my strength lies in my ability to adhere to a strict morning routine, regardless of how I feel. In the winter, I wake up at 6:00 AM, which shifts to 5:45 AM in the summer. I never press the snooze button because I sleep with my phone on the furthest table from my bed, forcing me to get up and out of bed to switch off my alarm.

I started the day with 10–15 minutes of quiet time, which I did not record, as I’ve found that the steeper the upward climb to attain my PhD, the more I lean on my faith and spirituality in addition to my loved ones. After quiet time, I prepared for my 30-40 minute workout. I always exercise while listening to SAfm to stay informed about current events in South Africa and the world. Sometimes, the news can be heavy for me, and during those moments, I switch to a podcast. My current favourite is Motivation with Brendon Burchard. After my workout, I make my bed, drink my vitamins, shower, and make a simple breakfast of oats or homemade granola with a cup of rooibos. Once ready, I either work at my desk or head to the campus library to start my work. I aim to work on campus twice a week, but I anticipate that once the weather becomes warmer, I will go more frequently.

Afternoons

Naturally, around 12:30, my body signals that it’s time for a nap, so I take a break and do things like warm up some meal prep, eat, catch up on YouTube which over the last week has included the ‘Follow Up – day in the life of a Post Graduate Researcher’ vlogs of my fellow SAYAS bloggers, and take a nap until 14:00. Preparing meals in advance is convenient because it helps me avoid thinking about what I’ll eat, and my naps usually last 40 minutes. After waking up, I have some fruit and drink another cup of rooibos, and then I continue working until around 17:00. This work block often occurs on my couch, which is easier on my back, and I continue with my workflow until I’m done or satisfied with my progress.

Evenings

In the evenings, I often engage in long video calls with my parents and other loved ones, and I prepare light snacks while trying to unwind by journaling and planning for the following day. Despite my bedtime of 21:00, I still struggle with falling asleep at night, which causes my sleep schedule to shift to any time after 23:00. I have been trying to shake off the persistent late nights since returning to South Africa from the U.S.

One of the things that I still need to restore entirely is my involvement in extracurricular activities. This is because of my upcoming trip to Nigeria. However, I am hopeful that I will incorporate one back into my schedule once I return to South Africa.